Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-02-11

a has bcenproposed The Royal Geographical Society,"
true to its functions and desrous Of producing fruits be-
yond curious discussions at periodical meetings,
proposed to the Duke Of NEWCASTLE Colonial Secreta-
ry about fur months ago, scheme for the beginning
to acquire ssme knowledge Of Australia, and soughthe
assistance o the Government the extent Of grant of
500 to aid the object Further consideration has in
duced the Geographical Society increase this asked for
assistance TO e3500 which there every TO sup
pose viii be readily granted 1t is certainly time that
something known Of the physical and natural cond-
on the capabilities and resources of that vast continent
The public mind is filled with associations of the most
thriving colonies recorded in hstorywith Sydney
victora, South Australia, West Australia Van Demans
Land and New Zealand. Putting aside altogether the
recent gd discoveries it is about thirty years since it
became evident that the British possessions in that quar-
were likely to grow into the greatest Importance not
only as ayorable place for surplus population to set
tie In b alsa as source from whence could be derived
soma Or e important materials for the support
of Engf and also for the encouragement
the consumption ofthose manufactures
Since then sry year has strengthened these cOnscSns
for every year has proved that they were welounded
The extent to which the Australian colonies have been
used for emigration is familiar to all The names ofplaces
in those remote regions have become familiar as house
49,
the skilled industry Of this country, second only in its
Importance and extent to the cotton manufacture the
value Of the Australian colonies is well known In fact
it would be dffcultto find parallel in the history Of
trade to the progress of woogrowng in those colonies
The first wool from Australia received curiosity
in England either in 1872 or 1918, and slight the
progress that the importation had made in 1878 that the
whole produce of tie colonies was lost in single ship,
burnt at sea- In 1924 the entire importation Of foreign
wool amounted to upwards Of 80 100000 lbs, of which
only $50 900 lbs of Australian produce The
ity has been rapidly increasing, until IN 1858, the i'm
ports Of Australian wool exceeded So lbs Those
who are best acquainted with the wooen manufactures
Of this country Will best estimate the Importance Of these
supplies from Australia. The marvellous development of
these colonies snte the discovery of the godfeds and
their wonderful effects upon emigration, exports shipping
and commerce and business of every description too
generally known to need expstating upon.
Notwithstanding all these Considerations, what is known
even at the day OF this British continent
tending forty degrees from east to west and thirty de-
grees from north to south? England claims every inch
Of its coast every of ss extent British colonies
have been planted along ysry insignificant portion Of
its coast and spesk of its land The who
the coast has not fact been explored and of the rest
Of the country the interior of this and important
possession nothing is literally known Is the centre
great lake, great desert or great-what All sorts
Of theories have been entertained 1t may be rich n
duating well watered and well wooded country possess
ing the most valuable Minerals and capable Of the most
perfect cultivation. Is not the question worth deciding
Is the of the highest Importance to coming
generations and Of over-powering interest to England
her alone, but philosophers phlanthropsts,
and patriots Of the present day in every country The
Victoria river on the northwest has been navgaed
for seventy miles froits mouth The Albert river
ming into the bay spentxia, has also been penetra
cd about sixty miles. But one has the slightest idea
what lies beyond those points between those rivers
Admitting that the Government strange as it may seem
has not felt it to be duty to explore SO mportanta pos
session how is it that scientific curiosity geographical
has never proved sufficient for the purpose 1t
is fact that literally nothing has yetbeen done, either
by the Government or individual exerton to peaetrate
and discoyer the interior Of Australia from which the
most immediately practical end important results might
be expeccd However have stated, the good work
is about to be commenced in small way certainly but
the first step if not every thing, is good DEAL and we
hope it will be taken in right direction and IN right
spirit We hope that the Royal Geographical Society
have assured themselves Of the Adequacy OF the means TO
accomplish the undertaking which they propose, which IS
to ascend the Victoria river beyond che point previously
attained IN the expectation Q! iailoS IL WAN Ing Aeu
waters Of tie Albert river which the party would in that
case descend into the Gulf of CarpcHtaria As small
poytion of the work be done readily admit the I'M
portance Of this proposal but the man feature OF any
scheme to be dcberaveiy undertaken appears most
nadequate and unworthy of the necessities Of the case
What is obviously required and what will be discredia-
Bile to England il longer neglected. is an exploration and
survey of the remainder of the coast and next that the
interior of the country should be known which only
be thoroughly done by forcing way right across the land
from one side to the otherrsm the Victoria river on
the northwest coast Sydney and from the Gulf
of Carpentaria to South Australia the points
benr about two thousand miles in the former direction,
and about one thousand miles in the latter How these
objects are best be obtained is matter for grave con-
sderation bat nothing i-digested, hasty or nconpe
tent must lie attempted. Faure must result from made
in any respect and that the cause Of
ment must be seduously guarded against,
From the consideration of this fair and peaceful subject
we reluctantly turn to the revolving Of war Tor i
now seems all certain that Europe is the eve Of
war f indeed the first blow has been already struck
ANY post may bring of hostile collisions any
gazette may contain the formal declaration of war Eng.
land is about entering the lists with secondrate po'en-
tate but with the aest Sovereign ruling
sensve territory in Europe The results OF the cUutss the
questions which may arise in the fit the changes
which may be the consequences of its issue, second
in magnitude to none which, MS nation, England has
ever had 10 face 1t will be- contest in which the Gov
ernment and the people will be called upon to perform
most important duties. The first duty Of the Government
viii be prosecute the war with the most determined