Aboriginal black natives-Their distinguishing personal

characteristics-Mode of life-Customs and manners

13

LETTER XXI.

Currency, or colonial-born population

53

LETTER XXII.

Retrospect of colonial chronology-Progressive im-

provement-Shipping and commerce

67

LETTER XXIII

Mode of trading-Shopkeeping-Banks-Bullion and

paper-money-Their relative eligibility, particularly as

applied to New South Wales and other countries so cir-

cumstanced-Colonial manufactures

.

Page 92

LETTER XXIV.

Colonial population and division of classes-General

state of society-Schools-Newspapers and other publica-

tions-Turf-clubs and horse-racing

116

LETTER XXV.

Party feuds and their causes-House of assembly and

jury trial-Colonial council-Emigrants and emancipists-

Observations on these two great classes

131

LETTER XXVI.

Emigration in general-The most judicious modes there-

of-Unlocated portions of Australia eligible for the settler

-Method of granting land-Mode of examining the coun-

try in quest of favourable tracts

146

LETTER XXVII,

Hints to the new settler, particularly with reference to

his first proceedings upon his farm

163

LETTER XXVIII.

Convict servants-Their management and maintenance

-Bush-rangers-Pedestrian journeys of runaways toward

Ireland, China, and Timor-Piratical carrying away of

ships and boats by convicts-Settlements of them upon

unappropriated portions of the Australian coast Page 188

LETTER XXIX.

Male convicts-Their accommodations, diet, and cloth-

ing, on their voyage out-System of management adopted

by the author as surgeon-superintendant

LETTER XXX.

210

The subject continued-General conduct and opinions

of the prisoners-Curious particular instances

250

LETTER XXXI.

Female convicts on their voyage out-Their general

behaviour, and the system of control exercised over

them-Thoughts relative to their future disposal and

reform

270

LETTER XXXII.

Suggestions toward the amendment of the present con-

vict regulations in New South Wales, tending to render

the colony available at once for purposes of punishment

and reform-Remarks on the construction and discipline

of jails, and on the policy of the system of public execu-

tions, &c.

296

LETTER XXXIII.

Colonial government of New South Wales-Executive

council-The secrecy of its sittings animadverted on-

Courts of justice-Law officers-Extraordinary decisions

-Distinction without difference-Value of evidence for-

merly in the Australian courts-Colonial magistrates and

their peculiar powers-Convict hospitals-Church esta-

blishment-Government secretary, and other functiona-

Page 312

ries

LETTER XXXIV.

Australian Agricultural Company-Benefits likely to

result to the colony from its establishment-Tract of land

granted to the company-Port Stephens-Proceedings

of the company there-Western Port and King George's

Sound Sydney Gazette published daily-Libellous pro-

pensities of the Australian newspapers-Conclusion 337

LETTERS

FROM

NEW SOUTH WALES.

LETTER XIX.

COAL being the most useful and abundant of all the New South Wales minerals, naturally claims priority of notice. It is either found, or indications of its existence are observed, in a direct coast line of one hundred and twenty miles, extending from Port Stephens to Botany Bay, and interiorly for about a hundred miles along Hunter's River; up some of the branches of which fields of coal have been traced, several thick and easily-worked beds being found full ninety miles from the sea. Petrified branches and roots of

VOL. II.

A