270 HOBARTON AND LAUNCESTON. [L839 



on the island. The former is the seat of government, and 

 is situated on the Derwent, about twenty miles from its 

 mouth. Its fine harbor, which has been described, affords ii 

 great commercial advantages, and it is rapidly increasing in 

 wealth, population, and importance. In 1838 its tonnage 

 already amounted to 6079 tons ; and the number of its in- 

 habitants was 14,382, over thirty-five hundred of whom 

 were convicts. Its position is highly picturesque. It lies on 

 the declivities of two hills, sloping gently upwards, on either 

 hand, from the valley of a small stream that intersects them, 

 and is surrounded by delightful villas and country residences, 

 tastefully disposed amid groves, and orchards, and gardens, 

 of surpassing luxuriance and beauty. In the rear of the 

 town, on the west, tower up the rough and rocky walls, and 

 the battlemented heights, of Table Mountain, to an elevation 

 of four thousand feet above the sea. The streets are wide, 

 and for the most part intersect each other at right angles. It 

 is regularly and neatly built, and possesses, among its archi- 

 tectural attractions, a spacious and handsome government 

 house, a pretty church, constructed of brick, and a jail. It 

 has, also, a large and convenient quay, at which vessels of 

 the heaviest burden can load or unload. 



Launceston lies on the Tamar, about forty miles from its 

 mouth, and, in 1838, contained about six thousand inhabit- 

 ants. It is pleasantly and agreeably situated, and is laid out 

 with uniformity and regularity. Most of the houses are of 

 two stories in height, and it contains some very good public 

 buildings. Georgetown, at the mouth of the Tamar, is a 

 pretty little village, to which the inhabitants of Launceston 

 resort for sea-bathing, and to enjoy the fine breezes. 



(12.) Sydney, however, the capital and seat of govern- 

 ment of New South Wales, is the chief mart of the Aus- 

 tralian colonies, and the commercial entrepot and emporium 

 of all the settlements in its vicinity. It is likewise a favorite 

 place of resort, to refit or to obtain supplies, of the whalers 

 that frequent the " middle ground" between New Zealand 

 and Australia. This town contained a population of aboui 



