The Sun.
London, England, 1825-07-14 00:00:00

NEW SOUTH WALES.

(Ft orn the Australian, Feb. 10, 1325.)
The account * contained in another part of our
Paper of the late expedition to Western Port by
Messrs. Hovell and Hume, cannot fail to attract
general attention. It has made us acquainted
with an extensive range of territory of which we
were before utterly ignorant, and has rescued

it at least from that stigma which the Surveyor-
General has cast on the regionS South of the pa.
rallel 348 and West of the Meridian 147. 30.
East ; viz. that they 64 are uninhabitable and use-
less for all the purposes of civilized man."—
Actual observation has now proved that a consi-
derable extent of country, in the same latitude
and nearly in the same longititude with the int.-
mense tract which was thus sweepingly disposed
of, comprises the finest country yet discovered ;
the finest in point of soil, and incomparably the
most English-like in point of climate. An ad-
mirable port too, and a river not inferior in mag-
nitude to any yet known in the colony, runs into
the very heart of it—thus affording every facility
of communication, which agriculture and com-
merce can need. With these unparalleled advan-
tages for the formation of a settlement combined
with the still continuing spirit of emigration to
this Colony, and with the almost entire occupa-
tion of Van Diemen's Land, it appears to us im-
possible that the beautiful tract of country near
Western Port can be much longer overlooked.
We regret, however, to state, that this discovery
does not promise to be of any material benefit to
the inhabitants of this part of the Colony. It ap-
pears that between Sydney and it, there are no
fewer than four distinct chains of lofty mountains,
some of them so lofty as to have their summits
covered with snow in the very midst of summer.
It is true that all these mountains have been pass-
ed by Mr. Hovell and his party ;—they are,
therefore, not absolutely insurmountable, but
still they are sufficiently inaccessible to render
any thing like an active and constant communi-
cation by land, bet weep the country in the neigh-
bourhood of Western Port and this Colony,—
very problematical. Cattle may possibly pass
from the one settlement to the other with dif-
ficulty, but,we suspect that all carriages must be
laid aside. All inland commerce, we fear, will
have to be carried in packs and panniers on the
backs of mules. This conjecture, however, rests
on the hypothesis, that the several chains of
mountains which have been lately traversed,
stretch across the interior to the westward ; for
should they terminate abruptly on their approach
towards the 'Achim), it will be a task of no dif-
ficulty to make a carriage road from Bathurst all
the way to Western Port. In this case we may
expect, from the deliciousness of the climate,and
the preference which the English so generally
give to a cold climate over a warm one, that the
tide of settlement will turn, and, instead of flow-
ing as at present in a Northern direction along
the banks of Hunter's River, and of the Mac-
quarie, will flow towards the Southward until it
overspread the immense tract of fertile country
just discovered. Should this happen, it is almost
impossible to predict the advantages that will
result to the Colony from this discovery. To say
nothing of the amazing range of pasture, and that
too of the very best quality, which it would
throw open to our flocksi and herds, it is not easy
to conceive the extensions which it may give to
our agriculture and commerce, and the various
new branches of industry and occupation which
it may lead to. It would not indeed be matter
of much surprize to us if we ourselves should live
to see one or more weekly steam-packets plying
between Western Port and Port Dalrymple.—
The distance between these places is but a few
hours' sail; and travellers hence to Van Diemen's
Land, or thence hither, we have no doubt would,
as In most other countries, prefer a journey by
land, as far as it might be practicable, to the
perils and sufferings of a sea-voyage,—had they
the option. We merely mention this as one of
the probable changes which this valuable disco-
very may occasion to our mode of communication
with the sister colonies in Van Diemen's Land.
Many other beneficial changes will unquestion-
ably result from it, about which it would be pre-
mature, and might be considered as absurdly
speculative to hazard conjecture. We were, how-
ever, unwilling to let a discovery of this value
and magnitude pass altogether unnoticed ; •and
we only hope that the Local Government will
duly appreciate and reward the enterprising tra-
vellers, to whom the Colony-at large is indebted
for an addition of fertile territory, i.t which our
population and industry may have such consider-
able expansion. What adds to the merit of this
enterprize is the circumstance of its being con-
ducted almost entirely at the expence of Messrs.
Hovel] and Hume, who received but little assist-
ance from Government.
* This article appeared in THE SUN of Friday last.

The following curious occurrence is said to have
taken place a few days ago t—There being a vacancy for an of-
ficer in one of the grenadier companies of the National Guards,
a person unknown to the company was appointed to fill it up.
On Monday last a detachment taken out of that company was
assembled at head-quarters.. The new Officer came to take
the command, in order to conduct it to its destination. But
when he commanded the soldiers to carry arms, whether the
officer was personally disagreeable to the National Guards, or
whether the formalities required to announce his nomination
to the company had been omitted, the men remained as be-
fore. He uteri commanded "to the right face," and began to
march ; upon arriving in the street perceived that there
were with him only a drummer and two sub-officers. He re-
turned to his detachment, and sheathing his sword, declared,
that since his nomination was not agreeable to the company, he
would withdraw. Another officer took the command, and the
detachment marched to the post appointed.—( Galignani's
Messerger.

A herring of a most extraordinary size was
lately caught in one of the salmon nets at the
beach of Aberdeen ; its length was 18 inches,
the circumference-r 0 inches; aut.! it weighed 21b.
20z. English.