130 Mr. Marspen’s Notice respecting the Natives of New Guinea. 
fectly acquainted. Whatever degree of importance may attach to it can be 
relative only to the very slight knowledge we have of the country or its 
inhabitants. ‘There is reason to expect, however, that the cloud which 
has hung over it will ere long be dispelled, as we learn from the public 
Gazettes that directions were some years since given by the Government of 
the Netherlands for taking possession in the King’s name of its western 
coast, and that accordingly a settlement was formed, in August 1828, at 
a river in lat. 3° 42’ S., nearly opposite to the North coast of New Holland ; 
where the natives are represented to be not wholly uncivilised. From the 
known liberality of his Majesty’s sentiments we have the strongest grounds 
to hope that, with a view to the extension of geographical knowledge, and 
in order to satisfy rational curiosity on a subject of general interest, pub- 
licity will from time to time be given to the circumstances attending the 
new establishment, and to the progress of discovery in a quarter that has 
not hitherto been scientifically explored. 
