CHAPTER VII. 



HISTORY, GOVERNMENT, AND SOCIAL STATE 

 OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



18 39. 



New South Wales is known in the United States almost by its 

 name alone. 



It happened from the circumstances of our visit, that we were 

 enabled to obtain much information in relation to this rising colony. 



Australia, or New Holland, of which New South Wales is as yet 

 the most important part, requires no description of its dimensions 

 and geographical position. It is sufficient to note the fact that it 

 possesses a sea-coast of the vast extent of eight thousand miles. It 

 was first discovered by the Dutch, while engaged in exploring the 

 coast of New Guinea, who saw the portion of it to the south of 

 Endeavour Straits, and gave it a name from that of their own 

 country, in 1606. A few months after this discovery, Louis de 

 Torres made the northeastern point of Atistralia. 



In 1616, Theodoric Hartog fell in with that part of the western 

 coast which lies between the Tropic and latitude 28° S. This he 

 called Endracbt's Land, after the name of his vessel. 



In 1618, the coast between latitude 11° and 15° S., reaching from 

 the Gulf of Carpentaria to Cape Talbot, was seen by Zeachem. 



In 1628, De Witt and Carpenter discovered that part of the 

 western coast known as De Witt's Land, and surveyed the Gulf of 

 Carpentaria. 



In 1667, Van Nuyt sailed along the southern coast, from Cape 

 Leeuwin to Spencer's Gulf; and to this part of Australia his name 

 has of late been restored upon the maps. 



Tasman, in 1642, discovered Van Diemen's Land, which was long 



