Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-01-13
$500 PER ANNUM, in ADVANCE,
Australia.

ne discovery OF goid tnere, anu Tie
consequent emigration Of multitudes from
England, and some even from our own
country 10 that far of region have Civ
en- this country an importance al,ogeth-
er unthought Of short time ago. and we
design 10 give our readers some informa.
ton 10 regard to this county, which.
since the discovery Of the gold regions,
has attracted so much interest. Austral.
ia is hencefor;h TO be one of the civilized
countries of the earth. and its traffic will
be an important itemin the commerce of
+ the world. Iksk A
Australia lie the largest island in the
world, and is but one-third less than the
continent Of Europe. ltis southeast of
Asia, and extends from about ten degrees
south Of latitude. and from one hundred
and fifteen to one hundred and fifty FIVE
degrees east longitude from Greenwich.
Il is about 1000 miles south. west from
San Francisco. Sidney, its chief city.
is nearly in the same degree of south
latitude that San Francisco is in north, j.
e., 3s deg. Australia has 5000 miles of
coast, and several large bays, but it has
few rivers, and these are scarcely navi.
gable. {,
In its plants, its animals. its geological
structure. and ITS appearance, il is singu-
larly different from all the rest Of the
world. Mos, of its flowers belong 70
species rarely found elsewhere, while
there are forests Of trees that grow SO
limbless and branchless. with leaves 30
small, thar they hardly cast shadow
more than the bare trunks would do,
and present all appearance singularly
sombre and unique. Among its animals
are several which have no relatives in
other parts Of world, as the Kanga-
roo. M e aEa sa&a 99 saI 6et 9#i 4
The soil is generally Of sandy or
gravelly character, and there is very
general want of moisture. Several times,
since lis settlement by the English. sc.
we're droughts have entirely cut off the
crops. Its climase is mild and delightful,
and is said to be singularly healihful.
Australia was discovered in the year
1906. but attracted very litle notice un-
Ill the year 1866. when Captain Cook
visited it. ~
In the year 1857 the English began a
convict colony, on the southeast side of
the Island, al Botany Bay, which has
now risen to large and promising coun.
Try, while several other important colo.
hies have risen up around it. There are
now four principal colonies, besides the
one on Van Dieman's Land, separate
Island lille South of Australia. These
colonies contained, before the discovery
Of the gold, between $50, 900 and 20O..
600 people, majority Of whom were
MOI convicis. The colony began to re.
ceive free colonis,s as early as 1894, and
the Swan River Colony has never been
convic! colony.
These colonies have been making rap
id progress in substantial prosperity. not
wi.hs'anding many obstacles for some
years past. Sidney, the capital is rap
idly growing city, laid out with grea,
regularity, and kept IN excellent order
and contained. before the gold discovery.
about 30, 900 people; one ff,h of whom
were conyicts, The state Of morals is,
as might be expected. bad. There is a
bitterness and hatred between those who
have once been convicts aud the few set-
tiers, that prevents all harmony. and Of
ten engenders serious strife. This will
now be better, as the principal colonies
will receive no more convicts. aud the
rapid introduction Of free settlers will
give them power they have heretofore
been deprived of. 49,
The convicts have been divided into
general classes, and treated verv a. Ger.
eutly according to their grades. The
least criminals have been engaged as la.
borers and servants, to the land owners
and others, and thus constitute class of
slaves difIused through the whole colo
ny. Other classes are wOrkcd in chain
gangs. under the constant supervision of
military men. and others still are kept in
closer con6aement.
There are among the convicts. a por-
ton OF the better class, who are called
"tlcket Of leave men," who follow wha,
they wish, as freemen. subject only to
the necessity of appearing al certain
times and certain places, n exhibit their
tickets before the proper officers.
We can see in this country the ground
work for great nation. Their British
ancestry, and so great and almost unoc.
cupied country, give the fairess oppor.u-
mites for successful enserpriss. Steam
wIliso hnksis with California, and thus
The Saxon race and English language
will 60 round the world. ST. Louis In>
telIigencer.
missIssiPPL-- Governor Foote has ap.
pointed b. N. Kenyon. Of Jacin,o, u. 8.
Senator in the place Of the Hon. Walker
Brooks, whose term expires on the 4th
Of March next. Mr.. Kenyon is a ~