BY JAMES BACKHOUSE WALKER. 169 



that it appeared to be the most eligible situation for the 

 seat of government. It had taken him three weeks to 

 get his people fairly settled at Outer Cove, and he was 

 now free to go up the river and thoroughly examine the 

 country. On the 28th November, therefore, he went on Patereon's 

 board 'the Lady Nelson. He took with him Surgeon Journal, 606. 

 Mountgarrett ; with Ensign Piper, and a corporal and 

 3 privates of the N. S. Wales Corps, as a guard. They 

 ascended the river, making observations of the country 

 and soil as they went, till they arrived at the junction of 

 the two rivers forming the present port of Launceston ; 

 and here the vessel came to anchor. Paterson was 

 greatly pleased with the park-like country on the present 

 site of Launceston, and considered it better pasture land 

 than the Seven Hills, near Parramatta. The party now 

 proceeded up the main river (now North Esk)_in the 

 ship's boat and the Governor's wherry. The journal 

 notes the rich plains on the river banks ; and further on 

 (near St. Leonard's) the beautiful rising ground to the 

 left, the green hills covered to the top with trees, and on 

 the other side of the river — which was about 20 yards 

 wide — the plain with stately gums, great wattles 60 to 80 

 feet high, and dense scrub. They pushed on with diffi- 

 culty, the river being blocked with drift-wood and fallen 

 trees, and various rapids giving them much trouble, 

 until they reached a point — -apparently about the White 

 Hills — above which they found it impossible to take the 

 boat. Here they pitched their tent on a rising ground, 

 and looked with" delight over the rich plains, or rather 

 meadows, covered with luxuriant herbs and pasture, and 

 waiting for the plough. Paterson says, " From my tent ibid., 515. 

 there is an extent which is seen in one view of nearly 

 three miles in length and at places one in breadth, along the 

 banks of the river, where thousands of acres may be 

 ploughed without falling a tree. These plains extend 

 upwards of 10 miles along the winding banks, and 

 everywhere equally fertile." He found good clay for 

 bricks, abundant timber for building, reeds for thatching, 

 with everything necessary for agricultural settlement, 

 and considered the country superior to any yet discovered. 

 They made excursions on foot some miles further up the 

 river ; and then, " having ascertained to a certainty that 

 the country in general can hardly be equalled either for 

 agricultural or pasture land," they made their way back 

 down the river, and reached the Lady Nelsoti near the 

 Cataract, after an absence of four days. Paterson 

 describes the Cataract Gorge, with its stupendous 



