KJ96.] STATE OF SOCIETY. M 



of about 3000 feet, and runs in a north and south direction at 

 the distance of from eighty to a hundred miles from the sea-side. 

 The Macquarie figures in the map as a respectable river, and it 

 is the largest of those draining this part of the water-shed ; yet 

 to my surprise I found it a mere chain of ponds, separated from 

 each other by spaces almost dry. Generally a small stream is 

 running; and sometimes there are higli and impetuous floods. 

 Scanty as the supply of the water is throughout this district, it 

 becomest still scantier further inland. 



22nd. — I commenced my return, and followed a new road 

 called Lockyer's Line, along which the country is rather more 

 hilly and picturesque. This was a long day's ride ; and the house 

 where I wished to sleep was some way off the road, and not easily 

 found. I met on this occasion, and indeed on all others, a very 

 general and ready civility among the lower orders, which, when 

 one considers what they are, and what they have been, would 

 scarcely have been expected. The farm where I passed the night, 

 was owned by two young men who had only lately come out, 

 and were beginning a settler's life. The total want of almost 

 every comfort was not very attractive ; but future and certain 

 prosperity was before their eyes, and that not far distant. 



The next day we passed through large tracts of country in 

 flames, volumes of smoke sweeping across the road. Before noon 

 we joined our former road, and ascended Mount Victoria. I 

 slept at the Weatherboard, and before dark took another walk to 

 the amphitheatre. On the road to Sydney I spent a very pleasant 

 evening with Captain King at Dunheved ; and thus ended my 

 little excursion in the colony of New South Wales. 



Before arriving here the three things which interested me 

 most were — the state of society amongst the higher classes, the 

 condition of the convicts, and the degree of attraction sufficient 

 to induce persons to emigrate. Of course, after so very short a 

 visit, one's opinion is worth scarcely anything; but it is as diffi- 

 cult not to form some opinion, as it is to form a correct judg- 

 ment. On the whole, from what I heard, more than from what 

 I saw, I was disappointed in the state of society. The whole 

 community is rancorously divided into parties on almost every 

 subject. Among those who, from their station in life, ought to 

 be the best, many live in such open profligacy that respectable 



