452 Geographical Collections. 
investmeuts before the year 1840, the remaining half million to be allotted by 
degrees. A convenient allotment of land to be reserved for the town and harbour, 
for public buildings, and for the accommodation of future settlers, and a priority 
of choice, to the extent of an hundred thousand acres, to be allowed to Captain 
Stirling, whose surveys and report of the coast, led to the formation of the settle- 
ment. The proportion of male to female settlers, must be not less than five of 
the former to six of the latter. The passage of labouring persons to be consi- 
dered as an investment of capital, entitling the parties to an allowance of land, 
at the rate of L.15, that is, of two hundred acres. Forty acres are also granted 
for every L.3 sterling invested upon public or private objects in the colony. 
Forty acres are allowed for every child above six years, and 120 for do. under 
ten ; when the allowance of two hundred will commence. The government to be 
administered by Captain Stirling, R.N. as civil superintendent of the settlement. 
Previous to the completion of these arrangements, Sir Francis Vincent and the 
other gentlemen withdrew their coalition, and Government consented to allow Mr. 
Thomas Peel to carry on and complete the project by himself. 
Captain Stirling in selecting his land named Isle Buache, together with such 
live stock as may be found in it, the produce of what he left there in 1827. The 
remainder of the hundred thousand acres, not contained in that island, to be those 
which are situated nearest to Cape Naturaliste in Geographe Bay; but as the 
latter portion must remain a considerable time unpretected, Captain Stirling sub- 
mitted that he might not be required to stock it, nor to pay to Government the 
duty of sixpence per acre, until after a protecting force be stationed in that neigh- 
bourhood. Government granted to Captain Stirling his request, with a provision 
to reserve for the use of the crown a certain portion of land along the north-eastern 
side of the island of Buache, should it hereafter be considered expedient to erect 
any buildings in that quarter. 
Since the arrival of the first vessel at the colony, intelligence has been received 
in England by various hands, and many gloomy reports disseminated, with an ex- 
aggeration of the disappointment felt by those who had founded their hopes im 
injudicious statements of the great luxuriance of soil. It appears that the first set- 
tlers remained in Garden Island for two months after their arrival in huts built 
from the timber of the country, of which there is great abundance, and closed in 
by brushwood, Shortly afterwards a town was established at the entrance of 
Swan River, to which they gave the name of Freemantle, and eleven or twelve 
miles up above Melville Water another was established on the left bank, to be 
called Perth ; the foundation-stone was laid by the lady of Captain Dance. 
Every one seemed delighted with the exertions and good disposition of the lieu- 
tenant-governor. ‘The only mischance has been in the loss of the Maiquis of 
Anglesea off Gage Roads: but it was long after it had landed its emigrants, 
when it drove away with three anchors a-head on the rocks southward of the en- 
trance to the river. Captain Dance is exerting himself constantly in getting the 
passage buoyed off, and the same officer has sent an expedition, in the charge of - 
his first lieutenant, to cross the Darling Range, and ascertain the nature of the 
country beyond, and he intends going in the same direction himself very shortly. 
Independent of the west ceast, and more especially Swan River being one of the 
best points to start from in an attempt to penetrate into the interior of this very 
interesting country, now bounded by our establishments, and its shores inyesti- 
gated by our navigators, the safety and success of the colony demand that Bri- 
tish intellect should devote its energies in exploring the neighbouring country. 
But we are too well aware how deeply sensible our Government is of this neces- 
Sity, that we should venture any remarks of our own. 

African Expedition—Messrs. Richard and John Lander sailed from Spithead 
last month for the western coast of Africa, in the merchant brig Alert, Captain 
Lyson, which ship also carried ont —~— M‘Lean, Esq. the President of the 
