The Sun.
London, England, 1823-10-31 00:00:00

NEW SOUTH WALES.

By a late arrival from New South Wales, Sid.
ney Gazettes to the 17th April, inclusive, have
been received.''he following is an extract :

INTERIOR OF THE COUNTRY.

" SIDNEY, APRIL Io.—We have long been anxious to re-
port something relative to the interior of this country, which
should not only be capable of imparting encouragement and sa-
tisfaction to the enterprising Colonist, but also be marked -by
that veracity which should hereafter be incapable of refutation.
Mr. Frazer, the Colonial Botanist, an eye-witness, of what lie
describes, and whose researches in these Colonies are too well
known to require any eulogium from our pen, istbe individual
from whom we derive the following information
,respecting
Wellington Valley, which is situate in lat. 32. deg. 32m. 45 sec.
South, and long. 49. deg. 29 min. East. It is bounded on the
North by the Macquarie River ; on the South, by the Narugal
Hills ; on the West by the Olenfinlas range ; and on the East,
by ranges of low and fertile hills. its extreme length, by mo-
derate computation, is about twenty-five miles, and its ex.
treme breadth about three. Bell's River, a stream of conside-
rable magnitude, meanders through its centre, dividing it into
a series of unconnected plains, beautifully distributed on both
sides of the river, each containing on the average .upwards of
one thousand acres of the richest land imaginable. The
grapes and herbage are roost luxuriant, and the banks of the
river are in many places covered with an impenetrable
brush of herbaceous plants. Twelve miles South of the
confluence of Bell's River, and the Macquarie, the valley
gradually contracts, and the range on each side assumes a
more elevated form, although not less fertile) and the plains
retain their character throughout. The timber trees are prin-
cipally olive, pine, Casuarina (what the settlers call the Oak-
tree), and that known by the Colonists under the name of the
Apple-tree ; all of, them exceeding an) thing seen on the east
coast. On the Olenfinlas range are abundance of cypress of
considerable dimensions, which have a' picturesque' appear.
ance, and resemble at a distance the Scotch pine. The rivers
abound in excellent fish, many of which have been known to
weigh upwards of 401bs. ; fresh-water turtle has been caught
weighing 151bs. Wild fowls (amongst which may be enume-
rated emus, pelicans, swans, ducks,l teal, quail, &e. &c.) are
in the greatest abundance ; kangaroos are numerous. The
geology of this tract is very interesting : On the South Bank
of the Macquarie, three miles south-east of M. Oxley's encamp-
ment, are beds of green stone, containing very fine agates;
the hills bounding the valley are composed of mountainlime.
stone of the very best quality. The Glentinlaa range is prin.

cipally formed of breccis, susceptible of a very excellent polish:
slate has been observed in abundance a few mileslowar down.
Jasper and porphyry have been,seen in large beds on the neigh-
bouring ranges ; and granite abounds on the ranges south-
east of the valley. Glenfinlas - presents a description of sce-
nery distinct from'any thing in the hithertacolonised districts
of Austrialasia. The appearance of the dark green cypress
and precipitous rocks, added to the peaked forms of the moun-
tains, is truly grand ; and the opening of the glen into the vei-
-1 ley is magnificent. The contrast between the two views is in-
describable. On the whole, the valley and the surrounding
country may be justly termed one of the most interesting tracts
ever passed over."

ORIGIN OP TUE SLAVE TRADE.--it is worthy (1)

remark, that this barbarous traffic originated in a I
mistaken notion of humanity, and was, introduc-
ed by the most humane of null, the virtuous LA*
CAstts, the friend and advocate of the suffering
American Indians. Indignant at the barbarity
'with which the Spaniards treated the unhappy
natives of America, and finding his efforts and
exhortations of no avail, he repaired to Spain,
and not only warmly advocated the cause'of the
Indians, but recommended that negroes should
be carried to America, as better ablq to bear the

ratigue of wtorking,the plantations and the mines:
his recommendation was readily adopted ; the
native Indians were better treated, and the Slave

rade was established.

ORIGIN OF LITERARY Jounarm.s.--Literary
Journals seem to have originated in France.—
The idea first occurred to Devis de Salto, who,
on the 30th of May, 1665, published the first
number of the Journal des Seavans. The Jour=
Rai of Leipsic appeared in 1684, under the title
of Acta Eruditorum, edited by Markenins; and
in 1684 Bay le began his Nouvelles de la Repub.
clue des Leares.—lt seems that newspapers be-
gan in England during the civil wars under
Charles I.

ST. HELENA.--'Phis immense craggy rock (or
according to the geographer, 1-4 hat we may ven-
ture to call the 'bland of Rai's) until of late
years, excited but little interest, except to the
occupants of ships passing to and from the East
Indies : by them the approach to St. Helena was
always a source of joy, as affording means for
obtaining fresh water and potatoes, which latter
are in considerable cultivation there. What St.
Helena became when it was made the residence—
the place of captivity—the scpulchre--of him who
had awed Europe, and ravaged it too--Britain's

favoured Isle excepted, modern historians have
pourtrayed in shades and colours nearly as varie-
gated as those by which nature has distinguished
the soil of their recital. What. St. Helena now
is, our readers shall learn from us, as we haie it
from an intelligent Gentleman direct from the

place ;..it just the reverse of whet it has been ;
no ships of war to intercept intercourse, no
bay to interdict uninterrupted perambulation,

Pven to a. peep at the modest tomb of " General

BUONAPAIiTE;" which is now the only induce-
ment to the landing of strangers. All shops are
closed up, the precautionary fortifications are
slowly but surely proceeding to decay ; the new
house transmitted from England as a suitable re.
sidence for the once greatest captive of the age,
is converted into ,a public school ; Longwood has
assumed its native insignificance ; indeed in every
particular, this 46 speck in the ocean," is again in
appearance and effect, a mere watering place for
shi pping.—(Recter Ga.:elle.)
On Wednesday afternoon an accident happeqqd
in Oxford-street, which had nearly proved fatal to
three persons. A gentleman driving a gig,in which
was a lady, with an infant at her breast, when by
some circumstance the horse took fright, and went,
off with alarming speed: the gentleman,in attempt-
ing to pull the animal n,broke the reins, by which
lie lost all command,and it, was feared that he, the
lady, and her child,would be killed every instant.
However, they kept their seats undaunted, and
the horse was eventutrily stopped,' uithout any
injury being sustained. 'I he lady, of course, I,vaN
much alarmed, and on being assisted from the
gig, fainted.