capable of receiving instruction. Every week days, but the remaining ten fully answered his southern countries of Europe; but not having Francesco and his sisters carried their little highest expectations. After some weeks of sufficient discrimination to separate those which favourites to the market of Sassari, and gene- previous training, he contrived to attach them are nutritious from those that are poisonous, rally disposed of those which were the most to little cannons made of brass, and taught he ate of them to excess, and died in a few attractive and beautiful. From this source, them to draw them leisurely along a table. days, along with his youngest sister, in spite however, their gains were but trifling; but He then drew them up in two files, each girt of every remedy which skill could apply. Du. they wisely considered, that a little was better with a sabre, and the other appurtenances of a ring the three days of Francesco's illness, his than nothing, and any thing preferable to beg- soldier of artillery; every bird was taught to birds flew incessantly round and round his bed; gary; and each evening, with cheerful hearts, stand motionless beside his gun, and, at the 'some,' says the Abbé Reperonci (an Italian, they brought home their scanty earnings to word of command, the partridge to the right who recounts his story), lying sadly upon his their poor mother. The object of all their lit a match at a chafing-dish on the table, and pillow, others flitting backwards and forwards desires was to be enabled to support their courageously fired off his piece of ordnance. above his head, a few uttering brief and plain. helpless parent; but still all the assistance they At a second command, the company to the left tive cries, and all, in fact, taking scarcely any were able to procure for her was far from being performed the same exercise; nor were either, nourishment during his sickness." Dying as he adequate to supply her numerous wants. In after a little practice, in the least degree ter- was, the affectionate child could not avoid this dilemma Francesco conceived a new and rified at the noise which they had created. being sensible of the attachment of the little original method of increasing his gains: neces- At a third signal, a few of the little warriors companions whom he had instructed with so sity is said to be the mother of invention; and fell over on their side, stretched out their much care. He never once betrayed any unhe now meditated no less a project than to train stiffened limbs, and counterfeited death; whilst easiness for himself; but often and bitterly a young Angora cat to live harmlessly in the others flew off, limping, and apparently scream- did he weep for his mother, and exclaim from midst of his favourites and songsters. Such is ing with the pain of their wounds. The com- time to time, 'Alas! who, when I am gone, will the force of habit, such the power of education, mandant again beat a roll of the drum, and all support my desolate mother, or tend my neg. that, by slow degrees, he taught the mortal flying to their ranks, resumed their order, and lected birds?' None of his feathered favourenemy of his winged pets to live, to drink, repeated their ingenious evolutions. Amongst ites manifested on his decease such real and to eat, and to sleep in the midst of his little the feathered pupils of Francesco, however, inconsolable grief as Rosoletta. When poor charges, without once attempting to devour or all were not endowed with equal sagacity and Francesco was placed in his coffin, she flew injure them. The cat, whom he called Bianca,' talent; some were intractable and stupid, round and round it, and at last perched her. suffered the little birds to play all manner of whilst others betrayed an instinct almost self upon the lid. In vain they several times tricks with her; she used to leap about and amounting to reason. Of the latter class was removed her; she still returned, and even persport amongst them, whilst they would some- one partridge, which he named Rosoletta. She sisted in accompanying the funeral procession times peck at and tease her; but on all such followed him wherever he went with the at- to the place of graves. During his interment occasions she would merely stretch out her paw tachment of a dog; she hopped after him from she sat upon an adjoining cypress, to watch and threaten them, but never did she extend house to house, when he walked the streets of where they laid the remains of her friend; her talons, or offer to hurt her companions. Tempio, and flew from tree to tree when he and when the crowd had departed, she forHe went even farther; for, not content with wandered in the woods, and rarely by night or sook the spot no more, except to return to the teaching them merely to live in peace and day did she lose sight of her affectionate mas- cottage of his mother for her accustomed food. happiness together, he instructed the cat and ter. If she disappeared for an instant, a whistle Whilst she lived, she came daily to perch and the little birds to play a kind of game, in from Francesco brought her to his side, when to sleep upon the turret of an adjoining chapel, which each had to learn its own part, and, she would mount upon his arm, flap her wings, which looked upon his grave; and here she after some little trouble in training, each per- and chirrup with delight. With a docility by lived, and here died, about four months after formed with readiness the particular duty as- no means common in birds, Rosoletta not only the death of her beloved master. The tomb signed to it. Puss was instructed to curl her- obeyed her instructor herself, but seemed to of Francesco is yet to be seen in Sassari; and self up into a circle, with her head between penetrate his wishes with regard to her com- the burial-ground where he lies is still called her paws, and appear buried in a deep sleep; panions; and even sometimes ventured to as- the Cemetery of the Little Fowler." the cage was then opened, and the little tricksy sist him in the education of his more giddy There are articles in the shapes of enigmas, birds rushed out upon her, and endeavoured pupils. If a chaffinch, more stupid or mutin- riddles, &c. &c., which we cannot attempt to to awaken her by repeated strokes of their ous than the rest, put his comrades into dis- penetrate so as to profess ourselves able to give beaks; then dividing into two parties, they at- order, or a thoughtless linnet wandered from a critical opinion upon them: they will, howtacked her head and her whiskers, without the the ranks, Rosoletta would instantly follow, ever, serve to exercise the ingenuity of younger gentle animal once appearing to take the least and striking the offender with her wing, at critics. We should have noticed the Persian notice of their gambols. At other times she tempt to keep him in order. Francesco had tale of "Bathmendi," by Caroline Fry; bei would seat herself in the middle of the cage, once been at great pains to train a beautiful having met with it before, in Arliss's Pocati and begin to smooth her fur, and purr with goldfinch, but one morning the ungrateful Magazine, and Le Brethon's French Grammar great gentleness and satisfaction; the birds little bird escaped from his cage, flew to an (we think), we were rather surprised to erwould play and fly about her, without either open window, and reaching the adjoining gar- counter our old friend among original pieces. fear or restraint; they would sometimes even den, was seen no more. The little merchant We presume that Mrs. Watts has been kept settle on her back, or sit like a crown upon was in despair at his loss; the more so, because in the dark as to the previous publication: her head, chirrupping and singing as if in all he had promised him to the daughter of a lady at all events, we can most heartily recomthe security of a shady wood. To see a sleek from whom he had received much kindness. mend her work of this year to all who adand beautiful cat seated calmly in the midst of Five days elapsed, and the little wanderer re- mire talent in the fine arts, and taste and a cage of birds, was a sight so new and unex- turned not; he had given him over for lost, judgment in catering for the youthful mind. pected, that when Francesco produced them at when on the sixth morning Rosoletta was seen the fair of Sassari, he was surrounded instantly chasing before her along the linden trees, a Elements of Chemistry familiarly explained by a crowd of admiring spectators. Their bird which was screaming at the top of its and practically illustrated. Part I. 18: astonishment scarcely knew any bound, when voice, and attempting by every means to espp. 318. London, 1831. Murray. they heard him call each feathered favourite cape from her. Only judge of the surprise of NOT having had time to examine this volume by its name, and saw it fly towards him with Francesco, when he saw his truant beauty with sufficient care, we must satisfy ourselves delight and alacrity, till all were perched con-driven on and guarded by the faithful par- with a brief and temporary notice of it in this tentedly on his head, his arms, and his fingers. tridge! Rosoletta led the way by little and Number. We should have thought it a very Delighted with his ingenuity, the spectators little before him, and at length seated him in difficult task to write an elementary work on rewarded him very liberally; and Francesco apparent disgrace on a corner of the aviary, the science of chemistry, which would prese returned in the evening with his little heart whilst she flew from side to side in triumph at enough of what was new or useful, whether in swelling with joy, to lay before his mother a her success. Francesco was now happy and its plan or its details, to ensure success amo sum of money which would suffice to support contented, since by his own industry and ex- so many contemporaneous publications. Th her for many months. The next undertaking ertions he was enabled to support his mother object of this book is to furnish something less of the little Sardinian was one of more enter- and sisters. Unfortunately, however, in the learned and elaborate than the usual systemat prise and singularity still. He found one day midst of all his happiness, he was suddenly works, and at the same time more deta a nest containing fifteen young partridges, torn from them by a very grievous accident. connected, and explicit than the ConrETIUÍN DA which he brought to his aviary, and began to He was one evening engaged in gathering a and Catechisms; and it fulfils those ee educate. Five, however, died within a few species of mushroom very common in the with great success. The first part treats ♬ attraction, heat, light, and electricity: and as what is written on these subjects can only be considered as a peep at a beautiful country, to tempt us on to travel-the gift of some information as an inducement to more extensive research, we shall not be very critical. Our continental neighbours have long ago taken all these important branches of science from the domains of chemistry, where, indeed, they can no longer dwell, without meeting with undeserved neglect; indeed, their successful pursuit demands a quantity of mathematical knowledge, which may be valuable, but is not requisite, in order to become an expert analyst, or a good practical chemist. There is much more philosophy in this little volume (the first of its series) than might be expected; and there is that singleness of design which belongs peculiarly to the writings of a person conversant with, and enthusiastic in, the development of his subject. The Picturesque Annual. Travelling Sketches man and Co. We do not know when we have been so pleased the formation of the Swan River settlement, root, and in which the most painful and least the projectors of a new colony in Australia profitable of tasks would have been to punish must put forth some very strong recommenda- or pursue refractory bond-servants. If these tions of their scheme, in order to obtain for it people worked at all for hire, it was only even a moderate degree of support: nay, more until they had saved the very small capital they must shew distinctly, that, whatever which would enable them to set up as landwere the causes of failure at the Swan River, owners and cultivators on their own account; those causes cannot operate in their project. consequently, the possessors of large capitals The original cause of failure at the Swan and large grants were soon left without labourRiver appears to have been an inattention ers. As other capitalists arrived with labourof government to that irrational desire to ers, those whose capital was perishing for want obtain large tracts of wilderness, which belongs of labour wherewith to employ it, offered extrato most emigrants from an old to a new coun-vagant wages to the new-comers of the class of try. The inhabitants of an old country, in labourers, and thus seduced them from the serwhich competition for land, arising from den-vice of those who had brought them to the sity of population, renders land highly valu- colony. But these extravagant wages, again, able, imbibe a belief that land by itself is riches, speedily enabled these new-comers to set up as and that to possess a large territory any where cultivators on their own account. At length, is to possess wealth. The truth, however, is, nearly all the labourers who were taken out costthat land, so long as it is without population, free had deserted their masters; and almost all is absolutely without value; and that the value the capitalists were reduced to the necessity of of land depends altogether on competition, working in the same manner as their late serwhich is strictly regulated by the proportion vants. No one who labours for and by himself like many other plain truths in political eco- the larger capitals, therefore, perished. The between population and land. This truth, alone can manage any but a very small capital: nomy, never strikes the vulgar observer of banks of the Swan River were strewed with what takes place in an old country. Such a implements of husbandry and the ruder manuone, seeing that land exchanges for wealth, is factures, because there was no one to use them; contented to believe that land is wealth; and seeds rotted in casks on the beach, because no with a volume as with the one before us. The if he emigrate to a new country, he concludes, one had prepared the ground for their recepidea is good, quite new, and admirably exethat in order to become rich, he has only to tion; sheep, cattle, and horses, wandered, becuted. Mr. Leitch Ritchie is at once a pic-his ardent desire to obtain a province of wilder- died of hunger, or were destroyed by hungry procure an extensive grant of ground. Hence cause there was no one to tend them, and either turesque, a sentimental, and a graphic traveller, and writes with equal facility and ani-ness, without the least regard to those circum- settlers whose stock of imported food was exmation. He has evidently enjoyed the beautiful stances which could alone give value to his pos-hausted. This miserable state of things concountry through which he has been wandering, tinued for some time, and finally resulted in and he makes his readers enjoy it too. He To the delusive notion, that land is valuable one still more fatal to the prosperity of the has introduced two or three of those short in proportion merely to its extent, the govern- colony. romantic stories in which he so excels; but ment, in founding the Swan River settlement, Though some of the labourers taken out were we are under the necessity of postponing our lent the greatest encouragement, by bestowing parish paupers and others of degraded habits, examples till our next. the first grant, to the extent of 500,000 acres, a portion of them had been faithful servants in upon the cousin of a cabinet minister. It was this country, and remarkable for honesty, sosupposed by others, that what the government briety, and industry. The violent change considered good for Sir Robert Peel's cousin, which took place in the condition of all classes, would be good for them; and others, therefore, the sudden revolution, which converted laIN olden times the proposition to found a new colony applied for large tracts of waste. But it was im-bourers for hire into landowners, and reduced would have attracted general and deep attention; but in possible to give the first grant in the best situa- their masters to the condition of labourers, exour days we are so accustomed to extraordinary events, tion to more than one person: hence arose a erted a most baneful influence on every one. that great and useful ones fail to excite a tithe of the consideration due to them. The pamphlet before us, charge of favouritism and jobbing against the Capitalists, who yet possessed piano-fortes, fine and the annexed communication by an able writer, con- givers. In order to meet this charge, regu- linen, and other luxuries, not to mention tain so much of what we consider to be true in principle, lations were framed, by which all were allowed their immense estates!were reduced, in and valuable in application, on the subject of emigration, that we have much satisfaction in calling the attention of to appropriate an unlimited quantity of land, on some cases, to want, and in nearly all to dethe public to both. Indeed, they seem to have made a the condition to which Mr. Peel had subscribed spair. Labourers, whatever had been their considerable impression upon our colonial department, if we may judge from the following notice in the Hampshire that condition was, an investment of capital habits in England, who set up for themselves Courier of last week, where they are evidently acted upon on the land at the rate of 1s. 6d. per acre. as landowners, vied with each other in improto a certain degree, as far as they could be in a colony Thus the longing for a vast territorial posses- vidence. When the little capitals which they had The Commissioners for Emigration have caused it to sion was easily gratified. It was indulged in saved by a few months or weeks of Labour for be intimated that government have determined to appro- the most reckless manner. priate the sums produced by the sale of lands in New hire, were exhausted, so also had the greater South Wales and Van Diemen's Land to the encourageMany persons possessing from 10007. to capitals perished; and thus the labourers found ment of emigration by unmarried females to those colo- 10,0007. either emigrated or sent agents to the themselves without the means of subsistence nies, under certain regulations. Females between the colony, and obtained as much land as their either as settlers or as hired servants. Many ages of 15 and 30, members of families about to proceed to the colonies, may receive 84. each from the commis- capitals would enable them to claim. During of them then returned to the masters whom sioners, to be paid to the heads of their families, or to the first year of the settlement, the extent they had deserted and ruined, insisting on being the captain of the ship in which they are conveyed: if assigned was at least five times that of all employed according to the engagements which not forming part of a family, and possessing the funds ne ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. established on a different plan. bounty of government. As soon as a sufficient number of session. cessary, in addition to the 8., to complete the price of the land granted in New South Wales during a they themselves had been the first to break. It their passage, they will be admitted as candidates for the period of forty years. Land became, or rather is a curious circumstance, that Mr. Peel, who persons have signified their wish to emigrate, and the con- was allowed to continue, a mere drug, of no took out a great number of labourers, was at one ditions been have complied with, the commissioners will more value than the atmosphere above it. The time without hands to cultivate a portion of his take up a vessel for the conveyance of these emigrants, capitals taken out could fructify-could be pre- immense grant, and at another time, as we into which no other passengers will be admitted. Should the number of applications be too great for the funds, served, indeed only by being used on the have been informed, was obliged to take refuge females who contribute the largest proportion of the cost land in conjunction with labour; but the la- in an island from the violence of the deserters, of their passage will be entitled to a preference; but, in bourers taken out, finding this, and holding who, when they had nothing left, expected to the absence of other distinctions, priority of application the same wild notions as their masters con- be maintained by him, who had little or noSo soon after the all but total failure of those cerning the value of the mere soil, refused thing left. The confusion and misery that extravagant hopes of success which attended to work for those who had defrayed the cost ensued may be easily imagined. It ended in a of their passage. The indentures, by which second emigration of great numbers, both cathey were bound for a given term at a fixed pitalists and labourers, to Van Diemen's Land, rate of wages, were cancelled de facto, by where capital obtains high profits, and labour the state of the colony, in which no police high wages; and at present the only settlers regulations, nor even any laws, had yet taken at the Swan River are a few persons few in will form the rule of selection." Plan of a Company to be established for the purpose of founding a Colony in Southern Australia, purchasing Land therein, and preparing the Land so purchased for the Reception of Immigrants. London, 1831. Ridgway and Sons. - comparison with the number who emigrated of 10007. in the Company, borrow 10001. of the | appearance which marks the land in the neighbourhood, from England-persons of undaunted mind Company, and so retain their entire capital for here vanish and give place to a fertility to which we had long been strangers: the land is more elevated, rises and very prudent habits, who are still strug- use, besides reaping a share of the Company's quickly from the shore, and is thickly clothed with gling with the difficulties created by the un-profits, to be derived from the re-sale of their timber. It is true that we found no stream of fresh water; but the vigour and the freshness of the vegetation, guarded profusion of the government in its dis- land at a much enhanced price. The instances and the elevation of the land, seem to indicate the exist posal of waste land. These persons have lately cited, and especially that of the prosperous ence of rivulets, or, at least, of some considerable springs, addressed a petition to the parent government, Canada Land Company, of the rapid increase for the whole coast appeared to us to be covered with On this favoured spot the inhabitants must be numerous praying that they may be supplied with convict in the value of land which occurs in parts of the fires of the natives.-Peron's Voyage, vol. ii. p. 22. labourers; although one of the circumstances new colonies where population congregates, magnificent harbour of Port Lincoln, of which we have "The most interesting part of Spencer's Gulf is the originally urged in favour of the Swan River leave no doubt that, if this Company should fix already given a description in the fifteenth chapter of this project, was, that the settlement was not to be the seat of government and the centre of com-work, but which is well worthy of further notice. The demoralised by the immigration of convicts. merce on their purchase, and if, moreover, extent, is capable of containing the combined navies of Port is composed of three bays, each of which, from its Why are convicts now urgently demanded? every appropriation of land in the colony should Europe: the soundings are regular from ten to twelve Because convicts cannot immediately obtain produce a corresponding increase of the colo-fathoms, with a soft, muddy bottom. Boston Island is land, but must labour for a time as servants. nial population, the grant of the Company will Why can none other than convict servants be rapidly acquire a great increase of value. Upon retained? Because of the unwise regulations the whole, their prosperity is made dependent of the government for the disposal of waste on the prosperity of the colony, and all the land. Herein lies the secret of the failure, so far, regulations appear to be framed with a view of the Swan River project. By all accounts, the to the general advantage, as a means of profit soil and climate of the colony are as fine as they to themselves. were ever represented to be. To the want of labour, and to that alone, may be traced all the evils that have afflicted this infant colony. In the new colony, provision is made for securing an ample supply of labour at all times. This, the one thing needful, is provided for by a very simple regulation. No land is to be given away: all land is to be sold to the highest bidder above a fixed minimum price; and the whole produce of sales is to be employed in conveying labour to the colony. By selecting the emigrants taken out cost-free; by confining the offer of a free passage to young married or marriageable persons of both sexes in equal proportions, the greatest amount of labour will be procured at the least cost. Thus the purchaser of land, though he will appear to buy land, will, in fact, buy labour, and at the cheapest rate. So that no labourer will be able to obtain land until he shall have procured a considerable sum by labouring for hire; and when he shall become a landowner, his place will be supplied by other labourers, to be sent out with what he shall have paid for land. The adoption of this principle in the disposal of waste land appears admirably calculated to prevent that dispersion, both of capital and labour, to which the ill success of the Swan River colony must be attributed in the present instance, it is to be secured from the beginning, and throughout the colony, by a Royal Charter, which it is understood his Majesty's government will grant to the Company now in the course of formation. situated at the entrance of this excellent harbour, on either side of which there is a passage, through which the largest man-of-war may work with perfect ease. The Bay; that on the south is wider, and opens on one side north passage is the narrowest, and leads into Boston into Western Bay, and on the other into Spalding Cove. Two small islands are placed at the opening of the Southsame may be said of Grantham Island, as well as of every ern Bay, which likewise afford good anchorage. The part of the Port. Shall I now revert to what I have be The sound principle of self-government, and fore stated as to the fertility of the soil? Shall I speak of the beautiful valleys, which appeared to indicate the the return to the old-fashioned but excellent existence of springs or streams of fresh water? Ought I system of charter, instead of leaving the colony to dwell on the numerous fires we perceived all along the always dependent on a minister at home, are shores, which led us to conclude that this spot was far more thickly peopled than any other part of the southern advantages which will distinguish this from all coast? Equal, if not superior, to Port Jackson, Port very modern colonies; and we must add, that the Lincoln is in every respect one of the best and most beau government deserve high credit for promoting discovered or visited on the coasts of Australia, it appears an experiment, which promises to be success-to be, and I here repeat it, the most inviting, the most ful, and which, if it should succeed, must lead advantageous, for the establishment of an European colony. The peremptory orders we had received from our to the destruction of that system of patronage, commander, compelled us to quit this interesting spot be favouritism, and jobbing in the disposal of new fore we had time to complete our examination of the land, which, however injurious to any colony Port."-1b. vol. iii. p. 162. where it prevails, a selfish colonial Secretary would not have abandoned. 1 tiful harbours in the known world; and of all those we "On the 8th of January, 1819, we arrived at Kangaroo Island from Sydney, after a pleasant passage of fourteen days, during which nothing particular occurred to attract The rules and regulations of the charter four fathoms water (sand and mud), close in shore: our our attention. We anchored in Lagoon Bay, in about which is to incorporate the Company and found first object being to procure salt to ballast the ship and to the colony, are to extend to all settlements that cure skins. To facilitate this object two boats were de spatched, with five men in each, to discover the salt may be formed on the southern coast of Aus- Lagoon, and ascertain where the seals resorted to round tralia, between the 132d and 141st degrees of the island. While these two boats were thus engaged, east longitude, and the islands on that line of our other boat and three men were employed in searching for water, and examining the various bays and anchorage. coast. The spot fixed on for the first settlement During our ramble on this occasion we discovered a schi is Port Lincoln, a magnificent harbour at the en-with a small supply of water, near which we observed a trance of Spencer's Gulf (see any map), of which pears to be the place where the French navigator watered: flat stone, with some writing on the surface. This apa particular description is given by Flinders. the ship and captain's names, with the particular dates, The latitude of this spot corresponds with that were cut on this stone; but being in French, we pad little or no attention to it, not at the time imagining it of Sydney and the Swan River; and Spencer's would be of consequence at any future period. Close to Gulf lies about midway between those places. Point Marsden in Nepean Bay, about twenty yards from Not far from Port Lincoln is an island, to sea, we dug a hole about four feet deep it immediately the sea at high water, behind the bank washed up by the which Flinders gave the name of Kangaroo, filled with fresh water. We put a cask into it, which was in consequence of the great number of kanga- always filled as fast as two hands could baie it out. The roos which he saw there. It is about 80 miles water was excellent, as clear as crystal, and I never tasted better. This hole supplied us while we were in Nepen long by 40 broad; and concerning this spot Bay, and so plentifully, that we had no occasion to look very minute and satisfactory information has further for fresh water thereabouts. When on the south been obtained from persons who have carefully for water, having always found plenty in lagoons close to examined it, and especially from Capt. Suther- the beach. The water of the lagoons, though not bad, is land, late of the ship Lang, who is now in not so good as that of the springs: the people settled on the island (mentioned hereafter) had not dug for water London, and who passed an autumn, winter, till I arrived there, but depended entirely on the lagoons: and spring, on the island. they, however, followed my example, and I was told had no difficulty in obtaining excellent water by digging in The following extracts from Capt. Suther-various parts of the island. On the return of the boats, land's Report, and from Peron's Voyage de in three or four days, we weighed and stood further into Découvertes aux Terres Australes, will excite the bay, in a much more safe anchorage, being sheltered from all winds. We moored ship, and each individual rather than satisfy the curiosity of those who took part in pursuing the objects of the voyage: my own may wish to be fully acquainted with the lot, with another person, was to stay by the ship, during grounds on which the Company in question bays, harbours, sands, and different anchorages, with which time I had many opportunities of examining the founds its hopes of success. For further in- many other occurrences and incidents which I could not formation, we must refer them to the pamphlet now relate, from lapse of time. before us, which contains charts of the line of we had abundance of fish of several kinds; the best wa found was the snapper, some weighing above seven coast to be comprised in the charter of Port pounds; they are excellent eating, and preferable to socie Lincoln and of Kangaroo Island, as well as a shell-fish, were abundant. These, with our daily supply of our English fish: oysters, and every other species of particular account of the objects and means of of kangaroos, enabled us to live in great plenty-deed. the Company. I never was on a voyage which pleased ine better, at ia which we were better supplied. This Company is to possess a capital of 500,0007.; of which sum one-fourth is to be paid to the government for land, and to be by the government immediately expended in supplying the Company with labourers. With another portion of the Company's capital, the labourers so sent out will be employed in founding a town on the Company's land, and otherwise increasing its value by roads, docks, bridges, &c.; so that it may become the seat of government and the centre of commerce. With another portion of their capital the Com. pany will defray all the expenses of colonial government, until the male adult population shall reach ten thousand, when a legislative assembly is to be called, and the colony is to defray its own expenses of government, besides repaying to the Company what the latter shall "On the western shore, and near the entrance of Spenhave advanced on that score. cer's Gulf, is Port Lincoln, one of the most beautiful and The remainder most secure harbours in Australia. The bottom is every of the capital of the Company is to be advanced where excellent, and the soundings are regular from ten to settlers possessing some capital, who may to twelve fathoins (French) very close to the shore. The extent of this most magnificent harbour affords sufficient purchase land either of the Company or of the anchorage for any number of ships. At the mouth of the government. Thus, up to the extent of harbour, Boston Island is situated, on each side of which 125,000l., persons having, let us say for ex-width. Nature seems to have done every thing is a passage, free from danger, of between two and three ample, 2000., may take shares to the amount in favour of this port; for that sterility and monotonous and west coasts of the island, we had no occasion to dig While here, "Harbours and Roadsteads.-Twenty ships could moor within 100 yards of the shore, and the same member anchor in safety further off, the water being ways smooth, sheltered by the land from the north-west, and from the southward by Kangaroo Head, and from the north-east by Sutherland's Shoal, extending from the point below Point Marsden about six mies, always dry thickly lined with wood and shrubs, interspersed with at half-ebb for nearly the whole distance. The shore is everal high hills protecting the anchorage: the oppo 8d 5m-Mercury in conjunction with 1.2 « Libra: difference of latitude l' and 3'. 124inferior conjunction. 21d-in aphelion. 30d Venus will be at her greatest splendour as a morning star. coast on the main is Cape Jervis, which I should judge to hours. This interesting phenomenon will be served that part of the ring of Saturn which be about fourteen or fifteen miles from the first anchorage, but nearer to Kangaroo Head by three or four miles. Visible, from its commencement to its termina- last emerged from the Moon's dark limb was The main-land here is very high, and at the head of the tion, to the whole of Europe and a great part rendered sensibly more obtuse, and at the inbay wears every appearance of an inlet or river. The Soil. I had an opportunity of seeing much of of Africa; the ingress will be visible to Asia, stant after separation approximated to a rectithe interior of the island, having crossed the country in and the egress to America. There is no doubt linear boundary: a similar appearance was also company with two sealers, who had been residents on the but that every lover of the science of astronomy, observed on the orb as it escaped from behind island for several years. The land wears every appear within the limits of the visibility of the transit, the dark edge of the Moon. ance of being fertile-a deep loam with coarse grass, abounding with kangaroos and emus: where these ani- will endeavour to witness the spectacle-to see mals feed, the grass is much better for pasture. Occa- this bright and beautiful gem, that shines with sional ponds of rain water are seen, and a plentiful supply such a rosy brilliancy as the morning or evenof pure spring water is always attainable by digging for it. The land here is as good as any I have seen in Van Die- ing star-now melting away in the full effulmen's Land; in the neighbourhood of Sydney I have not gence of the rising day, and then heralding the observed any equal to it. Trees are scattered every where over the plains-the Swamp Oak or Beef-wood, and the bright hosts of stars to glitter on the midnight Wattle (both of which indicate good land), are growing in sky, to see this lovely jewel of the ruddy bræ abundance here. Close on the shore, within from a quarter to half a mile of the sea, the wood is very thick; but dawn or evening shades enter on the Sun's when this belt of wood is passed, you come on to an open glowing orb, with not merely dimmed splencountry, covered with grass, where there are often hun- dour, but shrouded in intense blackness, purdreds of acres without a tree: I calculated, by comparison with New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, there suing its course over a field of glory, yet clad might be on this plain, on the average, three or four trees in gloom; - such a phenomenon will not fail to the acre. I once crossed the island, a distance of about to interest; and the observer, as he marks the sixty miles, in two days. Once past the belt of wood which surrounds the island, we walked straight on end blackness of the planet in contrast with the over the plains, found plenty of water in ponds, saw splendour of the Sun, may apply the celebrated abundance of kangaroos and emus, and met with no diffi-line to the messenger of the gods culty or trouble. As we crossed the island I looked to the * "The period during which I stayed on and near the island was from the 8th of January to the 12th of August. I myself landed only once on the main, in the bight between Point Riley and Corny Point. The soil was thickly covered with timber and brushwood. Some of my men landed at several different places on the main, being sometimes absent three weeks at a time in search of seals. On these occasions they carried with them bread and some salt meat; but having a musket and a dog with them, they always obtained fresh meat (kangaroo) when on the main, as well as on some of the islands. On these expeditions they never took fresh water with them. They often spoke of the places they had seen as being very pleasant. I never saw or heard of any native dogs on the Island of Kangaroo; and, from the very great number of kangaroos, do not believe that there are any. Some of the kangaroos which I killed on the island weighed 120 lbs. Our men used to go to hunt them at sun-rise, when they leave the woods to feed on the grassy plains. I have known as many as fifteen taken by my men in one morning. We never touched any part but the hind quarters." -Captain Sutherland's Report. ARTS AND SCIENCES. CELESTIAL PHENOMENA FOR NOVEMBER. 124 22h the Sun will eclipse Mercury; a celestial occurrence that, from its nature, will not be visible either with the eye or telescope. This passage of the Sun over Mercury will, however, be interesting as the precursor of the positions of these bodies relative to the Earth on the ensuing 5th of May, 1832, when the planet will transit the disc of the Sun, and appear on it as a circular black spot for nearly seven The year 1832 will be distinguished by several remarkable celestial phenomena. The comet of Encke will 22d 12h 35m the Sun enters Sagittarius. The D. H. M. Venus in Virgo Saturn in Leo D. H. M. 0 Occultation of Regulus.-25d-the immersion of this bright star in Leo will occur before the rising of the Moon: the star will emerge from behind the Moon's dark limb at 10h 37m. Occultation of Saturn.-264-This will be an exceedingly interesting phenomenon, should the atmosphere prove favourable. The following are the times of immersion and emersion: cross the earth's orbit in the spring, and the comet of The ring of Saturn is now very contracted (it 26d 8h Mars in conjunction with 1.2 a Li- Vesta Juno D. H. M. 4 R.A. 8 49 28...... 9 6 ..4...... 9 52 N.D. 18 15 18 6 3 9 Taurus. The Pleiades are a cluster of stars in the neck of Taurus, the brightest stars of which are Asterope, Taigeta, Maia, Celino, Electra, Pleione, Merope, and Atlas. Hyades are an asterism in the face of Taurus: Aldebaran represents the southern eye, and s the northern. Aldebaran is a double star, also the following: d, x, y, 7, 4, x, 4, 30, 62, 66, 88, 103, 105, 111, 114, 117, and 118. Triple stars and; above 1.2 ò is a triple star. 140, near to Propus, is a quintuple star; north of is a nebula with a whitish light, elongated like the flame of a taper; 41 is supposed to be a variable star. ; in the shoulders of Orion, present a remarkable Orion.-Betelgeux and Bellatrix, the stars contrast of colour; x is composed of five stars; between, and is a cluster of stars; near 73 a cluster; between Betelgeux and a cluster. Rigel, the bright star in the foot of Orion, is a beautiful double star; the following are also double-d, %, n, 2, 4, 4, 23, 26, 32, 33, 52, 59, and 68; 9 is a quintuple star; is a doubletriple star; is a multiple star; near 67 and 70 is a multiple star, consisting of twelve stars. The nebula in the sword-handle of Orion is one of the most remarkable in the heavens; two new stars have been discovered near the four that form the trapezium in the nebula, one of which is supposed to be a variable star. Occultations in the Hyades.-Oct. 23 (see Lit. Gaz. No. 767). The emersion of y Tauri was not seen, owing to the lunar disc being obscured by strata of dark clouds. This star appeared to linger at the edge of the disc previous to immersion. COMMITTEE OF SCIENCE OF THE TUESDAY, Oct. 25. Mr. Cox in the chair. brilliant manner in which Mr. Prout treats such eagerly questioning the lancer, to the sergeant Chelsea Pensioners reading the Gazette of the DRAMA. WE Congratulate Mr. Burnet on the comple- DRURY LANE. assumed the part of Lady Constance. We will not enter into a detailed criticism of her personation of this trying character, but content ourselves with saying, that in it Miss Phillips "This picture was painted for his Grace afforded striking additional proof of the rapid the Duke of Wellington, in the year 1822, development of those talents which, we have all and commemorates that great and final victory along foreseen, (though often under circum. which, at Waterloo, closed our triumphs over stances little favourable to her), must raise her Napoleon on land, as that of Trafalgar closed to the foremost rank in the highest branch of them by sea. The scene is laid in that pic- her profession. It was hardly fair to put Miss turesque street or way leading from Pimlico to Kenneth into Arthur; for, clever as she is, she Chelsea Hospital, in which trees, public-houses, is not an actress of all work. and the fine architecture of Wren, inter COVENT GARDEN. Mr. Owen made some further observations on the anatomy of the crocodile. He pointed out the resemblance between its anatomy and that of birds, in the different excretory ducts terminating in one external opening or cloaca. He particularly described two small ducts communicating with the peritoneal cavity. He mingle; and the time is the season when compared this with analogous openings in the pensioners receive their pay, and indulge them- SHAKESPEARE'S Henry the Eighth, always a shark and ray, and which have been supposed selves with spending it in the open air. The dull acting play, but occasionally attractive to be in some degree subservient to respiration, painter has gathered together veterans and from the number of its processions, was revived similar to the spiracula of insects or the lam- invalids of all regiments, of all countries, and here on Monday with considerable splendour; prey. Mr. Owen also made some observations of all campaigns, from the days of Wolfe to for we were not only treated with the banquet, on the anatomy of the dugong, a specimen of those of Wellington; he has seated them, the trial, and the christening, as heretofore, which had been received, although in a very with their wives and their companions, at a but we had also the coronation of Anne Bullen, putrid and decomposed state. Some living social carouse; the flagon is busy, cheered on" selected from the most authentic documents.” specimens of the common bat, vespertilio muri- by the fife and the bagpipe; and the whole are Besides these inducements, there was an altera nus, were on the table. FINE ARTS. NEW PUBLICATIONS. excited by the hourly expectation of news from tion in the cast of some of the leading charac abroad of a great and decisive battle between ters; and as we look upon the appropriation of the British and the French. Into the midst the dramatis persone to be of more importance of this scene a soldier of the Lancers comes on than any mere piece of pageantry, however the spur, with the Gazette of the Battle of splendid, we shall give the preference to the Illustrations of the Continental Annual. From Waterloo. The revelry ceases, only for a actors, and leave the scenes and dresses to the Drawings by Samuel Prout, Esq. F.S.A. more joyous renewal; windows and doors are last. On this occasion Miss Kemble appeared, Smith, Elder, and Co. filled by eager and gaping listeners; while a for the first time, in Queen Katharine; and we veteran soldier of Wolfe's reads the account regret that we cannot bestow on her perform aloud." ance that unqualified praise it has so often been As the proprietor of this clever publication justly says, it is unnecessary to apologise for the appearance of a new Landscape Annual, at Of all the beauties of this fine and animated our pleasure to award her. As far as a correc a period when a taste for the fine arts seems to composition, the greatest is undoubtedly the reading of the part-as far as a judicious dekeep pace so fairly, in this country, with the expression of the different heads. This is a livery of the words as far as a perfect know. love of foreign travel;” “a fashionable appe- quality which was most likely to suffer in a ledge of stage effect, and a strict attention to tite," he slily adds, to which he “was desirous transfer to copper; and yet this is precisely stage business, could go, so far Miss Kemble of administering at a much less expense than the quality in which Mr. Burnet seems to us may claim our commendation. The meek sørits gratification has hitherto cost." to have been most happy. It is true, that in rows and the virtuous distress of the muchThe merits of Mr. Prout are much too well the general breadth and effect, in the force injured queen were well portrayed; but when known to render any eulogium on our part ne- and prominence of some parts, in the due sub-quiet dignity or bitter scorn were requisite, as cessary. The amateurs of the arts, by a compa- ordination of others, in the characteristic re-in her replies to Wolsey and her usher in the rison of the plates under our notice with those of presentation of the multiplied details, in the trial scene, there was a comparative falling of The Landscape Annual, from drawings by Mr. aerial tone of the back-ground, in the delicacy and failure of effect. Miss Kemble also is too Stanfield, will be able to estimate the respective of finish, and in technical execution, he has petite in figure, and too youthful in appearance. qualities of these two eminent artists. There acquitted himself admirably; but his success for the representative of one who has been is one distinct difference between the publica- in that most difficult of all achievements, pre- twenty years a wife, is six years older than tions, and it is agreeable, as producing variety; serving the expression of the various counte- her husband, and has borne him many children. namely, that the subjects in the Continental nances, has been pre-eminent. Whether our If, however, the daughter failed in what was Annual are chiefly, although not exclusively, attention is drawn to the pensioner who is in some measure unavoidable, the father went public and other buildings. In the clear and reading the Gazette, to the Highlander who is to an opposite extreme in what might have |