The Sun.
London, England, 1823-10-01 00:00:00

VAN DIENIEN'S LAND:

HOBART tow,pr, Aelar,9-2, 1823.-1 arrived
here on the 211th Dec. last, after a most tempestuous {passage,
from the Cape of Good !lope, and being at length settled shall
proceed to give you a brief account of this fine country. Aware
that only 111 or 19 years had elapsed since the foundation of this
settlement, nothing could equal my astonishment upon landing,
to perceive the amazing progress made in banding and in culti-
vation—and immediately determined settling, bore, if I should
succeed in procuring a grant of land equal to my expec-
tations, and to the promises made me before my departure
from England. After u three months survey of the island,
my own observation being assisted by the experience of
gentleman who has resided here for nearly ten years, I applied
for and obtained a grant of 1000 acres of land, most desirably
situuted, about 30 miles distant from Launceiton. In ten years
I mu informed it will be worth to me 5,0001. and 1 propose
settinksout to-morrow to take possession. You will be aut..
prised when 1 tell you that 1 arrayed here in the finest part of
the summer season---an assertion at which you will he inclined
to smile' when you recollect it was towards the latter end of
December ; such, however, is the fact—that season correspond.
ing exactly with your beautiful month of June. On Christmas
day 1 dined at the house of. our .friend The dinner
Was excellent ; amongst the vegetables served were new pota-
toes and green peas, a circupistarice that Speaks volumes
in corroboration of my assertien you have heard much of
the beauty of this country and
the mildness of its climate,
but nothing equal to the reality ; it is in fact the finest
ever yet discovered, and is particularly agreeable to an
English constitution. I havertold you that the progre.se al-
ready made in husbandry Is great, and fortunately the pieces of
produce keep pace with its increasing amount. The same ob.
servation applies to live stock. The homed cattle of this
country are not good. They are a cross of the Bengal breed,
In consequence of the want of pasture land in the vicinity of
this town, butter and milk are extremely dear—butter five shit-
lings the pound; milk a shilling per quart. Another circum-
stance probably contributes to keep up those high prices—the
quantity of milk yielded by the cows Is very small, but exceed-
ingly rich in quality. Beef is 74. per pound,* mutton 6d. The
ewes here lamb twice asyear ; at four months nhl a lamb will
weigh thirty pounds, and for them there is always a ready
market, thus affording a quick return an any portion dis-
posed to deal in that description of stock, which j have
no
hesitation in saying is the beet that can be selected. T have al.
laded to of the horned cattle. A South
Devon belt
worth an immensee suns of money
itllitecl anitiewrior onigdueblioty
here. Oxen for draft being from 20/. to R5l. a-ptece. (food
horses would be invaluable. 'The Captain of the hip in which
I came brought out a Suffolk stallion ands mare, for which, on
landing, he was offered 600 guinea'', but he would not'take less
than 1,0001., and I believe he obtained that large price for them.
The farmers speak in raptures of the soil, The species amen
principally grown here are wheat end barley. Oats has proved
an uncertain crop, and is not. therefore, generally sown. The
avenge produce of wheat per acre Is linty bushels, and sells
readily at ten shillings the bushel. It is With wheat the
greater part of the cattle are fattened. I conversed yester-
day what a farmer, who assured me .that he had Known wheat
on the None land for eight sucettesive years, without having be-
atowed upon it a single ounce of manure; in short, he candidly
confessed that that crop mot better than any other. The plains
the interior of the island ere.adroirablyadapted for grazing.
borne of them maybe found extending to 1,090 acres, well
watered, but without s Single tree. The quality of the grass
is, however, exttemely indiffigerit; indeed, the greatest want
felt here is of good artttieial grasses. The winters are short,
and not severe; nevertbelese, a sufficient quantity of hay can-
not be saved for the consumption of the cattle at that sea-
son ; the cows, consequently "go back" in the 'winter ; an
evil that cannot be reintelied until a sufficient supply of hay
Cost be produced, grown from .English grass seeds. The
pigs here are very fine, but, as yet, are nut numerous, and
are consequently dear. All the small fruits of England
produced in this island are very fine, and most abundant,
wtt#4l4trly_gemosetrerries, currants, raspberries, and straw.
erries., 'rife appl:l-trite thrives apace, lint the cherries
grown hete, although in, great,prefUsion, are deficient in
flavour— Thissia owing to their having been grafted in
this country upon bad stOcks. Treat and -sugar, wine and!
xhorbitant price. A good foursroomed house can
rum, are- tolerably cheap, but every article of clothing is
'
,extrevagantly dear. MI dedesc'ript'ions of haberdashery are
tali most e
lie had in this town for thirty shillings. per week. Fish anti
One are very fine and abundant. Having thus informed you
of what can be had here, and at'what prices, allow me to bug-
gest, for the information of future emigrants, a few items with
which they should proyiele themeelves before leaving England
a general assortment of grass and garden seeds, fruit
trees (particularly cherry) already grafted; if unable to bring
live stock ti mean sheep or horned cattle), a brace of English
spaniels or pointers would be invaluable, game, us I have al-
ready Wit, being most abundant,.particularly snipe and quail :
even should the ituporter not-be himself a sportsman, a brece of
'
g°°4 dogs would bring an indemnifying price, upon their being
landed. lie should also be provided with some good agricul.
aural itnpl
mums ; but, above all, a large stock of clothing.—
'With these, and a moderate cupital (say Mfg. or 1,0001.), the
settlers may calculate upon attaining, in a very leiv years,
affluence and independence.

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BE rt rx, Si rr. 20.-.. The 'necessary arrangements are al-
ready making in the Hotel of the States, in the Spandau-street,
for the assembly of the States of Brandenburg and Lower Ltt-
sada, from which it is supposed they will be assembled this
autumn. However, the ordinance respecting the mode of elec-
tion &e. must be first issued, and an office must be established
in the • flume Department, under which all affairs relative to
the States will be placed, for the preparation of all such affairs.
We then expect ordinances foi the organisation of the estates
of Silesia and of those of the Western Provineett, which last
will certainly differ from the others, on account of the different
legilastive and local relations ; but the principle of the division
into the equestrian order, citizens, and peasants (or landholders),
will be stained. •