The National Register. — London, England, 1816-01-07 00:00:00

854 JAN. WWW ". 7. =MEW ssive ne of from Ition, linary whole quent 4t Eu- Pass- Sfords which TIIE NATIONAL REGISTER. whole thickly covered with timher.—The length of this pic turoseee LI ! emarkahle tract of country is about et. miles, to which t' e Governor gave the name of " The Prince Reeent's Glen." Proceedine hence to the 33(1 mile on the top of a hill, an opening presents itself on the S. W. side of the Prince Ifegent's Gkee loin whence a v i ew is obtained particulaily beautiful and ;;rand. Mountains rising beyond mountains, Veith , iStUrelldMlS masses of rock in the foreground. hem e strike the eve %vi:h admiration and astonishment. The circular form ifwitch lilt' whole is so wonderfully disposed, induced the Gove nor to gi re it the name of " l'itt's Ampitheatre" homer of tit- late Right llon.W. Pitt), to this first branch from the Pi ince Ileypes Glen. The road continues from hence, for the space of !7 miles, on the ride of the mountain which forms one •otle of the Prince Regent's Glen, and there it sud denly ter urinates in nearly a perpendicular precipice of 016 feet high, as ascertained l,c measurement. The road consti ucted by Mr Cox down this rugged and tremendous descent, through all its windings, is no less than three-tburths of a mile in length, and has been executed with such skill and stability as reflects much credit on him. The labour here undergone, and the difficulties surmounted, can only be appreciatel by timse who view this scene. In order to perpetuate the memory of M. Cox's services, the Governor deemed it a tribute justly due to • to give his name to this grand and extraordinary Pass ; and he aecordin4l% called it " Cox's flaying descended into the valley nt the bottom of this Pass, the retrospective view of the oveihan4ing mountain is magnificently grand. Although the present Pass is the only practicable point yet discove:cd for descending by, vet' the mountain is =eh higher than those on either side of it, front whence it is distinguished at a considerable distance, when approaching it from the inte rior, and in this point of view it has the appearance of a very high distinct bill, although it is iii fact only the abrupt termi nation of a ride. • The Governor gave the name of" Mount York" to this termioaCon of the Ridge, in honour of his Royal highness the Doke of York. On descending Cox's Pass, the Governor was much gratified by the aepearance of good pasture !and, and soil fit for cultiva tion, which was the first he had met with since the commence• ment of his tour. The %odic , : at the base of Mount York he called " die Vale of Clwyd," : in consequence of the strong fesemblain e it bore to the vale of that name in North Wales. The grass in this vale is of a good quality, and very abundant and a rivu:et of fine water runs along it from the Eastward, which unites itself le the western extremity of the vale, with another i ivulet containing still more water. The junction of these two streams burns a very handsome river, now anted by the k;O‘Tinor " Cox's River;" which takes its course, as has been since ascertained, ilinnigh the Prince Regent's Glen, and empties itself into the River Nepean ; anti it is conjectured, Lout the nature of the country through which it passes, that it must he one of the principal causes of the floods which have been occasionally felt on the low banks of the River Ilawkes bury, into whicll the Nepali discharges itself. The Vale of Clwyd, hoof 0 ',bases of Mount York, extends six ini!e6 in a wester}; direction, and has its terminatson at Cox's River. West of this River the country again becomes hill : , but is generally open forest land, and very good pasturage. Three miles to the westward of the Vale of Cl , vvd, Mcss:s. Blaxland, Wentworth, and Lawson, _had forme. le terminated their excursion ; and when the various difficulties are consi deied which they had to contend with, espe . ciailv until they had effected the descent from Mount York, to whicli place they wet c obliged to pass through a thick brush wood, wheie they wele under the pecessity of cutting a passage for the baggage horses, the severity of which labour had seri ously atrected their healthy,' their patient endurance of such fatigue , annot fail to excite innch surprise and admiratic n. lo cum .lenneation of their na-rit, three :reantifol high hills join lug each ()incr at the end of their too, at this place, have le ceived heir names in the following order, viz.—" Mc i unt Max land," " eUi:WOr S gar Loaf," fins! Lawsoo's Sugar Leaf.' A raiigeof very lofty and niti'.ow vallics alternately form the tract of co untry front Cox's Riv'ei• • for a distance of 1 14-0, until the Fish Viva i$ arrived ati'aud the, 444:2 PC: tween these Rivers is consequently very severe and oppress on the cattle. To this range the Governor gave the nam' " Clarence Hilly Range." Proceeding from the Fish River, and at a short distance it, a very singular and beautified mountain attracts the atten its summit being crowned with a laree and very extraord looking rock, nearly circular in form, which gives to the wl very much the appearance of a bill or fort, such as are freq , in India. 'l'4) this loft , hilt Mr. Evans, who was the firs' ropean discoverer. gave the name of " Mount Evans." lug on from hence the country continues hilly, but alt good pasturage, eraduallv improving to Sidtpouth Valley, whica, is distant from the Pass of the Fish River 12 miles. The land here i. level, and the fist met with unencumbered with timber; it is not of very considerable extent, but abound, with a great variety of Herbs and plant;, such as would probably highly in terest and gratify the scientific botanist. This beautiful little valley runs North-West, and South-East, between hills of easy ascent, thinly covered with timber. Leaving - Sidmouth Val ley, the country again becomes hilly, and in other respects re sembles very much the country to the eastward of the Valley fur some miles. Havine reached Campbell River distant 13 miles from Sidinolith Valley, the Governor was highl% gratified by the appearance of the country, which there began to exhibit an open and extensive view of gently rising grounds and fertile plains Judging from the height of the banks, and its general width, the Campbell Rivet must be on some occasions of very considerable magnitude • but the extraordinary thought which has apparently prevailed on the western side of the mountains, equally as throughout this Colony for the la , t three years, has reduced this River so much, that it may be inure properly cared a Chain of Pools than a running stream at the present time. In the reaches or pools of the Campb• 11 River, the very cut ions animal called the Paradox, or Water-atole, is seen in great numbers.—The soil on both banks is uncommonly rich, and the grass is consequently luxuriant. Two miles to the southward of the line of road which crosses the Campbell Ri 7 ver, there is a vet y fine rich tract of low lands, which has been named Mitchell Plains. Flax was found growing in considerable quantities The Fish River, which forms a junction with the Campbell River a few miles to the northwaid of the road and bridge over the latte , has also two very fertile plains on its banks, the one called " O'Connell Plains," and the other " Mac (picric Plains," both of very considerable extent, and capable of yielding all the necessaries :f life At the distance of seven mile; from the bridge over the Campbell River, Bathurst Hain, open to the view, presenting a rich tract of champaign c , matey of I i miles in leAgth, bounded ort both sides by gently r.sing and very beautiful hills, thinly wooded. The Macquarie River, which is constituted by the . junction of the Fish and Campbell River, takes a %vending course through the Plains, which cats be easily traced from the high lands adjoining, by the particular verdure of the trees on its banks, which are likewi , e Ate only tre...s throughout the extent of the plains. Thelevel and clean sof fa',e of the.,e Plains gives them at first view very much the ametuance of lands in a state of cultivation. It is impossible to behold this eland scene without a feeling of admiration and surprise, whilst the silence and solitude which reign in a space of such extent and beauty as seems de signed by Nature for the occupancy aim com'Ort of man, create a degree of melancholy in the mind which may be more easily imagined than described. The Governor and suite arrived at these Plains on Thursday, the 4th of May, and encamped on the southern left bank of time Macqual is River-:--The situation being selected in consequence of its commanding a beautiful and extensive prospect for many miles in every direction around it. At this place the Governor remained for a week; which time he occupied in Making ex elusions in difiecent directions, through the adjoining country, on both sides of the ricer. - • ' On Sunday, the 7th of M4y, tte Governor fixed on a scite suitable fur the erection of a' town at some future period, to which he gave the name of " Pathnrst," in honour of the pre ' sent Secretary of State foe the Cblonitn. The situation of Dathtil . St is - cievafed u utly beyond the reach of any Ilciodi '•