Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-11-13
New South WnIes-SaturnI Beauties OF
sydney.


sydney.
We arc permitted to publish the following
extracts from Il private letter Of an accomplish
ed Virginia lady, now soourning on the oppo-
site side Of the globe Shit writes from Sydney,
New South Wales, on the 2lst Of August, and
her sketches are vivid:
Now let me give you, if can, Il description
of Sydney There areso many beauties to de-
scribe, hardly know where TO begin. The
city itself is finely built somewhat English in
style, but relieved by light Verandahs or long
piazzas. One great beauty Of the place is, that
ten minutes walk from any part Of the city
will take you out Of the sound Of business,
and away from the dusty streets, into vast
| grounds called 1.-THE Domain" which are laid
| out in walks and drives, but otherwise left rs
| Nature formed them There are innImerable
shadc.trccs; a luxury Victoria cannot boast Of
possessing. One portion Of the grounds juts
out into the Bay for 4 long distance and rises
high above the water This is terminated by
masked battery, at the very point, from which
you have fine view Of the Bay and 4 portion
Of the City This Bay is the most beautiful
thing ever saw From whatever point you
| look ut it, you can only see portion at time,
consequently it is an cver-changng delight
From the masked battery you can see Fort
Macquarc, aud above this the Governors (Sir
! William Dennison) house, which is fine cas-
tcllatcd building, standing in prominent posi-
ton, surrounded by fine trees In the centre
of this portion of the Bay, is an Island called
Pinchgut, because q prisoner was put upon
this spot and left TO starve 1t has now q fine
Fort on it. called Fort Denison. Two more
Forts are in sight from this point. Hills rise
up in all directions from the water, and you
constantly see the roofs or pUrticos Of fine
houses peepng from amid the trees. The Do
main cncircles the Botanical gardens, which
are formed in one Of the numerous bends Of the
Bay. This constant indcntaton in the Bay, is
one of its chief beauties. There are Bays within
the Bay, and all have distinctive names. The
gardens are in q high state Of cultivation, and
every Tuesday, the Band Of the 10Th plays
there, and it is, therefore, Il very fashionable
promenade One day last week we drove out
to the Heads, or rather the South Heads, and
never in my life did enjoy such ride. There is
only Ape ride can at all compare with it, the
drive once took to San Matco, in California.
The distance is seven miles, and you get con-
slant views of the Bay, and each view seems
moro beautiful than the last. After having en-
hausted all the terms Of admiration in the vo-
cabuary, you are reduced 10 saying "Oh !" at
every new disclosure. The whole road is stud
ded with beautiful houses and fine grounds
but all are subservicnt to the natural scenery.
When YOU reach the Heads, the scene is mag.
niliccnts You are surrounded by frowning
ROCKS and fearful prccipiccs, robbed Of their
terrors by the lovely glimpscs of the smiling
Bay which here flows into the sea. 1t is like
young child clasping the neck Of an old man,
you forget the grave in looking at the bright
young life. Far, far below you, rolls away
the ocean with its ceaseless moan, rolling on
and on rs lift were rolling into eternity. The
entrance to the Heads is very small, and was
originally passed by Captain Cook, he deem
ing it only boat passage. At The side Of the
LEADS, the rocks take n sudden bend in and at
this spot called the Little GaT, because there
is a larger one within the llcais) there occur
red a most fearful tragedy It happened three
years ago, the Goth Of this month. y vessel
from London called the Dunbar was wrecked
here during fearful storm in the middle Of
the night, and all on board persisted, save one
sailor who was IuiraculouSly thrown up into
one of the inches Of the rock. The captain in
trying to make out the Heads lnistook the Gap
for them, and rushed on to destruction. The
storm was so fearful, and the waves dashed so
madly against the rocks, that nothing was
known Of the disaster until the morning, and
then most dreadful sight presented ITSELF
Nothing remained Of the ship save one spar
that stood above the angry waters but hum
dreds Of bodies came up on the towering waves,
and then were washed away without the small.
est chance Of rescurng them. At first no one
knew the name Of the ship, and thousands Of
people came from the city. When il was known,
they say, the scene on the cliffs was fearful, as
the ship contained $50 Of the principal citizens
of Sydney, returning from visit to Ensls1,d
Many recognized relatives as they were washed
for moment, then carried forever beyond
their gaze The poor fellow who survived was
thirty six hours in his perilous position before
he could be rescued As | stood over the spot
it made mcheart sick, and prayed that
might never meet 50 fearful "a fate as to perish
almost at the threshold Of my own home. |
love to live in the vicinity OF the ocean, but |
certainly dislike crossing it, and although ain
crazy to come home, | dread the journey. We
have still many beautiful places to visit, and
the passion for sightseeing is daily growing |
upon ME.
DEDIcArloN.-The now Catholic Church, on !
25th street, Church Hill, was dedicated on