(Footnote.  We have just learned that it is the intention of Government to form a settlement of the kind mentioned in the text on the north-east coast; and that the province is to be called North Australia, the southern boundary of which is to be the 26th parallel.  I have already expressed my opinion, that convicts should not be sent to Port Essington, as the proximity of the islands would afford them facilities of escape.)

COMET.

During our stay in the Derwent, perhaps one of the most splendid comets that has ever appeared, illuminated the southern hemisphere for several nights.  We did not see it until the evening of the 5th of March; but it was observed on the 2nd at Launceston; and by a ship at sea, off Cape Leeuwin, on the 27th of February.  Several observations were made with it, when the nucleus, which was of a deep red colour, somewhat resembling the planet Mars, was visible.* The length of the tail (on the 5th) measured forty degrees; but was afterwards ten degrees longer.  Towards its centre it showed great intensity of light, becoming visible in the crepusculum before stars of the second magnitude.  Through its more attenuated extremity, the stars were plainly seen, the coma seeming to be much less dense, showing the sky through the centre like a dark line.

(Footnote.  On the evening of the 5th its right ascension was found to be about 0 hours 13 minutes 0 seconds, and declination about 13 degrees 0 minutes South.  The following evening it was observed to have had a motion of above three degrees and a half in the direction of the constellation Orion; the right ascension being 0 hours 26 minutes 0 seconds, and the declination 12 degrees 50 minutes South.  On the following night it was found to have had a further motion in the same direction, and with much the same velocity.  Its position, shortly before setting, was as follows:  right ascension 0 hours 41 minutes 0 seconds, declination 12 degrees 30 minutes South.)

COLONIAL CORN.

Whilst we were in the Derwent, a ship was loading with corn for England; and I could not help regretting that, although grain from these colonies, on account of its dry nature, is well adapted for a long voyage, the heavy duty almost shut it out from the English market.  It was impossible not to feel, that justice as well as policy should have dictated the admission of Australian wheat on the same terms as Canadian.  The injury inflicted by the exclusive system pursued, is, that less land is put under cultivation, and fewer people are encouraged to go there; both the colony and the mother country are sufferers thereby.

CHAPTER 2.14.  AUSTRALIA TO ENGLAND.

Sail from Tasmania. 
The South-west Cape. 
Monument to Flinders. 
Rottnest Island. 
Lighthouse. 
Penal Establishment. 
Longitude of Fremantle. 
Final departure from Western Australia.