Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-12-25

rious crimes, and under the government
of governor Philip. From that time to
this, it has been made use of for the same
purpose, and is now large and impor-
tant colony, and bids fair at some future
day, to become an immensely valuable
portion OF the British dominions, OF per-
haps may grow, in the end, to powerful
independent nation. The number of in
habtants, in the year 1917, was more
than 90 thousand, who had under cult
walton near $4,000 acres of land, which
was stocked with numerous flocks and
herds, the sheep amounting to more than
10000, and the horned cattle to $4,000.
The natural productions u New-Ho
land iii plants, flowers, birds, and quadru-
peds, are rare and extraordinary. AL
though it is more than 30 years since its
settlement commenced. still, owing 10 its
y,ss.s eSt5ne~o ana Nee peculiar CHI IN,
stances Of the colony, the true character
of the interior of the country has been,
until lately, but little explored or under
stood. Within the last two or three
years, however, under the patronage of
governor Macquarrie, attempts have
been made, and with great success, to
examine and survey the uneXplored re-
gions, and the result has been such as
no only to crafty, but to surprise, the
persons engaged in the excursions
Among other discoveries thus made, we
fad an account, in the Edinburgh Re-
view for July, 1919, in an article on seve-
raj publications respecting that country,
of most majestic river, heretofore I'M
known, but winch bios fair, in its extent
and character, to eqaa the most distin-
guiShed streams on our own ccnNACry
This account is contained in despatch
from Mr.. OXley, surveyor general oft1e
settlement, 10 the governor. GATED 3Oth
August, 1879, ana is as folloAs:
" On the 10th wewere gratiGed by fall
ing in with river running through g
most beautiful country, and which I would
have been we'll contented TO have believed
was the river we were in search of. Ac-
cident led us down this stream about Z
mile, when we were surprized By its
junction with river coming from the
south, of such width and magnitude as
TO dispel all doubts as to this last being
the river We had SO anXiously looked for
Short as our resources were, we could
not resist the temptation this beautiful
country offered us to remain two days on
the junction Of the rivers, for the purpose
Of examining the vicinity TO as a6sat .aR
Nseig as possOie.
-" Our examination increased the salts
faction we had felt. As far as the eye
could reach in every direction, rich ana
picturesque country extended, abounding
in limestone, slate, good timber, and eve
ny other requisite that could render an
nacuAiUatcd country desirable. The
soil cannot be excelled whilst a noble
river, Qfthe first magnitude, affords the
meas Of conveying its productions from
one part to the other. Where l Quilted
it, its course was northerly; and we were
thennorth ofthe parallel Of Port Stevens,
being in latitude $50 As south, and l430
So cast longitude.
sit appears to me that the Macquar-
ries had taken north northwest course
from the Bathurst, and that it must have
its course from that place. We viewed
it at period best calculated to form an
accurate Judgment of its importance,
when it was neither swelicd by foods be-
yond its natural and usual height, nor
contracted within its limits by summer
droughts. OF its magnitude, when it
should have received the streams we had
crossed, independent of any it may re-
ceive from the cast, which from the
boldness and height ofthe country, pre-
sumo, must be at least as massy, some
idea may be formed, when at this point
it exceeded, in breadth and apparent
depth, the Hawkesbury at Windsor. Ma,
ny of the branches were of grandcr and
more extended proportion than the adj
mired one on the Napean river from the
Walnagumbia to Ernup !ainB.
Resolving to keep as near the river
as possible during the remainder of our
course to Bathurst, and endeavor to ascer-
tain, at least on the west side, what wa
ters fell into it, en- the 22d we proceeded
up the river, and, between the point quit
ted and Bathurst, crossed the sources Of
numberless streams all running into the
Macquarrie. Two OF them were nearly
as large as that river itself at Bathurst. :"
The Reviewers then add, that "the
nearest distance from the point at which
Mr.. Oxlcy left off, to any part ofthe wes-
tern coast, is very little short of 1000
miles. The Hawkcsbury, at Windsor,