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

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 view 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.—" Mciunt 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 country front Cox's Riv'ei•• for a distance of
114-0, 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 Ri7
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
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.6.. ~.1~ ..t

JAN.- 7.

which may occur, and is at the same time so near to the River I
on ii 9 south hank as to derive all the advantages of its clear and
Beautiful stream The owe; anics and settlers, of whatever
wh:, may be hereafter permitted to form permanent
residence, to themselves at this place, will have the highly im-
portant advantages °fa rich and fertile soil, with a beautiful
river flowini., through it, for all the uses of man. The Gover-
nor ells! however add, that the hopes which were once so san-
gide& v ent-r:ained of this -River becoming navigable to the
We•q •, n '4.3. have ended in disappointed.
n the week that the_ Governor remained at Bathurst, he
made !lady. excursions in various directions ; one of these ex-
tended c'.9 miles in a south west direction. and on that occasion,
as well on al! the others, he found the country chiefly composed
of wall es Ind plains, separated occasionally by ranges of low
hills —th. soil tie oil:Jima being generally fertile, and well cir-
cumstanced for the purpose of agriculture or grazing.
The ~vei nor he e feela much pleasure iii being enabled to
communicate to the Public, that the favourable reports which
he had ,eeeived of the country to the west of the Woe Moun-
tains have not been by any means exaggerated The difficul-
ties %Well present thee.sel% es in the jellifies, from hence are
certainly great and into, itable, hut those persons who may he
inclined to become permanent Settlers there, will probably
content themselves with this part of the Colony but
rarely, and of course will ha% e them seldom to encounter.—
Plenty , f water and a sufficiency of grass are to be found in the
Mount :ins for the suppo' t of such cattle as may be sent over
them ; and the tracts of fertile soil and rich pasturage which
the new country aftiird,, arc fully extensive enough for any
int-re:ls.i of oopulation and stock which can possibly take place
for many years.
Within a distance of 10 miles from the scite of Bathurst,
there is not less than 50,000 acres of land clear of timber, and
fully one half of that may lie considered excellent soil, well cal-
culated for cultivation. It is a matter of regret, that in propor-
tion as the soil improves the timber degenerates; and it is to be
remarked, that every where to the westward of the Mountains
it is much inlet ior both in size and quality to that within the
present Colony : there is, however, a sufficiency of timber of
tolerable quality within the district around Bathurst, for the
purposes of house-building and hnsbandry.
'1 be Go, error has here to lament, that neither coals or lime-
stone have yet been discovered in the Western Country : arti-
cles in themselves of so much importance, that the want of
them must be severely felt whenever that country shall be
sett:ed.
Having enumerated the principal and most important features
of this new country. the Governor has now to notice some of
its live productions. All around Bathurst abounds in a variety
of game ; amid the two principal rivers contain a great quantity
offish, but all of one denomination, resembling the perch in
appearance, and of a delicate and fine flavour, not unlike that
of a rock cod : this fish grows to a large size, and is very vora-
cious. Seveval of them were caught during the Governor's
stay at Bathurst, and at the Flatting-place on the Fish River.
One of those caught weighed 171 b. and the people stationed at
Bathurst stated, that they had caught some weighing ifilbs.
The field game are the kangaroos, emus, black swans, wild
geese, wild turkies, bustards, ducks of various kinds, quail,
bronze, and other pidgeons, &c. &c. the water-mole, or paradox,
also abounds in all the rivers and ponds.
The scite designed for the town of Bathurst, by observation
taken at mhe Flag, Staff, which was erected on the day of Bathurst
receiving that name, is situated in lat. 33 deg. 24 min. 30 sec.
South, sod in long. t 49 deg. 37 min. 45 sec. East of Green-
wich, being also ..)71- miles Noah of Government House, in
Scolney, amid 911 M/ coat of it, bearing West 20 dee., 30 ndn.
North. 83 geographic miles, or 0.1 statute miles ; ttie measured
road distance frotn Sydney to Bat hut st being t 40 English miles.
The road cunt: acted Nlr. Cox arid the party under him
commences at Eine Fold, on the left bank of the river Nepean,
and is thence carried lot miles to the Flag btaff at Bathurst:
this road has been carefully measured, and each mile regularly
marked on the trees growing on the left side of the road pro-
ceeding towards Bathurst,.

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