The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-07
From Sharps's Magazine.

he ENGLISH IN AuSTRALtA.-fO or ages Aus
traa lay in it's original condition, untrodden by
the feet of white men In ITO, Captain Cook,
immortazed as minister of civilization, observed
on the eastern coast hnrbor whose shores were
covered with variety of beautiful plants. He
called the place Botany Bay. To him it was en-
deared by associations Of delights to us its name
is repulsve, as attached to a sink Of crime. After
this voyage, accounts Of the unknown southern
land were circulated through Europe. 1t WINS at
this unhappy period that the oligarchy Of Eng
land, blinded by selfish passion, abandoned her
interests and lost the brightest jewel in her en-
pire. The American colonies, revolving under
oppression, procl lined their independence, and
the mother State having cast from her bosom the
quest child she had nurtured, went forth again to
seek new home for her offspring in the waste
places Of the world An Australian settlement
was projected for the reception of convicted
criminals. An expedition was at once equipped
II consisted of two vessels Of war, six Transports
and three storeships. On board were SOC male
and 1872 female convicts; l60 marines with their
usual complement Of crews. Provisions, tools,
implements, and materials were provided Bur
dened with its load Of crime, the squadron spread
sail for the " Unknown Southern Lard"
The expedition reached the shores Of Australia
in January, 1888. A sailor named Jackson, dis
covered through gap in the line Of cliffs, the
magnificent harbor named in honor OF it's discov-
erer. The situation was preferred to that Of Bot
stepped out of them, literally under the shadow
Of forest. All was wild and silent. The tents
were pitched, an encampment was arranged the
axe and spade were act TO work, and the English
name and nation were for the first tim. established
in Australia. On that distant shore, then clothed
with dreary woods, there row stands the capital
of great colony, prosperous city, embeshed
with beautiful structures, populous and rich, and
stamped with the impresa OF civilization Scarcely
sixty-two years, therefore, have elapsed since
the birth Of colony now ourivalling, in the rapid
growth Of its importance, every other in the word
But new South Wales did not spring-it s,rug-
gled into prosperity. The early years Of its eNis-
tencs were full of trouble. The qualities Of the
soil were not undcrsood the crops were scanty;
the convicis were idle and greedy; The military
were insubordinate; supplies arrived at distant in
tervals, and the hope Of the settlers were depres-
sed by the dread Of famine Scarcity and disease
made havoc among them, and before four months
had passed, gaows cas-, its i'll omened shadow
over the birth place Of Sydney. youth, only
seventeen years Of age, stained the infant city
with crime, and was cut off Sin the land Of pro-
mise by the hands Of the hahgman. Another
miserable creature, during a time Of want, swat
lowed eight pounds Of -four cakes at a meal, and
died of surfeit. Others, sharing the ignorance of
more educated classes in England, conceived the
idea OF escape by travelling overland to China
They started on their journey, and were never
more heard Of Probably they were killed by the
natives, but possibly, also, some became domes-
ticaied among them, and relapsed in the savage
state Of life. Recently, 1t is well known, some
sailors did SO, on the coast above Moreton bay -
The colony struggled for existence during many
| years.
A settlement was founded a, Norfolk island, to
relieve Sydney from some of it's convict popun.
tlon, bpt, N spite Of every exertion, the century
drew TO close while New South Wales was in
the most unpromising condition. Deudcd by
dreams OF sudden fortune, many spent their
time IN an Improbable search for gold One OF
the conyicts. noticing the passion Of his compan-
ions, resolved 70 profit by it. With guinea and
brnss buckle he manufactured a specimen NJ ore,
and declared he had found il near the hills. The
fraud was detected; mstcod of tbs reward bs
looked for, the former received Aogaing, and,
afterward committing more serious offence
ended his life on the scaifold. contrast between
the Condition Of the colony during the frs, years