274 • NEW SOUTH WALES. 



has lately increased in an extraordinary degree ; in 1836, its popula- 

 tion was only two hundred, and in 1839, eight thousand two hundred 

 and fifty, principally owing to the encouragement held out by the funds 

 derived from the sale of lands. Adelaide and Port Lincoln are the 

 two principal points, and the latter, according to the accounts of those 

 interested, " has every advantage under the sun I" 



The journey over land from Yass to Adelaide, it is said, can be 

 performed with cattle and sheep in sixty days. The schemers here 

 are as eager and enthusiastic for improvements as with us, and among 

 them much stress is laid upon the difficulties of inland transportation, to 

 overcome which, as the country is too thinly settled for railroads, the 

 introduction of camels from Africa has been proposed; and it is 

 believed that the country is well adapted to them. 



The population of New South Wales, by the census of 1841, in- 

 cluding 26,967 convicts, was 130,856. A very minute table of the 

 census of the above year will be found in Appendix XIII. 



I was not able to obtain any accurate statistical returns of the three 

 other colonies ; both North and South Australia are rapidly increasing, 

 particularly the latter : fifteen thousand is believed to be the total 

 amount of their population and that of West Australia. 



To return again to the squadron and our occupations. By the 18th 

 December, I had finished my observatory duties, and feeling deeply 

 sensible of the great kindness and attention we had received from not 

 only the Governor, military, and civil officers, but from all the society, 

 I gave a lunch at Fort Macquarie previous to delivering it up, and 

 had the honour of entertaining those who had received us so warmly. 

 Although the weather was unpropitious, many of our friends presented 

 themselves ; the affair passed off in great good-fellowship, and we had 

 the satisfaction of seeing our guests retire apparently gratified. Owing 

 to the weather, the number of ladies was not so great as we had 

 hoped, but there were enough to add dancing to the other amusements 

 of the occasion. Many patriotic toasts were exchanged, and an effect 

 seldom witnessed produced on the company by the picture drawn by 

 the Polish Count Strezleski, (well known in our country,) of the recep- 

 tion his destitute countrymen had met with on our shores, and the 

 liberality of our government in providing for them. Those who heard 

 his statement will not soon forget the thrill it produced. 



During our stay at Port. Jackson, our vessels were much visited by 

 all classes ; and a great many inquiries made respecting our accom- 

 modations, &c. All seemed disappointed at not being able to see the 

 same complete outfits in our vessels as they had seen described in the 

 published accounts of those of the English expedition commanded by 



