446 Geographical Collections. 
1778 Sandwich Islands, discovered by Cook in his third voyage, which com- 
menced in 1776. He lost his life in 1779. 
1797 Bass’s Straits. Mr. Bass, Surgeon of H. M.S. Reliance, penetrated as 
far as Western Port, in a small open boat, from Port Jackson, and was 
of opinion that a Strait existed between New South Wales and Van Die- 
men’s Land. In 1799, Lieut. Flinders cireumnavigated Van Diemen’s 
Land, and named the Strait after Mr. Bass. 
1804, 5, 6, Missouri explored to its sources by Captains Lewis and Clarke, and 
the origin and source of the Columbia ascertained. 
1819 Barrow’s Straits, discovered by Lieut. Parry, who penetrated as far as 
Melville Island, in lat. 74’ 26” N. and long. 113’ 47” W. The Strait 
was entered on the 3d Angust. The lowest state of the thermometer was 
99° below zero of Fahrenheit. 
1819 New South Shetland, discovered by Mr. Smith, of the brig William, 
bound to Valparaiso. 
1819 | North America, The northern limits of, determined by Capt. Franklin, 
1822 from the mouth of the Coppermine River to Cape Turnagain. 
1821 Asia, The northern limits of, determined by Baron Wrangel. 
1825-6 North America, Frankiin’s second expedition, in which the coast be- 
tween the mouths of the Coppermine and M‘Kenzie’s rivers, and the coast 
from the mouth of the latter to 1493 W. long. were discovered. 
1827 North America. In August of this year, Captain Beechey, in H. M.S. 
Blossom, discovered the coast from Icy Cape to Point Barrow, leaving 
about 140 miles of coast unexplored between this Point and Point Bee- 
chey. Point Barrow is in 156° W. long.—Companion to the Almanack 
for 1830. 
NOTICE ON THE SWAN RIVER AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTRY. 
(With a Map.) 
ONE of the first establishments which has been attempted on the western coast 
of Australia, is the colony at the Swan River; and from the importance of its 
situation, and the extensive plan of colonization which has been entered upon, it 
promises to be a future object of great interest to the mother country. 
The principle of colonization by which the two sexes, inhabiting a civilized 
country, and enjoying the spirit-stirring ambition of being able to work for lux- 
uries, leave their homes to go where at first they must even find difficulty in sup- 
plying their immediate wants, is strikingly illustrative of the natural course of 
events. 
Geology has not gone so far yet as to inform us with certainty whether there 
are really continents which are newer the one than the other,—which came, as it 
were, from the bosom of the ocean to receive the overfiowing tide of population, 
or to offer the foundation-stone of cities erected upon the ruins of fallen states. 
But he must have lost the power of vision, who cannot see, in the progressive 
history of man, a noble harmony with the course of nature, and a changeless des- 
tiny rolling in its own career, like the dark orbit of a sun beyond the reach of 
star-eyed science. 
The population that was sickening in the thronged city, cannot but thrive 
amidst the verdant plains of unexplored Australia, and under the emulating 
warmth of an antipodal sun. Several hundreds of our countrymen are now fell- 
ing trees or dragging the net, on lands and in rivers, that a year ago had never re- 
fiected the bright countenance of intellectual man. Women of the hue of fairest 
flowers, are gazing on the strange forms of unknown animals,—becoming ac- 
guainted with the tall stature of plants sealed by a different hand, or listening to 
the songs of birds of another world; and the bustle and activity of tilling and 
planting, of shipping and house-building, and the thronging of multitudes, ring 
