NEW SOUTH.WALES. 267 



of a better tone of feeling between the blacks and the settlers than 

 prevails elsewhere, and has prevented those outrages which have 

 occurred in other parts of the country. He has been able to render 

 essential service as an interpreter, both to the natives and govern- 

 ment, in the courts. 



A circumstance occurred about two years ago, which was the 

 means of setting Mr. Threlkeld's whole conduct in its true light 

 before the public. 



The Rev. Dr. Lang, a minister of considerable notoriety in New 

 South Wales, established a newspaper, which was in the habit 

 of holding up and assailing all the abuses in the colony. Among 

 others, he attacked Mr. Threlkeld, accusing him of malversation, 

 unfaithfulness, and incapacity in his trust, and in a style of gross 

 abuse, seconded by vulgar doggerel, gave grounds to the belief 

 that he was actuated by any other than a proper zeal in the cause of 

 missions. After great forbearance, Mr. Threlkeld wrote him a letter 

 of remonstrance, which was, at once, published in the newspaper, 

 accompanied with insulting comments. Mr. Threlkeld then insti- 

 tuted an action for libel, and obtained a verdict in his favour, which, 

 although the damages were only nominal, is an uncommon thing in 

 New South Wales, when a libel case is submitted to a jury. In the 

 progress of the trial, the merits and sacrifices of the missionary were 

 made apparent, and the faithfulness and diligence with which he had 

 laboured, under so many disadvantages, became well known, for ever 

 silencing the aspersions of his enemies. He had, in consecpience, 

 the satisfaction, not long since, of receiving a letter from the directors 

 of the London Missionary Society, expressing their regret that they 

 should have been led into such unjust suspicions and misplaced 

 severity towards him. 



Macquarie Lake communicates with the sea by a narrow inlet. 

 Its shape is irregular, having several long narrow bays extending 

 into the land, and from this cause it is in reality much more extensive 

 than it appears. The soil around is sterile, and its principal ingre- 

 dient is sandstone. The lake is surrounded by the sombre green of 

 the gum trees, and the landscape is uninviting. 



Many ant-hills were passed, each appearing to contain a numerous 

 colony of different species of ants. They are of various colours, red, 

 black, gray, and yellow, and of all sizes, from that of minute animal- 

 culse, to that of a wasp. Most of them were said to give poisonous 

 bites, and those of the largest kinds had visible stings. Most of the 

 snakes, small as well as large, are venomous to a high degree. 



