252 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



In proof of this, they abandoned comfortable and substantial huts, 

 which he built for them, after a few days' residence, on the plea that 

 ihey were infested with vermin. 



Frequently, they would all quit him to attend some meeting of their 

 tribe, for war, hunting, or some religious ceremony, and stay away 

 for months. 



He laboured in vain against these disadvantages, and it is not diffi- 

 cult to perceive how impossible, under such circumstances, it would 

 be to meet with success in teaching and converting a set of savages, 

 so wedded to their usages. 



Mr. Threlkeld's labours have, however, been turned to some advan- 

 tage. He has published a grammar, and translated several of the books 

 of the New Testament. His influence has been productive of a better 

 tone of feeling between the blacks and the settlers than prevails else- 

 where, 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 government, 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 hold- 

 ing 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 for- 

 bearance, Mr. Threlkeld wrote him a letter of remonstrance, which 

 was at once published in the newspaper, accompanied with insulting 

 comments. Mr. Threlkeld then instituted 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 faithful- 

 ness and diligence with which he had laboured, under so many disad- 

 vantages, became well known, for ever silencing the aspersions of his 

 enemies. He had, in consequence, 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 



