As the farther detention of the Calcutta, after the removal was finally concluded on, would greatly retard the principal object of her voyage, the conveying a cargo of ship timber to England, without any adequate advantage to the colony, she quitted Port Phillip on the 18th of December, leaving the Colonists preparing to re-embark on board the Ocean.

While the Calcutta remained at Port Phillip, besides the necessary duties of the ship, the crew were actively employed in collecting such specimens of ship-timber as the place afforded; and about one hundred and fifty pieces of compasstimber, chiefly honeysuckle, were procured.

During the period of uncertainty, between the sailing of the boat, and the return of advices from Port Jackson, the First Lieutenant of the Calcutta, with several other officers, and a party of convicts to carry provisions, proceeded by land to examine Western Port, and ascertain the correctness of the description given of it by the first discoverers, particularly with respect to coal, in which it was said to abound. From the camp they proceeded across the peninsula to where the ridge of Arthur's Seat descends to the sea. This peninsula is formed entirely of sand, thrown up into round hillocks, and covered with coarse grass in tufts; the only trees here are the she-oak, which are small and open. After passing the ridge of Arthur's Seat they proceeeded in a direction due east, nearly parallel to the sea-shore, of which they sometimes came in sight, until they reached a point projecting into the sea, which was supposed to be Cape or Point Schank; in this space the land continues to rise, and forms in larger and steeper hills, separated by narrow glens, but the soil is still very sandy, and no water was to be found, even by digging in the hollows several feet deep. After passing Cape Schank, the country assumes a quite different appearance; the soil changes to a stiff clay; the she-oak gives place to the blue gum, and two strong runs of water fall into the sea immediately under the Cape. Here they halted for the night, and, following the example of the natives, erected a hut, and made

a fire within a few feet of its entrance. This point was supposed to be twenty-five miles distant from the camp. At day-light they again commenced their march, guided by a pocket-compass; and keeping at the distance of between three and five miles from the sea at noon reached Western Port, about two miles from its entrance. From Cape Schank the country is varied by hills and vallies, the soil of the former being a stiff clay, with very lofty gum-trees; and of the latter, a rich black mould several feet deep, except in a few spots where a black peaty earth was found. The grass in these vallies is extremely luxuriant; some of them are overgrown with under-wood, while others possess scarcely a single shrub. In this track are several small runs of water, emptying themselves into the sea by deep ravines.

The examination of Western Port was unavoidably confined to the space of a few miles on the western shore: this was principally owing to the man who carried the whole of the bread, having absconded soon after quitting the camp, and to being deceived in the extent of the Port, as well as the distance to it; which was found much greater than they had any idea of.

They were provisioned only for four days, at short allowance; for trusting to their guns for an addition to their fare, they employed most of the party to carry water, being ignorant whether any was to be found in their route.

From the entrance of the Port for about twelve miles along the western shore, there is but one place of commodious landing for boats; the beach being either a black plate rock, or a flat sand running out a quarter of a mile; upon which a long and dangerous surf continually breaks. There are three good runs of water in this space, which falling from the hills, from pools at their base, are absorbed by the soft sand of the beach. We found these pools covered with teal of a beautiful plumage, and, what was to us of much more importance, of a delicious flavour.

NEW SOUTH WALES.

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As their track to Western Port had never diverged more than five miles from the sea, it was determined, on returning, to endeavour to penetrate through the country in a northwest direction, which was supposed would bring them to Port Philip at about twenty miles distance from the camp. They accordingly set off at day-light of the third day, from their night's station, which was about five miles from the entrance of Western Port, and had scarce walked a quarter of a mile when they came to an immense forest of lofty gum-trees. The country here becomes very mountainous: in the vallies or rather chasms between the mountains, small runs of water trickle through an almost impenetrable jungle of prickly shrubs, bound together by creeping plants. After passing eight of these deep chasms in six miles, which was accomplished with infinite difficulty in four hours, they found the country grow still more impenetrable, vast fields of shrub as prickly as furze, arresting their progress every moment. Several of their people who carried the water, being unable to bear the fatigue any longer, they were obliged to give up their intention; and, after a short rest, they shaped their course to the south-west, in order to approach the sea, where the country becomes open and less hilly. In this direction they found the country well watered, the soil very rich, and in many places meadows of from fifty to an hundred acres, covered with grass five feet high, and unincumbered with a single tree. At sun-set they reached the sea at Cape Schank, and, halting for the night, arrived at the camp in the afternoon of the next day.

Their search for coal, which they were given to understand abounded at Western Port, was fruitless; but their examination was too circumscribed and superficial to authorize any positive assertion respecting it.

The coast between the ridge of Arthur's Seat and Western Port is bound by rocks of black stone, which was found to burn to a strong lime. The projecting points of land are high, bluff, and perpendicular, presenting a barrier to the sea

which breaks against them, even in the finest weather, with violence, denying shelter by anchorage, or safety by running on shore for the smallest boat.

Besides herds of kangaroos, four large wolves were seen at Western Port. Very beautiful bronze-winged pigeons with black and white cockatoos, and innumerable parrots, inhabit the woods.

Though this excursion added but little to the knowledge of the country, it is hoped it will not be entirely devoid of utility. In those spots which appeared best adapted to the purpose, seeds from Rio Janeiro and the Cape were sown, viz. oranges, limes, melons, pumpkins, Indian corn, and several kinds of garden seeds.

But two huts were found in their track, and not a native was seen; indeed the kangaroo seems to reign undisturbed lord of the soil, a dominion which, by the evacuation of Port Phillip, he is likely to retain for ages.

Several convicts absconded from the camp soon after their landing, led away by the most delusive ideas of reaching Port Jackson, or getting on board some whaler, which they ignorantly believed occasionally touched on this coast; some of them were brought back by parties sent after them, and others returned voluntarily, when nearly famished with hunger. Two only of these unfortunate beings were never heard of after leaving the camp, one of these was George Lee, a character well known to several persons of respectability in England.

After the Calcutta quitted Port Phillip, a vessel was sent to examine Port Dalrymple; the accounts brought back not being so favourable as was hoped for, it was finally determined to remove the colony to the river Derwent, which was partly accomplished before the Calcutta sailed from Port Jackson. The name of Hobart was given to the settlement, and the most flattering accounts were received from the lieutenantgovernor, of the situation, soil, and climate. Speaking of the

climate, he says, that it may be considered the Montpelier of New South Wales. Subsequently, however, Port Dalrymple was again more minutely examined, when the excellence of its situation for commerce and defence determined its future destination. A strong party of convicts, settlers, and soldiers were accordingly settled there, and every exertion was made by Colonel Paterson, of the New South Wales corps, who was appointed Lieutenant-Governor, to render it a fit and comfortable abode for civilized man. His intentions, after his departure for head-quarters at Sydney, were ably executed by Colonel Collins, whose knowledge and activity have proved extremely serviceable. The rapid growth of these settlements in Van Dieman's land has also been accelerated by the orders of government for the evacuation of Norfolk Island, the inhabitants of which were carried to Port Dalrymple and the river Derwent.