276 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



A few days before our departure, the British frigate Druid, Lord 

 John Russel, commander, arrived from England, with Captain Hobson, 

 R. N., the new Governor (under the name of consul) for New Zealand. 

 He was accompanied by a large retinue, and also had all kinds of faci- 

 lities for his permanent and comfortable establishment there, among 

 which was a house in frame. 



The season of our visit to Sydney, was that of their summer, (De- 

 cember,) and it was somewhat difficult for us to realize the luxuriance 

 of vegetation about us. We could hardly become familiar with win- 

 dows and doors entirely open at Christmas time. Although it was 

 properly the out-of-town season, we found much gaiety existing, and 

 we have great pleasure in acknowledging the attentions and civilities 

 extended to us during the whole of our stay. 



The facilities for outfits here are such as are not to be found else- 

 where in the Pacific. The mechanics are good, but as artisans are 

 scarce their wages are exorbitant, and the employer is, for the most 

 part, compelled to put up with their demands. From our experience, 

 we inferred they are not to be depended on, and require to be well 

 watched to obtain the requisite quantity of labour from them. Their 

 rations of grog were always a stipulation made by them, and had to 

 be complied with. 



During our stay here, our men behaved well. They all received 

 leave in their turn to visit the shore, and I felt gratified in not having 

 a single case reported to me of bad behaviour on shore. 



As our departure drew near, one and all of us felt and expressed 

 regret at leaving such kind friends. In very many places and families, 

 we had found ourselves at home, and were always received with that 

 kindness that showed us we were welcome. The seasons, with many 

 other things, may be reversed, yet the hospitality of old England is 

 found here as warm and fresh as ever it was in the parent land. It 

 would be impossible to mention all those to whom we feel indebted for 

 various kindnesses and attentions, or even to cite those from whom the 

 Expedition received many accessions to its collections. Notwithstand- 

 ing I have mentioned many things that have struck us as requiring 

 great reform, yet the whole impression left on my mind is, that it is 

 a glorious colony, which the mother country, and the whole Anglo- 

 Saxon race, may well be proud of, and that it ought to claim much 

 more attention than it apparently does, from the home government. 



After writing our farewell letters, we took our Christmas dinner 

 with many of our friends, and on the morning of the 26th December, 

 at six o'clock — the very day that had been set apart for my departure, 

 before sailing from the United States — we weighed our anchors and 

 stood down the bay. The day was fine, the breeze light and contrary, 



