NEW SOUTH WALES. 171 



clothes of the persons who were on shore ; he was also satisfied that 

 a single loaded musket in the hands of those left in the boat, would 

 have been the means of saving these two valuable lives. 



I had, in a conversation with Mr. Williams at Upolu, expressed my 

 belief that the savage inhabitants of the New Hebrides would not be 

 safely visited without the means of defence. He had in reply 

 declared himself averse to the use of fire-arms or any other weapon 

 in the propagation of the gospel ; being of opinion that it would be 

 more easily and effectually disseminated without them. 



The missionary cause has sustained a great loss in Mr. Williams's 

 death ; for in him were united a true spirit of enterprise and fervent 

 zeal, with great perseverance and a thorough knowledge of the native 

 character. I still think with melancholy pleasure of the acquaintance 

 I had the good fortune to form with him. 



The town of Sydney may, for convenience of description, be con- 

 sidered as divided into two parts; the line that separates them 

 coincides nearly with that of George Street, the Broadway of 

 Sydney. The old town lies on the east side of this line, and 

 occupies the eastern promontory of the Cove ; it is the least reputable 

 part, and is almost filled "with grog-shops and brothels, except at its 

 extreme eastern quarter, where there are a few genteel buildings, in 

 agreeable situations. The streets to the south and west of George 

 Street are well laid out, and are rapidly filling up with good houses. 



George Street extends in a direction nearly north and south for 

 two or three miles, as far as Brickfield Hill, which is also nearly 

 covered with buildings. On George Street are many of the public 

 buildings, among which are the barracks, the markets, the post-office, 

 and the banks. The remaining buildings which front upon it are 

 chiefly occupied as shops, in which almost every description of 

 European manufactures may be procured, and some of them at 

 moderate prices. Several streets run parallel, and others at right 

 angles to George Street. 



The houses of Sydney are for the most part well built and com- 

 modious. On the western side of the town are many handsome 

 buildings and extensive public grounds ; towards the eastern side is a 

 large square, called Hyde Park, upon which are situated the offices 

 of the colonial government, the church of St. James, and the Catholic 

 cathedral. 



Sydney contains about twenty-four thousand inhabitants, which is 

 about one-fifth part of the whole population (120,000) of the colony; 



