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

THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

SAN. 7.

a
as adapted to the ordinary periods of repose.—As fruits of
a this ex-
perienoe, and of the reputation acquired by the American on
the land Mid on the water, the nation finds itself possessed of a
growing respect abroad, and of a just confidence in itself, which
are among the best pledges for its peaceful career.
" Under other aspects of our country, the strongest features of
its flourishing condition are seen in a population rapidly increasing,
on a territory as productive as it is extensive ; in a general indus-
try, and fertile ingenuity, which find their ample rewards ; and in
an affluent revenue, which admits a reduction of the public burthens
without withdrawing the means of sustaining the public credit, of
gradually discharging the public debt, of providing for the neces-
sary defensive and precautionary establishments, and of patronis-
ing, in every authortsed mode, undertakings conducive to the ag-
gregate wealth and individual comfort of our citizens.
4‘ It remains for the guardians of the public welfare, to persevere
itt that justice and good-will towards other nations, which invite a
return of these sentiments towards the United States; to cherish
institutions which guarantee their safety, and their liberties, civil
and religious ; and to combine with a liberal system of foreign
commerce, an improvement of the natural advantages, and a pro-
tection and extension of the independent resources of our highly-
favoured and happy country.
" In all measures, having such objects, my faithful co-operation
w:11 be afforded.
Washington, Dec. 5, ISIS.

" JAMES MADISON."

FROM 'THE SYDNEY GAZETTE;
Ott
NEW SOUTH WALES ADVERTISER.
• GOVERNMENT AND GENERAL ORDERS.
Government House, Sydney, June 10, 1815.
The Governor desires to communicate, for the information
of the Public, the result of his late tour over the Western, or
Blue Mountains, undertaken for the purpose of being, enabled
personally to appreciate the importance of the tract of' country
lying Westward of them, which had been explored in the latter
end of the year 1813, and the beginning of 1814, by Mr. G. W.
Evans, Deputy Surveyor of Lands.
To those who know how ver limited a tract of country has
been hitherto occupied by the Colonists of New South Wales,
extending along the Eastern Coast to the North and South of
Port Jackson, only. 80 miles, and Westward about 40 miles to
the foot of that chain of mountains in the interior which forms
its western boundary, it must be a subject of astonishment and
regret, that, amongst so large a population, no one appeared
within the first 25 years of the establishment of this Settlement
possessed of sufficient energy of mind to induce him fully to '
explore a passage over these mountains :—But, when it is con-
sidered, that for the greater part of that time, even this circum-
scribed portion of country afforded sufficient produce for the
wants of the people; whilst, on the other hand, the whole sur-
face of the c.)untry beyond those limits was a thick, and in
many place:, nearly an Impenetrable forest, the surprise at the
want of effort to surmount such difficulties must abate very
cons;derably.
The records of the Colony only afford two instances of any
bold attempt having been made to.discover the country to the
westward of the Blue Mountains. The first was by Mr. Bass,
and the other by Mr. Caley, and both ended iH disappointment
—a circu PAS tance which will not be much wondered at by those
who have lately crsosed those mountains.
To G Blaxland and W. Wentworth, Esqrs. and Lieut. Law-
son, of the Royal Veteran Company, the merit is due of having,
with extraordinary patience and much fatigue, effected the first
passage over the most rugged and difficult part of the Blue
Mountains
The Governor being strongly impressed with the importance
of the object, had, early after his arrival in this Colony, formed
the roolution of encouraging the attempt to find a passage to
the Western Country, and willingly availed himself of the fa-
cilities whch the discoveries of these three Gentlemen afforded
him. Accordingly, on the 20th of November 1813, he en-
trusted the accomplishment of this object to Mr. G. W. Evans,
Deputy Surveyor of Lands; the result of whose journey was
laid before the Public,_ through the medium of the sadnes
Gazette, on the 12th of February, 1814.

85S_

The favourable account given by Mr. Evans of the country
he had explored, induced the Governor to cause a road to be,
constructed for the passage and conveyance of cattle and pr',
visions to the interior ; and men of good character, frojth
amongst a nnmber of convicts who had volunteered th?ir
vices, were selected to perform this arduous work, on conditasistat
of being fed and cloathed during the continuance of theip,ral
bour, and being granted emancipation, as their final reward, oar
the completion of the woi k. ,11
The- direction and superintendence of this great work wail
entrusted to W. Cox, Esq. the Chief Nla,4istrate at Windsor ;
and, to the astonishment of every one who knows what was to
encountered, and sees what has been done, he effected its
.:ompletion in six months from the time of its commencement,
happily, without the loss of a man, or any serious accident.
The
Governor is at a loss to appreciate fully the services rendered
by Mr. Cox to this Colony, in the execution of the
ilal du ous
work, which promises to be of the greatest pub!ic utity, by
opening a new source of wealth to the industrious and enters
prizing. When it is considered that Mr. Cox voluntarily re-
linquished the comforts of his own house, and the society of his
numerous family, and exposed himself to much personal fatigue,
with only such temporary covering as a bark hut could atr)rd
from the inclemency of the season, it is to express the
sentiments of approbation to which such privations and services
are entitled.
Mr. Cox having reported the road as completed on the 21st
of January, the Governor, accompanied by Mrs. Macquarie,
and that Gentleman, commenced his tour on the 25th of April,
over the Blue Mountains, and was joined by Sir J. Jamieson
at the Nepean, who accompanied him during the entire tour.
The following Gentlemen composed the Governor's suite :
Mr. Campbell, Secretary ; Captain Antill, Major of Brigade
Lieut. Watts, Aide-de-camp ; Mr. Redfern, Assistant Surgeon ;
Mr. Oxley, Surveyor General ; Meehan, Deputy Surveyor
General; Mr. Lewin, Painter and Naturalist ; and Mr. G. W.
Evans, Deputy Surveyor of Lands, who had been sent forward
for the purpose of making fu Bathurst, and rejoined the
~party on the day of arrival at Plains.
The commencement of the ascent from E mu Plains
Spy to the
first depot, and thence to a resting place, now called " a
very
ing
Wood," distant 1,2 miles from Emu Ford, was through
handsome open forest of lofty trees, and much
o morethe pr
ascentacticabfle
mid easy than was expected. The facility f or
this distance exciteasurprise, and is certainly not
he,ell calculated
to give the traveller just idea of the difficulties has{
to encounter At a further deaistanceceo of the timber and f four miles a sudden
change is perceived in the app
ren
quality of the soil—stile former becoming stunted, and the latter
barren and rocky. At this place the fatigues of the journey
Here the country became alto-
may be said to commence.
gether mountainous and extremely rugged. Near to the i
ncsth
mile-mark (it is to be observed, that the commees
from Emu Ford), a pile of' stones attracted attention : it is close
to the line of road, on the top of a rugged and abrupt ascent,
and is supposed to have been pla there by Mr. Caley, as the
extreme limit of his tour ;hence td he Governor gave that part
of the Mountain tohe name of " Cal's Repulse.'l'o have
penetrated even s far, was at that time an eilbrt of no small
difficulty.—From hence, forward to the 26th mile, is a succes-
sion of steep and rugged hills, some of which are almost so
abrupt as to deny a passage altogether ; butwhi►
at this place a con-•
siderabl3, extensive plain is arrived at,
c
summit of the Western Mountains ; and from thence a most
extensive and beautiful prospect presents itself on all sides to
the eye, The Town of Windsor, the River Hawkesbury, Pros-
pect Hiil, and other objects within that part of the Colony now
inhabited, of equal interest, are distinctly seen from hence.—
The majestic grandeur of the situation, combined with the
various objects to be seen from this place, ialuced the Gov el nor
to give it the appellation of .4 The King's 'Fable Land.”—Ork
the S. W. side of the King's 'Fable Land, the mountain termi-
nates iik ahrupt pl•ecipices of immense depth, at the bottom o
which is seen a glen, as romantically beautiful as can be ima..
gined, bounded on the further side by mountains of eat m
.uitudet tenitirlating; equally ahruptly as the others, and tn,

854

JAN.

WWW".
7.
=MEW
ssive
ne of
from
Ition,
linary
whole
quent
4t Eu-
Pass-
Sfords
which