MONTHLY REVIEW OF LITERATURE AND ART. 343 



country upon points in which both countries are equally interested, 

 and the true knowledge of which must be of equal benefit to both. 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE COLONIES OF NEW SOUTH WALES AND VAN 

 DIEMEN'S LAND. BY JOHN HENDERSON. CALCUTTA, 1832. 



MR. HENDERSON proceeded to Van Diemen's Land from Bengal 

 in 1829, for the benefit of his health ; and during nearly a year's stay 

 made several excursions into the interior of the country. Although 

 it appears our author's first impressions were favourable to the belief 

 that the colony had made a satisfactory progress, he was afterwards 

 constrained to alter his opinion, and was led to enquire into the 

 causes of general distress, which now, more particularly, affects the 

 colony of New South Wales. 



The result of his inquiries and of his own experience is comprised 

 in this closely printed volume, which contains many facts things 

 which, although stubborn, are at all times more or less important, and 

 many speculations or panaceas which may be well worth the time and 

 attention of the government at home. 



Indeed, the policy of the government towards the convict is repre- 

 sented to be, and we believe truly, at the same time expensive, inef- 

 ficaceous as regards the settlement, and injurious to the individual. 

 Mr. Henderson also proposes certain plans, whereby the introduction 

 of a better class of settlers may be accomplished, with a view to the 

 speedy fkosperity of the whole settlement ; and if we sometimes 

 fancy that we perceive a tendency to prove too much against the go- 

 vernment at home, and a somewhat sanguine estimation of the capa- 

 bilities of the two colonies, we must not forget to state that the author 

 has availed himself of better opportunities of arriving at the truth, as 

 respects both, than we can boast, or than we wish to trouble the go- 

 vernment in finding for us. 



Let us give Mr. Henderson's picture of a new settler, as a speci- 

 men of his style, and as a ee preventive check" to the ardour of those 

 whom Malthusian doctrines, coming in aid of necessity, are daily 

 thrusting from our own shores. 



" We shall choose a morning in spring, the sweetest in the year ; our 

 place the banks of a dark rolling stream, where our settler and his esta- 

 blishment have bivouacked, for the advantage of the water. A slight sheet 

 for a tent protects them from the midnight dew, and under its scanty canopy 

 are laid the settler, his wife, and three children. Notwithstanding the fa- 

 tigues of the preceding stage they have slept but little, and are now all 

 awake with the first dawn of day. The sky is without a cloud ; the air 

 bracing and delightful. The notes of the early thrush have given place to 

 those of the Derwent magpie, who, perched on a lofty gum-tree, is 

 chaunting in rich full notes his natural melody. The restless and noisy 

 minas are disputing amidst the bright yellow blossoms of a neighbouring 

 wattle, while many a smaller warbler is breathing forth, in cheering tones, 

 his early matins. 



" Close by the embers of a waning fire, are seen the figures of four con- 

 victs, the assigned servants, who are sleeping soundly and undisturbed. 

 They are familiarised to such scenes, old steady hands, who have passed 

 through many a settler ; have known a road-gang or two, and mayhap a 

 penal settlement. No care occupies their bosoms ; to them the present 



