tersected. The Chinese, however, are not at all fitted for maritime commerce; few of their vessels go beyond the straits of Sunda; their longest voyages to Malacca extended only as far as Acheen, towards the straits of Batavia, and northward to Japan.

Their commerce with the last-mentioned island, considering the articles of exchange which they procure at Cambodia or Siam, produces them cent. per cent. Their trade with the Manillas brings only about fifty per cent. Their profit is more considerable about Batavia; and the Dutch spare no pains to invite them to traffic at their settlements. The Chinese traders go also, though not very frequently, to Acheens, Malacca, Thor, Patan, and Ligor, belonging to Siam and Cochin China; from whence they bring gold and tin, together with some objects of luxury for the table. A great obstacle to the foreign commerce of the Chinese is their indifference about maritime affairs, and the bad construction of their vessels. This they themselves acknowledge; but say, that any attempt to remove it would be derogating from the laws and subverting the constitution of the empire.

With respect to religion, at present, there are only two temples in Pekin, named the Tien-tan and the Ti-tan; in the construction of which all the elegance of Chinese architecture is displayed. Those are both dedicated to the Chang-ti, but under different titles: in the one he is adored as the eternal spirit,; in the other as the creator and preserver of

the world. The ceremonies of the modern sacrifices are greatly multiplied; and nothing can exceed the splendour and magnificence with which these solemnities are performed. Some time before the day appointed for the grand ceremony, the monarch, the grandees of the court, and all those whom their employments qualify to assist at the solemnity, prepare themselves by retirement, fasting, and continence; no audience is given by the Emperor, and the tribunals are entirely shut; marriages, funerals, rejoicings, and entertainments of every kind, are likewise then forbidden.

But to return to the present state of the Colony of New South Wales. I can only say, that both the farms and the houses upon them are increasing in neatness. These farms consist of, from thirty to sixty acres each. An acquaintance of mine has been made agent upon the estates of Mr.

and has twenty farms under his charge. The cultivated country near the rivers, though often overflowed, is thereby rendered so much the more fertile, and we have at this time four hundred crops on the ground which are expected to be ready for reaping in December. In the Hawkesbury district, the general average of a crop is from 30 to 40 bushels an acre, but this is peculiar to this spot. Ploughs are seldom used there, owing to the stumps of trees which are left about three feet above the surface; but here the ground is broken up by the hoe, and the seed chipped in, Wheat is at present twenty shillings per bushel, but must soon be reduced in price.

*

A report is current here of the intention of government to establish a new port in this Colony.

SYDNEY TOWN.

PERHAPS the best as well as the latest description of this important settlement is that which has been given by Monsieur Peron, the French naturalist, who navigated the Indian Ocean between 1800 and 1804. This expedition was sent out by Buonaparte soon after he became First Consul, but the grand object of the men of science who accompanied it, is thought to have been to ascertain the present state and natural advantages of the new colony, of which they have given an ample and interesting report. "Our arrival," says M. Peron, Port Jackson did not excite so much surprise amongst the colonists as might have been expected; but for ourselves, we were completely astonished at the flourishing state in which we found this singular and distant establishment. The beauty of the port at first attracted our whole attention. From an en

at

trance of not more than ten miles across, Port Jackson gradually opens till it forms a spacious harbour with sufficient. depth of water for the largest ships, and room enough to contain in perfect safety all that could on any occasion be

* This report we are enabled to confirm, and to add that Fort Phillip, in Bass Streights, the seat of the new intended Colony in New South Wales, is a little more to the Northward than was first mentioned, being in 39.384 South latitude. The Streight in which this port is situated was discovered by the intelligent enterprising Mr. Bass, whose name it bears, while traversing that sea in a whale boat; in this voyage he was thirteen weeks from Port Jackson, subsisting chiefly on seals, with Captain Flinders, who is now engaged in the Investigator, in surveying the numerous streights which separate the cluster of islands of which New Holland is one: he disco vered Port Phillip, and named it, after Governor Phillips.