A Statistical, historical, and political Description of the Colony of New South Wales, and its dependent Settlements in Van Diemen's Land, etc

Front matter

A STATISTICAL, HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL DESCRIPTION OF NEW SOUTH WALES. W. Shackell, Printer, Johnson 's-court, Fleet-etxeet A STATISTICAL, HISTORICAL, AND POLITICAL DESCRIPTION 01 t£i)t (Æolottg OF NEW SOUTH WALES, AND Its totpeniierit Settlements i*i VAN DIEMEN'S LAND: WITH A PARTICULAR ENUMERATION OF THE ADVANTAGES WHICH THESE COLONIES OFFER FOR EMIGRATION, AND THEIR SUPERIORITY IN MANY RESPECTS OVER THOSE POSSESSED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. By W. C. WENTW"ORTH, Esq. A NATIVE OF THE COLONY. LONDON : PRINTED FOR G. and. W. B. WHITTAKER, AVE-MARIA LANE. 1819.

Preface

. It may prevent those inquiries that would be naturally made by the public, respecting the manner in which the author acquired the information contained in this work, when he states that he was born in the colony of New South Wales, and that he resided there for about five years since his arrival at the age of maturity. This is a period which will, at least, be allowed to have been sufficient for acquiring a correct knowledge of its state and government, and for enabling him to observe the destructive tendency of those measures, of which it has been his endeavour to demonstrate the injustice and impolicy, and to procure the VI

PREFACE.

. speedy repeal. He would not, however, have it concluded that the present work has been the result of mature and systematic reflection ; it is, on the contrary, a hasty production, which ori ginated in the casual suggestions of an acquain tance, and which was never contemplated by him, during his long residence in the 'colony. He has consequently been obliged not only to omit giving a detail of many interesting facts, with which he might have become acquainted previously to his departure, but has also been under the necessity of relying in a great mea sure on the fidelity of his memory for the accu racy of many of those circumstances which he has stated : still he is not without hope, that five years attentive observation will have ena bled him to communicate many particulars, of which, in the absence of abler works on the same subject, most of the inhabitants of this country cannot but be ignorant, and many must wish to be apprized. His only aim in obtruding this hasty production on the public, is to promote the welfare and prosperity of the country which gave him

PREFACE.

. VII birth ; and he has judged that he could in no way so effectually contribute his mite towards the accomplishment ofthis end, asby attempt ing to divert from the United States of America to its shores, some part of that vast tide of emi gration, which is at present flowing thither from all parts of Europe. In furtherance, therefore, of this design, he has described the superior advantages of climate and soil possessed by this colony ; he has explained the causes why these natural superiorities have not yet been productive of those beneficial consequences which might have been expected from them ; he has pointed out the arguments which offer for the abandonment of the present system, and the substitution of another in its place ; and by adducing, in fine, what he considers to be irrefragable proofs of the expediency, merely as it regards the parent country, of adopting the measures which he has proposed, he hopes that he shall eventually occasion an alteration of polity, by which both the parties concerned will be equally benefited. He has not, however, presumed on a contingency which it is thus reasonable to believe cannot be either doubtful

PREFACE.

. or remote ; but has restricted himself to an enumeration of the inducements to emigration which exist under actual circumstances ; and, by comparing them with the advantages which those writers, who have given the most favour able accounts of the United States, have re presented them as possessing, he has proved that this colony, labouring as it is under all the discouragements of an arbitrary and impolitic government, has still a great and decided pre ponderancy in the balance. How much this preponderancy will be increased, whenever the changes and modifications which he has ventured to suggest, shall be in whole, or in part carried into effect, he has left to all such as are desirous of emigrating, to form their own estimate ; and to decide also how much longer a system so highly burdensome to the parent country, and so radically defective in its principles and operation, is likely to be tolerated.

To all those, who are of opinion with him that it cannot be of much longer duration, the in ducements for giving this colony the preference will become so weighty, as scarcely to admit of the possibility that they should hesitate for

PREFACE.

. IX a moment in their choice between the two countries. If, in the course of this work, he has spoken in terms of unqualified reprobation of the baneful system to which the unhappy place of his nativity has been the victim, he would have it distinctly understood, that it has been fur thest from his thoughts to connect the censure which he has bestowed on it, with those who have permitted its continuance. He is too deeply impressed with a sense of the arduous and momentous nature of the contest which they have had to conduct, not to allow that < it was justly entitled to their first and chief attention. Our whole colonial system, in fact, he considers to have been but a mere under plot in the great drama that was acting. It could not, therefore, be reasonably expected that the grievances of anyone colony should be come the subject of minute and particular inves tigation ; and still less could it be imagined that the government should convert their attention to the relief of one, which has comparatively excited but a small share of public interest, and X

PREFACE.

. has hitherto been considered more in the light of a prison, than of what he has endeavoured" to prove it might be rendered, — one of the most useful and valuable appendages of the empire. This apology, however, for the neglect which the colony has experienced during the war, cannot be pleaded in vindication of a perseverance in the same impolitic and oppressive course in time of peace. Nor is it to be wondered at, as upwards of three years have now elapsed since the consolidation of the tranquillity of the world, that the colonists should begin to feel indignant at the continuance of disabilities, for the abrogation of which the most powerful considerations of justice and expediency have been urged in vain. To remove such just grounds for dissatisfaction and com plaint, and to allow them, at length, the enjoy ment of those rights and privileges, of which they, ought never to have been debarred, would, at best, be but a poor compensation for an impeded agriculture and languishing com merce ; but it is the only one that can now be offered ; and, although it cannot repair the wide ravages which so many years of unmerited and PREFACE, XI absurd restrictions have occasioned, it may arrest the progress of desolation, and prevent any further increase to the thousands who have already sunk beneath the pressure of an over whelming system.

It is, therefore, to be hoped that the cause of humanity will no longer be outraged by unnecessary delay, and that the only atonement which can be made the colonists for their past and present sufferings, will no longer be withheld. The author is fully aware, that in the course of this work, he has developed no new principle of political economy, and that he has only travelled in the broad beaten path in which hundreds have journeyed before him. For troubling, therefore, the public with a repetition of principles, of which the truth is so generally known and acknowledged, the only plea he can urge in his justification is a hope that the reiteration of them will not be deemed unnecessary and obtrusive, so long as their application is incomplete ; so long as vice and? misery prevail in any part of the world, from the want of their adoption and enforcement. NEW SOUTH WALES.

Part I

Statistical Account of the Settlements in New Holland. THE colony of New South Wales is situated on the eastern coast of New Holland. This island, which was first discovered by the Dutch in 1616, lies between the 9° and 39° of south latitude, and the 108° and 153° of east longitude; and from its immense size, seems rather to merit the appellation of continent, which many geo graphers have bestowed on it. Since that period it has been visited and examined by a galaxy of celebrated navigators, among whom Cook and Flinders rank the most conspicuous. Still the survey of this large portion of the world cannot, by any means, be deemed com plete ; since not one of all the navigators who have laid down the various parts of its coasts, H has discovered the mouth of any considerable river ; and it is hardly within the scope of possible belief, that a country of such vast extent does not possess at least one river, which may deserve to be ranked in the class of " rivers of the first magnitude."

If a judgment were formed of this island from the general aspect of the country bordering the sea, it would be pronounced one of the most barren spots on the face of the globe. Experi ence, however, has proved that such an opinion would be exactly the reverse of truth ; since, as far as the interior has been explored, its general fertility amply compensates for the extreme sterility of the coast. The greater part of this country is covered with timber of a gigantic growth, but of an entirely different description from the timber of Europe. It is, however, very durable, and well adapted to all the purposes of human in dustry. The only metal yet discovered is iron. It abounds in every part of the country, and is in some places purer than in any other part of the world. Coals are found in many places of the best quality.

There is also abundance of slate, limestone and granite, though not in the immediate vicinity of Port Jackson. Sand stone, quartz, and freestone are found every where. The rivers and seas teem with excellent fish ; but the eel and smelt, the mullet, whiting, mackarel, sole, skate, and John Dory are, I believe, the only sorts known in this country. The animals are, the kangaroo, native dog, (which is a smaller species of the wolf,) the wom bat, bandicoot, kangaroo rat, opossum, flying squirrel, flying fox, &c. &c. There are none of those animals or birds which go by the name of * game" in this country, except the heron. The hare, pheasant and partridge are quite unknown; but there are wild ducks, widgeon, teal, quail, pigeons, plovers, snipes, &c. &c, with emus, black swans, cockatoos, parrots, parroquets, and an infinite variety of smaller birds, which are not found in any other country.

In fact, both its animal and vegetable kingdoms are in a great measure peculiar to itself. There are many poisonous reptiles in this country, but few accidents happen either to the aborigines, or the colonists from their bite. Of these the centipede, tarantula, scorpion, slow worm, and the snake, are the most to be dreaded; particularly the latter, since there are, I believe, b at least thirty varieties of them, of which all but one are venomous in the highest degree. The aborigines of this country occupy the lowest place in the gradatory scale of the human species. They have neither houses nor clothing; they are entirely unacquainted with the arts of agriculture ; and even the arms which the several tribes have, to protect them - selves from the aggressions of their neighbours, and the hunting and fishing implements with which they administer to their support, are of the rudest contrivance and workmanship.

Thirty years intercourse with Europeans has not effected the slightest change in their habits ; and even those who have most intermixed with the colonists, have never been prevailed upon to practise one of the arts of civilized life. Dis daining all restraint, their happiness is still cen tered in their original pursuits; and they seem to consider the superior enjoyments to be derived from civilization, (for they are very far from be ing insensible to them) but a poor compensation for the sacrifice of any portion of their natural liberty. The colour of these people is a dark chocolate ; their features bear a strong resem blance to the African negro; they have the same flat nose, large nostrils, wide mouth and thick lips ; but their hair is not woolly, except in Van Dieman's Land, where they have this further characteristic of the negro.

These people bear no resemblance to any of the inhabitants of the surrounding islands, ex cept to those of New Guinea, which is only separated from New Holland by a narrow strait. One of these islands, therefore, has evidently been peopled by the other ; but from whence the original stock was .derived is one of those geographical problems, which in all probability will never be satisfactorily solved. Rude and barbarous as are the aborigines of this country, they have still some confused notions of a Supreme Being and of a future state. It would, however, be foreign to the purposes to which I have limited myself, to enter into a detail of their customs and man ners; nor would it, indeed, be the means of increasing the fund of public knowledge : since, whoever may be anxious to be informed on these topics, will find a faithful and minute account of them in the work of Mr. Collins.

Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, is situated in 33" 55'of south latitude, and 151° 25'of east longitude. It is about seven miles distant from the heads of Port Jackson, and stands principally on two hilly necks of land and the intervening valley, which together form Sydney Cove. The western side of the town extends to the water's edge, and occupies with the exception of the small space reserved around Dawe's Battery, the whole of the neck of land which separates Sydney Cove from Lane Cove, and extends a considerable distance back into the country besides. This part of the town, it may therefore be perceived, forms a little peninsula; and what is of still greater importance the water is in ge neral of sufficient depth in both these coves, to allow the approach of vessels of the largest burden to the very sides of the rocks.

On the eastern neck of land, the extension of the town has been stopped by the Government House, and the adjoining domain, which occu pies the whole of Bennilong's Point, a circumstance the more to be regretted, as the water all along this point is of still greater depth than on the western side of the Cove, and consequently affords still greater facilities for the erection of warehouses and the various important purposes of commerce. The appearance of the town is rude and irregular. Until the administration of Go vernor Macquarie, little or no attention had been paid to the laying out of the streets, and each proprietor was left to build on his lease, where and how his caprice inclined him, He, however, has at length succeeded in establishing a perfect regularity in most of the streets, and has reduced to a degree of uniformity, that would have been deemed absolutely impracticable, even the most confused portion of that chaos of building, which is still known by the name of " the rocks;" and which, from the ruggedness of its surface, the difficulty of access to it, and the total absence of order in its houses, was for many years more like the abode of a horde of savages than the residence of a civilized community.

The town upon the whole may be now pronounced to be tolerably re gular ; and, as in all future additions that may be made to it, the proprietors of leases will not be allowed to deviate from the lines marked out by the surveyor general, the new part will of course be free from the faults and inconve niences of the old. This town covers a considerable extent of ground, and would at first sight induce the be lief of a much greater population than it actually contains. This is attributable to two circumstances, the largeness of the leases, which in most instances possess sufficient space for a garden, and the smallness of the houses erected in them, which in general do not exceed one story. From these two causes it happens, that this town does not contain above seven thousand souls, whereas one that covered the same extent of ground in this country would possess a population of at least twenty thousand.

But although the houses are for the most part small, and of mean appearance, there are many public buildings, as well as houses of individuals, which would not disgrace the best parts of this great metropolis. Of the former class, the public stores, the general hospital, and the barracks, are perhaps the most conspicuous ; of the latter the houses of Messrs. Lord, Riley, Howe, Un derwood and Nichols. The value of land in this town is in many places half as great as in the best situations in London, and is daily increasing. Rents are in consequence exorbitantly high. It is very far from a commodious house that can be had for a hundred a year, unfurnished. Here is a very good market, although it is of very recent date. It was established by Governor Macquarie, in the year 1813, and is very well supplied with grain, vegetables, poultry, butter, eggs and fruit.

It is, however only held three times a week ; viz. on Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays. It is alarge oblono enclosure, and there are stores erected in it by the Governor, for the reception of all such provisions as remain unsold at the close of the market, which lasts from six o'clock in the morning in summer, and seven o'clock in winter, until three o'clock in the evening. The vender pays in return a small duty to the clerk of the market, who accounts quarterly for the amount to the treasurer of the police fund. The annual amount of these duties is about £130.* Here also is a Bank, called " The Bank of New South Wales," which was established in the year 1817, and promises to be of great and permanent benefit to the colony in general. Its capital is £'20,000, divided into two hundred shares.

It has a regular charter of incorporation, and is under the controul of a -^president and six di rectors, who are annually chosen by the pro prietors. The paper of this bank is now the principal circulating medium of this colony. They discount bills of a short date, and also ad vance money on mortgage securities. They are allowed to receive in return an interest of 10 per cent, per annum. This town also contains two very good public schools, for the education of children of both sexes. One is a day school for boys, and is of course only intended to impart gratuitous in- * Vide Market Duties in (he Appendix. f See Appendix. struction : — the other is designed both for the education and support of poor and helpless female orphans. This institution was founded by Governor King, as long back as the year 1800, and contains about sixty children, who are taught reading, writing, arithmetic, sewing, and the various arts of domestic economy.

When their education is complete, they are either married to free persons of good cha racter, or are assigned as servants to such re spectable families as may apply for them. At the time of the establishment of this school there was a large tract of land (15,000 acres,) attached to it ; and a considerable stock of horses, cattle, and sheep, were also trans ferred to it from the government herds. The profits of these stock go towards defraying the expences of this school, and a certain portion, fifty or a hundred acres of this land, with a proportionate number of them, are given in dower with each female who marries with the consent of the committee intrusted with the management ofthis institution. Besides these two public schools in the town of Sydney, which together contained, by the last accounts received from the colony, two hundred and twenty-four children, there are establishments for the gratuitous diffusion of education in every populous district throughout the colony.

The masters of these schools are allowed stipulated salaries from the Orphan Fund. Formerly particular duties, those on coals and timber, which still go by the name of " The Orphan Dues," were allotted for the support of these schools ; but they were found to be insufficient, and afterwards one-fourth, and more recently one-eighth, of the whole revenue of the colony was appropriated to this purpose. This latter portion of the colonial revenue may be estimated at about £2500, which it must be admitted could not be devoted to the promotion of any pbject of equal public utility. Independent of these laudable institutions thus supported at the expence of the government, there are two private ones intended for the dis semination of religious knowledge, which are wholly maintained by voluntary contribution.

One is termed " The Auxiliary Bible Society of New South Wales," and its object is to co operate with the British and Foreign Bible So ciety, and to distribute the holy Scriptures either at prime cost, or gratis, to needy and deserving applicants. The other is called " The New South Wales Sunday School Institution," and was established with a view to teach well disposed persons of all ages how to read the sacred volume. These societies were instituted in the year 1817, and are under the direction of a general committee, aided by a secretary and treasurer. There are in this town and other parts of the colony, several good private seminaries for the board and education of the children of opulent parents. The best is in the district of Castle reagh, which is about forty miles distant, and is kept. by the clergyman of that district, the Rev. Henry Fulton, a gentleman peculiarly qualified both from his character and acquirements for conducting so responsible and important an undertaking.

The boys in this seminary receive a regular classical education, and she terms are as reasonable as those of similar establishments in this country. The harbour of Port Jackson 'is perhaps ex ceeded by none inthe world except the Derwent in point of size and safety; and in this latter particular, I rather think it has the advantage. It is navigable for vessels of any burden for about seven miles above the town, i. e. about fifteen from the entrance. It possesses the best anchorage the whole way, and is perfectly shel tered from^every wind that can blow. It is said, and I believe with truth, to have a hundred coves, and is capable of containing all the ship ping in the world. There can be no doubt, therefore, that in the course of a few years, the town of Sydney, from the excellence of its situ ation alone, must become a place of considerable importance.

The views from the heights of the town are bold, varied and beautiful. The strange irre gular appearance of the town itself, the nume rous coves and islets both above and below it, the towering forests and projecting rocks, com bined with the infinite diversity of hill and dale on each sjde of the harbour, form altogether a coup d'œil, of which it may be safely asserted that few towns can boast a parallel. The neighbouring scenery is still more diver sified and romantic, particularly the different prospects which open upon you from the hills on the south head road, immediately conti guous to the town. Looking towards the coast you behold at one glance the greater part of the numerous bays and islands which lie between the town and the heads, with the succession of barren, but bold and commanding hills, that bound the harbour, and are abruptly terminated by the water.

Further north, the eye ranges over the long chain of lofty rugged cliffs that stretch away in the direction of the coal river, and distinctly mark the bearing of the coast, until they are lost in the dimness of vision. Wheeling round to the south you behold at the distance of seven or eight miles, that spacious though less eligible harbour, called " Botany Bay," from the prodigious variety of new plants which Sir Joseph Banks found in its vicinity, when it was first discovered and surveyed by Captain Cook. To the southward again of this magnificent sheet of water, where it will be recollected it was the original intention, though afterwards judiciously abandoned, to found the capital of this colony, you behold the high bluff range of hills that stretch away towards the five islands, and likewise indicate the trending of the coast in that direction.

If you afterwards suddenly face about to the westward, you see before you one vast forest, uninterrupted except by the cultivated open ings which have been made by the axe on the summits of some of the loftiest hills, and which tend considerably to diminish those me lancholy sensations its gloomy monotony would otherwise inspire. The innumerable undulations in this vast expanse of forest, forcibly remind you of the ocean when convulsed by tem pests ; save that the billows of the one slum ber in a fixed and leaden stillness, and want that motion which constitutes the diversity, beauty, and sublimity of the other. Continuing the view, you arrive at that majestic and com- SETTLEMENTS IX NEW HOLLAND. 15 manding chain of mountains called " the Blue Mountains," whose stately and o'ertopping grandeur forms a most imposing boundary to the prospective.

If you proceed on the south head road, until you arrive at the eminence called " Belle Vue," the scenery is still more picturesque and grand ; since, in addition to the striking objects already described, you behold, as it were at your feet, although still more than a mile distant from you, the vast and foaming Pacific. In boisterous weather the surges that break in mountains on the shore beneath you, form a sublime contrast to the still, placid waters of the harbour, which in this spot is only separated from the sea by a low sandy neck of land not more than half a mile in breadth ; yet is so completely sheltered, that no tempests can ruffle its tranquil surface. The town of Parramatta is situated at the head of Port Jackson Harbour, at the distance of about eighteen miles by water, and fifteen by land, from Sydney.

The river for the last seven or eight miles, is only navigable for boats of twelve or fifteen tons burden. This town is built along a small fresh water stream, which falls into the river. It consists principally of one street about a mile in length. It is surrounded on the south side by a chain of mode rately high hills ; and as you approach it by the Sydney road, it breaks suddenly on the view when you have reached the summit of them, and produces a very pleasing effect. The ad jacent country has been a good deal cleared ; and the gay mimosas, which have sprung up in the openings, form a very agreeable contrast to the dismal gloom of the forest that surrounds and o'ertops them. The town itself is far behind Sydney in re spect of its buildings ; but it nevertheless con tains many of a good and substantial construc tion.

These, with the church, the government house, the new Orphan House, and some gentlemen's seats, which are situated on the sur rounding eminences, give it, upon the wThole, a very respectable appearance. There are two very good inns, where a traveller may meet with all the comfort and accommodation that are to be found in similar establishments in the country towns of this kingdom. The charges too are by no means unreasonable. The population is principally composed of inferior traders, publicans, artificers, and la bourers, and may be estimated, inclusive of a company which is always stationed there, on a rough calculation, at about twelve hundred souls. There are two fairs held half yearly, one in March and the other in September ; they were instituted about five years since by the present governor, and already begin to be very nume rously and respectably attended.

They are chiefly intended for the sale of stock, for which there are stalls* pens, and every other conve nience, erected at the expence of the government ; for the use of these pens, &c. anod to keep them in repair, a moderate scale of duties* is paid by the vender. This town has for many years past made but a very inconsiderable progress compared with Sydney. The value of land has consequently not kept pace in the two places, and is at least £200 per cent, less in the one than in the other. As the former, however, is in a central situa tion between the rapidly increasing settlements on the banks of the Hawkesbury and Nepean rivers, and the latter the great mart for colo nial produce, landed property there and in the neighbourhood, will, without doubt, experience a gradual rise. The public institutions are ah Hospital, a Female Orphan House, into which it is in tended to remove the orphans from Sydney, * See Appendix. <• and a factory, in which such of the female convicts as misconduct themselves, and those also who upon their arrival in the colony are not immediately assigned as servants to families, are employed in manufacturing coarse cloth.