207 

 VAN DIEMAN'S LAND. 



To the Editor of the " South Devon Monthly Museum." 

 Should the following observations, on Van Dieman's Land, suit 

 the pages of the *^ Museum" you will oblige me by their insertion . 

 I have not long returned from this Island; where I resided 

 many months; and, during the time I was there, had many 

 opportunities of making myself well acquainted with it. 



Many and various are the stories in circulation respecting this 

 Island, some extolling it as an " El Dorado," where you can 

 pick up gold in the streets ; while others say that it is only fit for 

 a penal settlement for those, who, by reason of their offences, are 

 obliged to leave their own country, "in medio tu tutissimus 

 ibis;" and, I think, by following the middle course, between 

 these two extremes, I shall be nearer the truth. I am aware that 

 T am liable to bring upon myself the imputation of vanity and 

 presumption, by writing on a subject on which so many able and 

 interesting works have been published ; but I contend that, from 

 the price of these books, there is a bar put against their getting 

 into the hands of those who most require them to assist their 

 judgment. Therefore, if I am happy enough to set any person 

 right in any particular, respecting the propriety of emigration, I 

 shall be amply repaid. I shall, in this paper, give a cursory 

 description of the Island; its principal towns, government, 

 produce, &c.; -and, in the next, I shall treat on the propriety of 

 emigrating thither. 



Van Dieman's Land was first discovered by Tasman, a Dutch 

 circumnavigator, who gave it the name it now bears, in honor of 

 his friend the then Governor of Batavia: it was subsequently 

 visited by Captain Cook, and many other navigators, who all 

 declared it to be a part of the west continent of New Holland ; 

 and Captain Cook states in his " Voyages," that, although he < 

 sought for a considerable time, he could find no straits; and 

 he gives it as his opinion that none such could exist. What 

 could not be discovered by search was at last found out by 

 accident; Mr. Bass was driven off from the coast of New Hol- 

 land, in a whale boat, and was drifted through these straits, to 

 which he gave his name, and thus established beyond all doubt, 

 that this was an Island. It extends from 40 degrees, 30 minutes, 

 South Latitude, to 43 degrees, 36 minutes. South Latitude ; and 

 from 144 degrees, 40 minutes, East Longitude, to 148 degrees, 

 East Longitude. -- 



