Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-04-21
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For The Eastern Times.
Australia,

The energetic and peculiar characteristics of
the young women as well as the young men of
my own native State, prompt many of them to
emigrate, as have found it well represented
everywhere; and therefore as soma may be
looking in that direction 10 seek their fortune,
1 will commence witty its early history.
New Holland, or as il is now called, Aus
tra!ia, is one of the islands of Australasia,
name applied to the fifth grand division of the
world, and is $500 miles in length and 1000 in
breadth, lying between ATTITUDES of 10 and 80
degrees South, and longitude of liz and 154
degrees east. having circumference of 1850
miles, and is the largest island in the world
It's discovery was conceded to the Dutch, but
researches demonstrate that the Chinese had
knowledge of it long before them or any other
European navigators. How early they pos
sessed knowledge of il is unknown, but certain
it is that anterior to Vasco de -Gamas discov-
cry of the passage of Good Hope in 1879,
chart of it was in existence as drawn by Marco
Polo. He derived his information of it during
residence in China, which has been fully cor
roborated by Chinese implements of various
kinds being found in Australia as we'll as by
the native traditions of their Chinese visitors,
to whom therefore must be conceded the honor
ofthe discovery. Another chart of Australia
is to be found in the British Museum having
date of 1912, while the French claim its having
been visited by Gcnneville in 1904, though
little was known of the hydrograpy of the coun-
try until 1914, when a second expedition was
fitted out by the Dutch for further discoveries
other than what they then knew Of the n. and
N. w. coast.
From that time over century had elapsed
before any material information was acquired,
until Capt. Cook visited it in ITO on his first
voyage around the world. He landed at Bot
any Bay, to which he gave that name from the
large quantity of plants found and collected
there. He took possession of it in the name
of Great Britain, and explored the eastern and
hitherto unknown coast, on which account
England claimed can undoubted title to the
whole island" Botany Bay lies in "a deg. S,
and Isl deg. II min. E., is five miles long,
and though it was held in high estimation by
Capt. Cook, and has world wide reputation as
depot for English convicts, It in fact is enti-
tied to the credit of neither. The harbor is
unsafe, and is exposed to the strong easterly
wind which rolls a tremendous sea on the
beach, while the land adjacent is "series of
swamps and sterile sand without water" In
1857 the United States having declared their
independence and compelled England to send
Tho IF oIe
Cooks recommendation of Botany Bay as an
eligible locality for convict colony was adopt
ed, and six transports with three store ships
were despatched, with 500 convicts and 200
soldiers under Capt. Phillip, who on arrival
found it so impossible as to abandon it, since
when no convicts have been sent there Capt.
Phillips disappointment in Botany Bay, in
duccd him to visit another as described by
Cook, and called Broken Bay, some 8 miles
distant, and'for that purpose, with some Off
GERS and three boats he set out, and on his
way resolved to examine an inlet called by
Cook Boat inlet, and great was his surprise in
finding il one of the finest harbors in the
world, on the shores of which now stands the
city of Sidney. An anecdote is told of Cook
and his overlooking this place. While the
ship was passing it he was at dinner, and as
the look out at the mast head announced it
while he was so engaged, he did not get
on deck in time to see it ere it was nearly shut
in. Feeling somewhat irritated at being dis
turbed at what seemed to present SO few indi
cations worth being called on deck to see, he
censured the sailor, who still persisted in his
description of it, and which Cook caused to be
entered in the log, Port Jackson, in derision of
its discoverer Of that name, and with the addi-
tional appellative Of Boat Harbor. This mag
nihcent harbor extends into the country some
Is miles, and terminates in what is called Par
ramatta River. 1t partakes more of the char
acter of lake with nearly 100 coves or inlets,
and has an unobstructed channel in which the
navies of the world can ride entirely protected
and in safety. The water is deep, and the
harbor is so formed as to entirely shelter ships
from all the prevailing storms, and in point Of
beauty any capacity is probably unequalled.
At this place, then, miles from the head
lands, at the head of Sidney Cove, as it
was named, Capt. Phillip disembarked his
people, landed The live stock, pitched his tents,
and founded the colony. Of the convicts some
$50 were women, and the live stock consisted
of BULL cows. l bull calf, stallion,
mares and colts. In 1910, just sixty years
after, the population was 265,OO0, and the live
stock had increased to l,43O,73 head of horned
cattle and SO. l26 horses, besides $4,000 pigs,
and 7,9O6,Sll sheep, producing over 20, 0Oe, 900
pounds Of wool annually.
From the foundation Of the colony the coasts
were diligently explored, and the passage which
separates Australia from Van Diemans Land,
discovered by Surveyor Bass, from which it
derives its name, being called Bass's Straits.
The colony has gone on prospecting, and
though at first peepea by,a questionable sort
of population, as it was said Texas was pco-
Piled. yet it must be admitted they are smart
and more enterprising than those not possessed
of their faults. l recollcct once hearing lee
ture by Cen Houston on Texas, when he told
prosperity and morality of Texan society, also
of the school-houses and churches with their
spires pointing to Heaven. To whom, he asked,
are we indebted for these things and the high
moral tone which pervades our society," To
the unfortunate of New England-to those who
fed for refuge and were received, cherished,
protected and encouraged TO take new start,
and cultivate that germ, true religion, the