is not for me, who know so little of navigation, to give you an account of the harbour in which we anchored. I shall merely state, that "Gage's Roads" run from Cockburn Sound to the bar of the Swan River, where it empties itself into the sea. This bar is very visible above the surface at low water; and when the tide is full, there is not more than five feet water upon it. The country, as you approach it, is beautiful; but when you land, the variegated appearance it had at a distance is so far dispersed, that it does not look like the same place. There are certain months in the year, when, from the violence of the prevailing winds on the coast, no ship can enter these Roads: at present these are to be ascertained, but time and observation will soon teach us for what period the winds render the harbour inaccessible and unsafe.
It was on the —— of October we dropped anchor in Gage's Roads, when all the steerage passengers were ordered to prepare to go on shore. This sudden and unexpected order caused great confusion throughout the ship. Fortunately I got permission for my goods to remain on board until I could get a small soldier's tent (which I purchased during my short stay at Portsmouth) erected upon the beach. The ship's long boat and skiff were now hauled along side, to land all "steerage pigs" and "Israelites," as the Captain and cuddy passengers were pleased to denominate us during the voyage. The ensuing morning, I erected my tent about 500 yards from the beach, upon a hot, burning sand, which extends all along the coast; and, as all my goods were landed the next day, I was obliged to look out for assistance to help me to drag them from the beach to my castle. I naturally applied to some of my fellow passengers, but most of them were so dejected at not finding themselves upon the richest country in the world, that they seemed to require consolation and advice to go up the river and look about them, rather than afford any assistance to those who kept up their spirits, and resolved to "put their shoulder to the wheel:" others of them had become fine gentlemen. They landed (two days before) as "independent settlers"—in a small way. So I was obliged to hire a man, and give him 8s. for helping me to remove my packages to their temporary destination. This was not an extraordinary price in this young colony, where the wages of a labourer are very high; for unfortunately very few labouring persons have been brought out, even by those whose means would have enabled them to do so. A carpenter is paid here 7s. or 8s. a day, besides an allowance of rum, and a common workman 5s. or 6s.; and these prices will doubtless continue for some time, unless a greater number of the lower orders are sent out. Having pitched my tent, and stowed my goods and chattels in safety, I waited upon the Governor, who received me with great affability. I took that opportunity of presenting him with the letter of introduction and the testimonials, which the kindness of my friends enabled me to produce. His Excellency appeared pleased with them, and did me the honor to ask me to stay and drink tea, at which I saw Mrs. Stirling, whose freedom from pride and lady-like manners formed a pleasing contrast to the bridling and haughtiness of some halfbred persons whom I remember at home. It is said that the Governor is hasty, but is soon appeased, and is ready to forgive a slight offence. Indeed he has already met with many trials of his temper, from the consequential airs of some of the settlers, who seem to forget that he is not their servant, but their King's representative. Several persons have arrived here from Sydney and Hobart Town, who have met with great disappointments in their various hopes and speculations, owing to the place not having been accurately surveyed, (for which there has scarcely been time) and trusting entirely to the reports they received from London and elsewhere, many of which were ridiculous and unfounded in the extreme. Some of these, being dissatisfied at not finding and having every thing they wished for and expected, have returned to their former stations, where no doubt they will circulate a dismal tale respecting the Colony. But I hope, and indeed have no doubt, that those who remain will reap the benefit of their constancy and resolution.