Extent of new south Wales and divisions of the colony.

The Colony of New South Wales is situated upon the eastern coast of Australia; and the districts within which land has been granted to settlers, extends from the 36th parallel of latitude to the 32nd, that is say, from the Moroyo River to the south of Sydney on the one hand, and to the Manning River on the other, including Wellington Valley within its limits to the westward.  Thus it will appear that the boundaries of the located parts of the colony have been considerably enlarged, and some fine districts of country included within them.  In consequence of its extent and increasing population, it has been found convenient to divide it into counties, parishes, and townships; and indeed, every measure of the Colonial Government of late years, has had for its object to assimilate its internal arrangements as nearly as possible, to those of the mother country.  Whether we are to attribute the present flourishing state of the colony to the beneficial influence of that system of government which has been exercised over it for the last seven years it is not for me to say.  That the prosperity of a country depends, however, in a great measure, on the wisdom of its legislature, is as undoubted, as that within the period I have mentioned the colony of N. S. Wales has risen unprecedentedly in importance and in wealth, and has advanced to a state of improvement at which it could not have arrived had its energies been cramped or its interests neglected.

Its advances in prosperity.

There is a period in the history of every country, during which it will appear to have been more prosperous than at any other.  I allude not to the period of great martial achievements, should any such adorn its pages, but to that in which the enterprise of its merchants was roused into action, and when all classes of its community seem to have put forth their strength towards the attainment of wealth and power.

Erroneous impressions.

In this eventful period the colony of New South Wales is already far advanced.  The conduct of its merchants is marked by the boldest speculations and the most gigantic projects.  Their storehouses are built on the most magnificent scale, and with the best and most substantial materials.  Few persons in England have even a remote idea of its present flourishing condition, or of the improvements that are daily taking place both in its commerce and in its agriculture.  I am aware that many object to it as a place of residence, and I can easily enter into their feelings from the recollection of what my own were before I visited it.  I cannot but remark, however, that I found my prejudices had arisen from a natural objection to the character of a part of its population; from the circumstance of its being a penal colony, and from my total ignorance