PORT ESSINGTON. 387 



the departure from Sydney of the expedition des- 

 patched for the purpose of forming it, as well as 

 some remarks on the policy of giving it a purely 

 military character. That expedition reached its 

 destination on October 27, 1838, having taken formal 

 possession on the way, of Cape York and the adja- 

 cent territory. Sir Gordon Bremer's first care was 

 to select a site for the proposed township ; and 

 after due deliberation, a spot was fixed on which 

 was thought to combine all desirable advantages : 

 as good soil, the neighbourhood of fresh water, and 

 easy approach from the ships in port. In the se- 

 lection of the spot to be occupied by a settlement, 

 the capabilities of the soil must ever be the first 

 consideration ; still, however, there will always 

 exist an objection on the ground of its great distance 

 of 16 miles from the mouth of the harbour. A 

 similar disadvantage in the Falkland Islands, 

 proved of great detriment to the settlement in 

 Berkeley Sound. 



The site of Victoria, for such was the name 

 bestowed, in honour of her Majesty, on the new 

 settlement, is raised in the loftiest part about fifty 

 feet above high-water level. Upon it the plans of a 

 number of cottages and gardens were rapidly marked 

 out; and it was not long before this hitherto desolate 

 spot presented the appearance of a large straggling 

 village. A pier was speedily run out into the sea; and 

 a good road cut to it. The church, also, which I 

 have before mentioned, was soon to be distinguished, 



2 c 2 



