CHAPTER VIII. 



NEW SOUTH WALES. 

 1839. 



My own time was so completely occupied during the stay of the 

 squadron at Sydney, as to prevent my making any excursions in the 

 colony, with the exception of a brief visit to Paramatta, by invitation 

 of his Excellency the Governor. 



The distance of Paramatta from Sydney is fifteen miles. There are 

 two methods of going to it from Sydney : by a carriage on a good 

 macadamized road, or by a steamer up the Paramatta river. The 

 latter is the most agreeable mode, and the scenery on the banks of the 

 river is fine. The whole distance abounds in positions which would 

 furnish beautiful sites for villas, upon the bays, inlets, and headlands. 

 Should the progress of the colony in wealth and population continue, 

 these sites will doubtless be occupied ere long with handsome resi- 

 dences. 



The passage by steamer to Paramatta occupies about two hours ; 

 here the river becomes narrow, and a mile higher up the stream the 

 tide ceases to flow, and farther navigation ceases. 



The town of Paramatta is situated about a mile from the steamboat 

 landing. Although regularly laid out, it has a straggling air, each 

 house having a large space enclosed as a garden, and the attempt at 

 regularity rather injures its appearance by giving it a look of stiffness. 

 It has, and I suppose deserves, the reputation of being a dull place. It 

 is built principally on a single street, about a mile long, at the head of 

 which, on an eminence, is situated the Government-House, where his 

 Excellency the Governor resides during the summer season. 



The Paramatta Observatory, established by Sir Thomas Brisbane, is 

 a small building, with several good instruments by Jones, Ramsden, 



VOL. II V 31 C24 J > 



