NEW SOUTH WALES. 289 



colony is under great distress for provisions. Government is erecting 

 deposits for grain, in order to obviate this difficulty ; one of which is 

 on an island in the harbour of Port Jackson. Heretofore, on a failure 

 of the crops, large quantities of flour have been imported from France 

 and America, and many cargoes of wheat and rice from India. 



The commerce with the United States is very limited, and confined 

 as yet to a single house, in Salem, Massachusetts, which has a few 

 vessels employed in bringing out flour, tobacco, furniture, ice, &c. 

 In exchange, wool and hides have been taken to the United States. 

 This trade has hitherto been profitable ; but the uncertainty of crops, 

 and consequent fluctuation in the market, would, with competition, 

 render it of no great advantage. 



The Library, and Sydney Museum are creditable institutions, 

 particularly the latter, which contains a large and interesting collec- 

 tion of native productions. It has only been established a few years. 

 There is a reading-room attached to the Library, in which are to be 

 found all the pamphlets and periodicals published in Sydney, and 

 many of those of Europe. Soon after our arrival, we received an 

 invitation to visit these institutions at all times; a privilege which 

 afforded us much pleasure and instruction, and for which we are 

 greatly indebted to the committee and the librarian. 



Great Britain has three other colonies in Australia, at Swan River, 

 on the west coast, South Australia on the south, and North Australia 

 on the north coast. The former is considered, in the colony of 

 New South Wales, as a bad speculation, and it is alleged that it needs 

 the aid of convicts or slaves for its advancement. It is believed that 

 all the first settlers, if not completely ruined, have been struggling 

 with difficulties, and its growth, even should it continue, will be 

 slow and precarious. 



Orders were received from the home department to raise the 

 minimum price of land ; but it being left optional with the Governor, 

 he had declined doing it, under the plea that if individuals would sell 

 land for two shillings and sixpence, it was idle to raise that of 

 government to twelve shillings, particularly as the price allowed to 

 individuals for surrendering their lands was but one shilling- and 

 sixpence. This step, of raising the minimum price of crown lands, 

 I was informed, had given much dissatisfaction, and was generally 

 believed to have originated in the desire to force colonization to 

 South Australia, which has lately increased in an extraordinary 



vol. ii. 73 



