92 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



•without the aid of a pilot,' appeared to have excited no little 

 sensation among the people on shore. Several of the news- 

 papers spoke of it next morning as something very remarkable, 

 and jocularly declared it to be a." Yankee trick," done for 

 the purpose of saving the pilotage, and in perfect keeping with 

 our usual keenness in money matters. It would have been 

 rather a serious joke though, had the object of our visit been 

 hostile, for we might have possessed ourselves of the fort, and 

 then bombarded the town with the greatest ease. 



Of this, however, they were as sensible as ourselves, and 

 the necessity of fortifying the harbor more effectually, and of 

 being more vigilant, became fully impressed upon their minds. 

 There are many excellent sites for fortresses, so that the 

 harbor might be rendered perfectly inaccessible to an enemy's 

 vessels. 



