the use of char should be limited to deliberately shoots a man whom he the inhabitants of the lakes that sees in his fields - the other of whom maritime Englishmen should alone eat purposely places such instruments as oysters and lobsters, as that every other he knows will shoot trespassers upon class of the community than landowners his fields: better that it should be should be prohibited from the acquisi- lawful to kill a trespasser face to face, tion of game. than to place engines which will kill him. The trespasser may be a child - a woman—a son, or friend: - The spring-gun cannot accommodate itself to circumstances, the squire or the gamekeeper may.

-

It will be necessary, whenever the Game Laws are revised, that some of the worst punishments now inflicted for an infringement of these laws should be repealed. To transport a man for seven years on account of par- These, then, are our opinions retridges, and to harass a poor wretched specting the alterations in the Game peasant in the Crown office, are very Laws, which, as they now stand, are preposterous punishments for such of- perhaps the only system which could fences. Humanity revolts against them possibly render the possession of game - they are grossly tyrannical and so very insecure as it now is. We it is disgraceful that they should be would give to every man an absolute suffered to remain on our statute books. property in the game upon his land, But the most singular of all abuses, is with full power to kill — to permit the new class of punishments which others to kill and to sell; -we the Squirarchy have themselves enacted would punish any violation of that proagainst depredations on game. The perty by summary conviction and pelaw says, that an unqualified man who cuniary penalties rising in value kills a pheasant shall pay five pounds; according to the number of offences. but the squire says he shall be shot ; — This would of course abolish all qualiand accordingly he places a spring-gun fications; and we sincerely believe it in the path of the poacher, and does would lessen the profits of selling game all he can to take away his life. The illegally, so as very materially to lessen more humane and mitigated squire the number of poachers. It would mangles him with traps; and the make game, as an article of food, supra-fine country gentleman only accessible to all classes, without indetains him in machines, which pre-fringing the laws. It would limit the vent his escape, but do not lacerate amusements of country gentlemen their captive. Of the gross illegality within the boundaries of justice - and of such proceedings, there can be no would enable the magistrate cheerfully reasonable doubt. Their immorality and conscientiously to execute laws, and cruelty are equally clear. If they of the moderation and justice of which are not put down by some declaratory he must be thoroughly convinced. To law, it will be absolutely necessary this conclusion, too, we have no doubt that the Judges, in their invaluable we shall come at the last. circuits of oyer and terminer, should leave two or three of his Majesty's squires to a fate too vulgar and indelicate to be alluded to in this Journal. Men have certainly a clear right to defend their property; but then it must be by such means as the law allows: their houses by pistols, their fields by actions for trespass, their game by information. There is an end of law, if every man is to measure out his panishment for his own wrong. Nor are we able to distinguish between the guilt of two persons, the one of whom

After many years of scutigeral folly-loaded prisons*-nightly battles - poachers tempted — and families ruined, these principles will finally prevail, and make law once more coincident with reason and justice.

than twelve hundred persons were com mitted for offences against the game; besides those who ran away from their families from the fear of commitment. This is no slight quantity of misery.

* In the course of the last year, no fewer

BOTANY BAY.

(E. REVIEW, 1819.)

America. By W. C. Wentworth, Esq., a
Native of the Colony. Whittaker. Lon-

don. 1819.

2. Letter to Viscount Sidmouth, Secretary of State for the Home Department, on the Transportation Laws, the State of the Hulks, and of the Colonies in New South Wales. By the Hon. Henry Grey Bennet, M.P. Ridgway. London. 1819.

in spite of the afflicting blunders and marvellous cacœconomy of their govern

ment.

1. A Statistical, Historical, and Political Botany Bay is situated in a fine Description of the Colony of New South climate, rather Asiatic than European, Wales, and its dependent Settlements in—with a great variety of temperature, Van Diemen's Land: with a particular - but favourable on the whole to health Enumeration of the Advantages which and life. It, conjointly with Van Diethese Colonies offer for Emigration, and men's Land, produces coal in great their Superiority in many respects over those possessed by the United States of bago, potter's clay; iron; white. yellow, abundance, fossil salt, slate, lime, plumand brilliant topazes; alum and copper. These are all the important fossil productions which have been hitherto discovered; but the epidermis of the country has hardly as yet been scratched; and it is most probable that the immense mountains which divide the eastern and western settlements, Bathurst and Sydney, must abound with every species of mineral wealth. The harbours are admirable; and the whole world, perhaps, cannot produce two such as those of Port Jackson and Derwent. The former of these is landlocked for fourteen miles in length, and of the most irregular form: its soundings are more than sufficient for the largest ships; and all the navies of the world might ride in safety within it. In the harbour of Derwent there is a roadstead forty-eight miles in length, completely land-locked; varying in breadth from eight to two miles;-in depth from thirty to four fathoms, and affording the best anchorage the whole way.

3. O'Hara's History of New South Wales.

Hatchard. London. 1818.

THIS land of convicts and kangaroos
is beginning to rise into a very fine and
flourishing settlement:-.
-And great
indeed must be the natural resources,
and splendid the endowments of that
land that has been able to survive the
system of neglect and oppression ex-
perienced from the mother country, and
the series of ignorant and absurd gover-
nors that have been selected for the
administration of its affairs. But man-
kind live and flourish not only in spite
of storms and tempests, but (which
could not have been anticipated previous
to experience) in spite of colonial secre-
taries expressly paid to watch over their
interests. The supineness and profligacy
of public officers cannot always over-
come the amazing energy with which
human beings pursue their happiness,
nor the sagacity with which they deter-
mine on the means by which that end
is to be promoted. Be it our care, how-
ever, to record, for the future inhabi-
tants of Australasia, the political suffer-
ings of their larcenous forefathers; and
let them appreciate, as they ought, that
energy which founded a mighty empire

The mean heat, during the three summer months, December, January, and February, is about 80° at noon. The heat which such a degree of the thermometer would seem to indicate, is considerably tempered by the seabreeze, which blows with considerable force from nine in the morning till seven in the evening. The three autumn months are March, April, and May, in which the thermometer varies from 55° at night to 75° at noon. The three winter months are June, July, and August. During this interval, the * One, and no small excuse for the mis-mornings and evenings are very chilly, conduct of colonial secretaries, is the enor- and the nights excessively cold; hoar mous quantity of business by which they are distracted. There should be two or frosts are frequent; ice, half an inch three colonial secretaries instead of one: thick, is found twenty miles from the the office is dreadfully overweighted. The government of the colonies is commonly a coast; the mean temperature, at daylight, is from 40° to 45°, and at noon

series of blunders.

from 55° to 60°. In the three months, regularly transmitted to England, and of spring, the thermometer varies from may be purchased in London, has af60° to 70°. The climate to the west- forded us considerable amusement. ward of the mountains is colder. Heavy Nothing can paint in a more lively falls of snow take place during the manner the state of the settlement, its winter; the frosts are more severe, and disadvantages, and prosperities, and the the winters of longer duration. All opinions and manners which prevail the seasons are much more distinctly there. marked, and resemble much more those

of this country.

"On Friday, Mr. James Squires, settler and brewer, waited on his Excellency at Government House, with two vines of hops taken from his own grounds, &c.-As a public recompence for the unremitted attention shown by the grower in bringing this valuable plant to such a high degree of perfecbe given to Mr. Squires from the Governtion, his Excellency has directed a cow to ment herd."-(O'Hara, p. 255.)

Such is the climate of Botany Bay; and, in this remote part of the earth, Nature (having made horses, oxen, ducks, geese, oaks, elms, and all regular and useful productions for the rest of the world) seems determined to have a bit of play, and to amuse herself as she pleases. Accordingly, she makes cherries with the stone on the outside; and a monstrous animal, as tall as a grenadier, with the head of a rabbit, a tail as big as a bed-post, hopping along at the rate of five hops to a mile, with three or four young kangaroos looking out of its false uterus, to see what is passing. Then comes a quadruped as big as a large cat, with the eyes, colour, and skin of a mole, and the bill and web-feet of a duck-puzzling Dr. Shaw, and rendering the latter half of his life miserable, from his utter inability to determine whether it was a bird or a beast. Add to this a parrot, with the legs of a seagull; a skate with the head of a shark; and a bird of such monstrous dimensions, that a side-bone of it will dine three real carnivorous Eng-" (supposed to be on the governor's wharf,) lishmen;-together with many other two small keys, a tortoiseshell comb, and a productions that agitate Sir Joseph, packet of papers. Whoever may have found and fill him with mingled emotions of them will, on delivering them to the printer, distress and delight. receive a reward of half a gallon of spirits." -(p. 272.)

The colony has made the following progress:

Stock in 1788.

Horned Cattle

Horses

Sheep

Hors

"To Parents and Guardians.
racter will bear the strictest scrutiny, being
"A person who flatters herself her cha-
desirous of receiving into her charge a pro-
posed number of children of her own sex,
as boarders, respectfully acquaints parents
and guardians that she is about to situate
herself either in Sydney or Paramatta, of
which notice will be shortly given. She
doubts not, at the same time, that her
assiduity in the inculcation of moral prin-
unremitting attention and polite diction,
ciples in the youthful mind, joined to an
will ensure to her the much-desired confi-
dence of those who may think proper to
favour her with such a charge. Inquiries
on the above subject will be answered by
G. Howe, at Sydney, who will make known

the name of the advertiser."-(p. 270.)
"Lost,

"To the Public.

"As we have no certainty of an immeStock in 1817.diate supply of paper, we cannot promise a 44,753 publication next week."-(p. 290.)

.

5

Do.

Land in cultivation 0 acres. Do.
Inhabitants
The colony has a bank, with a capi-
tal of 20,000l.; a newspaper; and a
capital (the town of Sydney) containing
about 7000 persons. There is also a
Van Diemen's Land Gazette. The
perusal of these newspapers, which are

"Fashionable Intelligence, Sept. 7th. "On Tuesday his Excellency the late Governor and Mrs. King, arrived in town from Paramatta; and yesterday Mrs. King returned thither, accompanied by Mrs. Putland."-(Ibid.)

"To be sold by Private Contract, by

Mr. Beran,

"An elegant four-wheeled chariot, with plated mounted harness for four horses complete; and a handsome lady's side

saddle and bridle. May be viewed on application to Mr. Bevan."-(p. 347.)

"From the Derwent Star.

"Lieutenant Lord, of the Royal Marines, who, after the death of Lieutenant-Governor Collins, succeeded to the command of the settlement at Hobart Town, arrived at Port Jackson in the Hunter, and favours us with the perusal of the Ninth number published of the Derwent Star and Van Diemen's Land Intelligencer; from which we copy the following extracts."-(p. 353.)

"The ladies' cup, which was of very superior workmanship, won by Chase, was presented to Captain Richie by Mrs. M'Quarie; who, accompanied by his Excellency, honoured each day's race with her presence, and who, with her usual affability, was pleased to preface the donation with the following short address:-'In the name of the Ladies of New South Wales, I have the pleasure to present you with this cup. Give me leave to congratulate you on being the successful candidate for it; and hope that it is a prelude to future success, and lasting prosperity." "— (p. 357.)

"Butchers.

"Now killing, at Matthew Pimpton's, Cumberland Street, Rocks, beef, mutton, pork, and lamb. By retail, 18. 4d. per lib. Mutton by the carcase, 1s. per lib. sterling, or 14d. currency; warranted to weigh from 10 lib. to 12 lib. per quarter. Lamb per ditto.-Captains of ships supplied at the wholesale price, and with punctuality.N.B. Beef, pork, mutton, and lamb, at E. Lambs's, Hunter Street, at the above prices." (p. 376.)

"Painting.-A Card.

"Mr. J. W. Lewin begs leave to inform his friends and the public in general, that he intends opening an academy for painting, on the days of Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from the hours of 10 to 12 in the forenoon. Terms, 58. a lesson: Entrance, 20s.-N.B. The evening academy for drawing continued as usual.”—(p. 384.)

"Sale of Rams.

"Ten rams of the Merino breed, lately sold by auction from the flocks of John M'Arthur, Esq., produced upwards of 200 guineas." (p. 388.)

"Mrs. Jones's Vacation Ball, December

12th.

"Mrs. Jones, with great respect, informs the parents and guardians of the young ladies entrusted to her tuition, that the vacation ball is fixed for Tuesday, the 22nd instant, at the Seminary, No. 45, Castlereagh Street, Sydney. Tickets, 7s. 6d. each." -(p. 388.)

"Sporting Intelligence.

"A fine hunt took place the 8th instant at the Nepean, of which the following is the account given by a gentleman present.

Having cast off by the government hut on the Nepean, and drawn the cover in that neighbourhood for a native Dog unsuccessfully, we tried the forest ground for a Kangaroo, which we soon found. It went off in excellent style along the sands by the river side, and crossed to the Cowpasture Plains, running a circle of about two miles; then re-crossed, taking a direction for Mr. Campbell's stock-yard, and from thence at the back of Badge Allen Hill to the head of Boorroobaham Creek, where he was headed; from thence he took the main range of hills between the Baige Allen and Badge Allenabinjee, in a straight direction for Mr. Throsbey's farm, where the hounds ran in to him; and he was killed, after a good run of about two hours." The weight of the animal was upwards of 120 lib."-(p. 380.)

Of the town of Sydney, Mr. Wentworth observes, that there are in it many public buildings, as well as houses of individuals, that would not disgrace the best parts of London; but this description we must take the liberty to consider as more patriotic than true. We rather suspect it was penned before The terms per cask are 10d. per lib. sterling, Mr. Wentworth was in London; for he or 18. currency.-N.B. For the accommoda-is (be it said to his honour) a native of tion of families, it will be sold in quantities not less than 112 lib."-(p. 377.).

"Salt Pork and Flair from Otaheite. "On sale, at the warehouse of Mrs. S. Willis, 96, George Street, a large quantity of the above articles, well cured, being the Mercury's last importation from Otaheite.

Botany Bay. The value of lands (in the same spirit he adds) is half as great

Great exertions have been made in public roads and bridges. The present Governor has wisely established tollgates in all the principal roads. No tax can be more equitable, and no money more beneficially employed. The herds of wild cattle have either perished through the long droughts, or been destroyed by the remote settlers. They have nearly disappeared; and their extinction is a good rather than an evil. A very good horse for cart or plough may now be bought for 5l. to 107.; working oxen for the same price; fine young breeding ewes from 1 to 37. according to the quality of the fleece. So lately as 1808, a cow and calf were sold by public auction for 105l.; and the price of middling cattle was from 80 to 100l. A breeding mare was, at the same period, worth from 150 to 200 guineas; and ewes from 10l. to 20%. The inhabitants of New South Wales have now 2000 years before them of cheap beef and mutton. The price of land is of course regulated by its situation and quality. Four years past, an

in Sydney as in the best situations in Londen, and is daily increasing. The proof of this which Mr. Wentworth gives, is, that it is not a commodious house which can be rented for 100l. per annum, unfurnished." The town of Sydney contains two good public schools, for the education of 224 children of both sexes. There are establishments also for the diffusion of education in every populous district throughout the colony; the masters of these schools are allowed stipulated salaries from the Orphans' Fund. Mr. Wentworth states that one eighth part of the whole revenue of the colony is appropriated to the purposes of education;- this eighth be computes at 2500l. Independent of these institutions, there is an Auxiliary Bille Society, a Sunday School, and several good private schools. This is al as it should be: the education of the poor, important everywhere, is indispensable at Botany Bay. Nothing but the earliest attention to the habits of children can restrain the erratic inger from the contiguous scrip, or prevent the hereditary tendency to lar-hundred and fifty acres of very indifcenous abstraction. The American arrangements respecting the education of the lower orders is excellent. Their unsold lands are surveyed, and divided into districts. In the centre of every district, an ample and well selected lot is provided for the support of future schools. We wish this had been imitated in New Holland; for we are of opinion that the elevated nobleman, Lord Sidmouth, should imitate what is good and wise, even if the Americans are his teachers. Mr. Wentworth talks of 15,000 acres set apart for the support of the Female Orphan Schools; which certainly does sound a little extravagant: but then 50 or 100 acres of this reserve are given as a portion to each female orphan; so that all this pious tract of ground will be soon married away. This dotation of women, in a place where they are scarce, is amiable and foolish enough. There is a school also for the education and civilisation of the natives, we hope not to the exclusion of the children of convicts, who have clearly a prior claim upon public charity.

ferent ground, about three quarters of a mile from Sydney, were sold by virtue of an execution, in lots of 12 acres each, and averaged 147. per acre. This is the highest price given for land not situated in a town. The general average of unimproved land is 51. per acre. In years when the crops have not suffered from flood or drought, wheat sells for 9s. per bushel; maize for 3s. 6d. ; barley for 5s.; oats for 4s. 6d.; potatoes for 6s. per cwt. By the last accounts received from the colony, mutton and beef were 6d. per lib.; veal 8d.; pork 9d. Wheat 8s. 8d. per bushel; oats 4s., and barley 5s. per ditto. Fowls 4s. 6d. per couple; ducks 6s. per ditto; geese 5s. each; turkeys 7s. 6d. each; eggs 2s. 6d. per dozen; butter 2s. 6d. per lib.-There are manufactures of coarse woollen cloths, hats, earthenware, pipes, salt, candles, soap. There are extensive breweries and tanneries; and all sorts of mechanics and artificers necessary for an infant colony. Carpenters, stonemasons, bricklayers, wheel and ploughwrights, and all the most useful description of artificers, can earn