ROYAL VISITS TO THE THEATRES.

When the King visited the Opera in 1821, the preparations cost upwards of L300.  The ante-room and the box were hung with satin, and festoons of gold lace.

When his Majesty visited Covent Garden Theatre in 1823, there were 4,255 persons present, and the receipts were L971. 18_s_. 6_d_.—­Companion to the Theatres.

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SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY.

EMIGRATION.

NEW COLONY ON SWAN RIVER.

We have abridged the following very important and interesting information respecting the New Settlement on the Western Coast of Australia, from the last Number of the Quarterly Review.  The writer appears to have profited by access to official sources, and thus enhanced the value of his paper; but, disposed as we are, generally, to coincide with his views on the subject of Emigration, we do not think it necessary to detail them in this place.  We have, however, retained the “Regulations,” as issued from the Colonial Office, and made occasional quotations from Captain Stirling’s Report; besides availing ourselves of a pamphlet lately published, entitled “Hints on Emigration to the New Settlement on the Swan and Canning Rivers."[2] The Report of Mr. Fraser, the government botanical surveyor, from Sydney, who accompanied Captain Stirling, is not so easy of access.  The Quarterly writer, by some coincident opinions and references, appears to be acquainted with the above pamphlet, although it is not mentioned in the review.  The official Regulations are as follow:—­

1.  His majesty’s government do not intend to incur any expense in conveying settlers to the New Colony on the Swan River; and will not feel bound to defray the expense of supplying them with provisions or other necessaries, after their arrival there, nor to assist their removal to England, or elsewhere, should they be desirous of quitting the Colony.

2.  Such persons who may arrive in that settlement before the end of the year 1830, will receive, in the order of their arrival, grants of land, free of quit rent, proportioned to the capital which they may be prepared to invest in the improvement of the land, and of which capital they maybe able to produce satisfactory proofs to the Lieutenant Governor (or other officer administering the Colonial Government,) or to any two officers of the Local Government appointed by the Lieutenant Governor for that purpose, at the rate of forty acres for every sum of three pounds which they may be prepared so to invest.

3.  Under the head of investment of capital will be considered stock of every description, all implements of husbandry, and other articles which may be applicable to the purposes of productive industry, or which may be necessary for the establishment of the settler on the land where he is to be located.  The amount of any half-pay or pension which the applicant may receive from Government, will also be considered as so much capital.