174 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



the prices of land, labour, and food, were estimated, and for it they 

 were freely exchanged. Even for the charitable purpose of erecting 

 a public hospital, Governor Macquarie granted to four individuals, 

 who defrayed the whole expense, the monopoly of the right of pur- 

 chasing all the spirits imported into the colony, and of landing them 

 free of duty, for several years, with the additional consideration of a 

 quantity of rum from the king's stores.* 



The old Government-House, where I had the honour of seeing Sir 

 George Gipps, is a low, cottage-shaped building, which has no pre- 

 tensions to beauty, and appears to have been built at different times, 

 having been enlarged as often as additional accommodation was 

 needed. During the summer months, the Governor resides at the 

 Government-House at Paramatta. 



A new palace or government-house is at present building, in the 

 public grounds which lie to the eastward of the old one, from which a 

 road extends through them towards the South Head of Port Jackson. 

 This road is the usual promenade and drive of the citizens of Sydney. 

 After leaving the government domain, it enters Wooloomoloo, a region 

 covered with the country-seats and cottages of the higher classes, 

 which, although originally little more than a barren rock, has been 

 brought into a high state of cultivation by its occupants. The drive 

 in this direction may challenge comparison for beauty with any part 

 of the world. It presents innumerable and picturesque views of the 

 noble bay, and of the promontories that jut into it, occupied by man- 

 sions and ornamental grounds. On reaching the South Head, a view 

 of great beauty is also seen. The point thus named, is a bold head- 

 land, about two hundred and fifty-four feet in height, on which stands 

 the light-house, a fine tower, with a brilliant revolving light. 



The public grounds are in part occupied by a Botanical Garden, 

 which was laid out by Mr. Cunningham, the botanist of the colony, 

 to whose memory a monument is about to be erected in the garden, 

 which is itself a memorial of his fine taste, and his successful 

 cultivation of the science he professed. Mr. Cunningham perished 

 by a melancholy death, which is still spoken of with regret. He 

 had, in his capacity of botanist, accompanied Major Mitchell, the 

 Surveyor-General of the colony, on a tour of exploration in 1835. 



* It is related, that a highly respectable individual transmitted complaints against 

 Governor Macquarie to the home government ; and that, by way of answering these 

 expostulations, the reply of the Governor was : " There are but two classes of persons in 

 New South Wales, — those who have been convicted, and those who ought to be." 



