Not long after the arrival of the expedition, M. Dumont D’Urville, with the Astrolabe and Zelie, arrived in Raffles Bay, and it was popularly believed that they had entertained some intentions of forestalling our settlement.  At any rate, the question whether foreign powers were entitled to take possession of points on the coast of Australia was much debated at the time.  However this may be, and with whatever feelings the respective Governments of France and England may have regarded each other at the time, the officers of the two nations seemed to vie in courtesy.  A boat was despatched from Victoria to invite them to enter the harbour, and the greatest harmony prevailed during their stay.

On the 28th of March, six Malay proas came in and were soon followed by others, their owners soliciting permission to erect their establishments for curing trepang under the protection of the British flag.  This being granted, they made choice of a spot on the beach, and a little subsidiary settlement soon sprung up.  Being now for the first time secure from the attacks of the natives, whose hostility had until then forced every other man of them to keep under arms whilst the rest worked, they expected to pursue their occupation with far greater advantage to themselves.  Originally hopes were entertained that a very large population of Malays, and even Chinese would speedily collect at Port Essington:  but from some defect in the colonial regulations their immigration was for a time checked.  At length, however, a remedy has been applied, and facility given for the introduction of settlers from the Indian Archipelago and the Celestial Empire.

The great difficulty that this small settlement has had to contend with from the beginning, is the climate; which, though not absolutely pernicious in itself, is unsuited to European constitutions.  The settlers have been attacked at various times by fever, and have experienced a large comparative mortality; but hopes are entertained that by proper regulations, especially if temperate habits could be introduced, this may be avoided.

The capabilities of the soil, though it has by some been pronounced totally unfit for agricultural purposes, are still supposed by others to be great, and it is believed that if colonists, capable of working in the climate, could be induced to repair to Port Essington, rice, cotton, indigo, etc. might be raised, of the finest quality, and in great abundance.

The livestock at the settlements, consisted, by the last accounts, of an English cow and a bull, two Indian heifers and two cows, above fifty goats, six working oxen, thirty buffaloes, six pigs, a few fowls, five ponies, and thirty half-greyhounds for catching kangaroos.  Some of these were private, others public property.  Several cattle have been lost, on hearing which, a plan that had before suggested itself, recurred vividly to my mind.  I once thought the herds of buffalo and other animals might be prevented from straying,