Captain King's expedition. The following is his account of his discovery.

The base [of the island] is a coarse, granular, "silicious sandstone, in which large pebbles of quartz and jasper are imbedded this stratum continues for sixteen to twenty feet above the water for the next ten feet there is a horizontal stratum of black schistose rock, which was of so soft a consistence, that the weather had excavated several tiers of galleries, upon the roof and sides of which some curious drawings were observed, which deserve to be particularly described; they were executed upon a ground of red ochre, (rubbed on the black schistose,) and were delineated by dots of a white argillaceous earth, which had been worked up into a paste. They represented tolerable figures of sharks, porpoises, turtles, lizards, (of which I saw several small ones among the rocks) trepang, star-fish, clubs, canoes, water-gourds, and some quadrupeds, which were probably intended to represent kangaroos and dogs. The figures, besides being outlined by the dots, were decorated all over with the same pigment in dotted transverse belts. Tracing a gallery round to windward, it brought me to a commodious cave, or recess, overhung by a portion of the schistus, sufficiently large to shelter twenty natives, whose recent fire-places appeared on the projecting area of the cave.

Many turtles heads were placed on the shelves, or niches of the excavation, amply demonstrative of the luxurious and profuse mode of life these outcasts of society had, at a period rather recent, followed. The roof and sides of this snug retreat were also entirely covered with the uncouth figures I have already described.

'As this is the first specimen of Australian taste in the fine arts that we have detected in these voyages, it became me to make a particular observation thereon; Captain Flinders had discovered figures on Chasm Island, in the gulf of Carpentaria, formed with a burnt stick; but this performance, exceeding a hundred and fifty figures, which must have occupied much time, appears at least to be one step nearer refinement than those simply executed with a piece of charred wood.' King, Vol. II. pp. 26, 27.

Similar representations have been found carved on stone in the neighbourhood of Port Jackson.

We have already alluded, in the early part of this article, to the rapid progress of the English colony in New South Wales. The work of Mr Cunningham, as its title imports, relates

chiefly to the present state and prospects of this colony, and the view which he gives us is highly interesting and amusing, and at the same time affords materials for serious reflection upon the probable moral and political condition of a community, which has originated in a manner so unpromising, but which bids fair to become, at no very distant period, a flourishing and numerous people.

The first convicts arrived in Australia in 1788. Nearly fortyone years have therefore now elapsed since the settlement in New South Wales, and thirtyeight had elapsed at the time the work before us was written, and the colony at this time, says Mr Cunningham, far exceeds in rapidity of progress towards riches and power any founded on the American continent. The town of Sydney, the principal town of the colony, about equals in size and population our ancient neighbour of Salem. This is a place, we are told, of great bustle and enterprise, and is the chief seat of commerce and of business. In the year 1826, it had twentytwo shipping agents, eleven auctioneers, a chamber of commerce, and two banks, dividing forty per cent. Ten vessels were employed in whaling and in sealing, and a larger number in the coasting trade to different parts of the colony. In thirteen months twentyfour ships arrived from, and seventeen were despatched to, England; whilst twentysix carried on a trade with India, China, the Brazils, Isle of France, and the Cape of Good Hope. Three newspapers were published, two semiweekly, and one weekly, with a circulation, on an average, of 3250 impressions weekly, and containing from 70 to 80 advertisements. Another weekly paper was also in contemplation.

The colony contained, at the same time, nearly 50,000 inhabitants, spread over an extent of country two hundred miles square. Justice was administered by distinct civil and criminal courts; by six separate courts of quarter sessions, and eleven separate benches of magistrates. Everything else indicated a high state of prosperity. The live stock amounted to 200,000 sheep, 100,000 head of cattle, and many thousand horses and other animals. Two distilleries furnished several hundreds of thousands of gallons annually, of spirits, and thirteen breweries eight thousand hogsheads of ale and beer.

These circumstances show, not only that the population of New South Wales is large and increasing, but that it is a thriving, an industrious, and in the main, a successful popu

lation. Now as it is chiefly composed of the convicts and their descendants, for the number of other settlers, although considerable, is not sufficient to give its character to society, it would be interesting in a moral and political point of view, to inquire into the changes which have been thus wrought in these individuals, and into the process by which they have been converted, from worthless depredators upon society, into industrious members of it. But this our limits will not admit. That a great change is actually produced in the external character of the convicts, and that many of them become decent and useful citizens, cannot be doubted. This change seems to be brought about by the circumstance, that they become members of a community, where the temptations to their former course of life do not exist, where the same occupation, from the very nature of society, cannot afford them a support, where their former character, if they reform, will be no impediment to their maintaining a respectable station, and bringing up a family in credit. The motive drawn from the latter consideration, probably has more influence than any other. Parents, with few exceptions, whatever may be their own vices, wish that their children may avoid them, and would be happy in believing that they will lead respectable and honest lives. This, with regard to the convicts, is impossible if they remain in England, but is an object easily attained in Australia. And as a consequence, we are assured by Mr Cunningham, that the descendants of the convicts maintain excellent characters, and are most promising members of society.

The colony was intended as a place of punishment for criminals; as it has been generally managed, it has proved only a place of banishment. After the term for which they have been transported has elapsed, convicts may become proprietors of the soil, and enter society upon most advantageous terms. Even before this period, by becoming the servants of farmers and planters, they may, if they choose, lead a life, which certainly is nothing like a state of punishment. Indeed, the life and prospects of a convict at New South Wales, are so comfortable and desirable, that they often send over to England for their relatives to join them, and as a passage at the expense of government suits generally with their means, they procure themselves to be transported. Mr Cunningham tells us of a young man of twentytwo, who went out with him to join a father and an elder brother by special invitation; the

elder brother having before joined his father, to assist him in the cultivation of his farm. The young man was therefore the second son who had procured himself to be transported, and as he was an infant when his father left home, an introduction of the hopeful son to the exemplary parent, became necessary from the elder brother. 'When may we expect Jem?' was the question put shortly after the preliminary congratulations; Jem being a cousin who had long promised the colony a visit.

There can be no doubt that the administration of the colony has been such, as to diminish the salutary effect of transportation as a means of punishing and preventing crime. Even Mr Cunningham's account, which he intends shall be a very favorable one, gives a lamentable picture of the state of morals and of the perversion of justice, during some periods, at least, of its history.

'It was no very extraordinary spectacle,' says Mr Cunningham, 'to see an arraigned murderer carousing among his friends, in a pot-house adjoining the court, in the very presence of the constables, on the day of his trial; to see thieves of rank walking up to trial, arm in arm with their equally dignified associates, receiving the blessing of all the sympathizing community, as they tripped along, accompanied by the fervent prayer that they might get safely out of this trouble, the respectful constable walking like a common lackey behind; to see also receivers of stolen goods, driving up to court to receive sentence in their carriages with livery servants.' Vol. II. p. 319.

There seems to be no doubt, however, that the state of the colony is improving, and that by the introduction of a salutary discipline, the restraints upon crime will be sufficient for the peace, good order, and security of society. So far as can be judged from the work before us, there is a reasonable prospect that the state of morals and intelligence in the people of New South Wales, will gradually improve; and we believe, that, with the exception of the colonies from which our own country has taken its origin, few have ever commenced their existence under happier auspices. Compare the state of things at the present moment, in any of the countries of Spanish America, or the West India Islands, with that in New South Wales, and we believe the latter would appear better prepared for successful self-government, better prepared to become at once a settled and well ordered community, than any of the

former. Such is the influence upon men's minds, of living and having lived under wise and liberal institutions of religion and government. Even these convicts, outlaws and outcasts at home, have learned so well, from their acquaintance with the society in which they have lived, what is the duty, and what the true interest of a regular member of society, that when they become so themselves, they fall almost insensibly into that line of conduct, which is best calculated to promote their interests and happiness in that relation.

To those who have opportunity of access to Mr Cunningham's work, we recommend it as one of the most amusing which can fall into their hands. He touches upon a great variety of subjects relating to the colony, which we have not noticed, and writes in a very lively and agreeable manner. His manner of life does not seem to have enabled him to judge at all times what is exactly decorous to utter in good society, or in a book intended for general circulation; neither does he appear to have modelled his notions of moral and religious principle, by a very high standard; but, upon the whole, few books in circulation contain more that is new, or would be more entertaining and instructive to the general reader.

ART. Ν.—1. Συνοπτικὴ τῆς ̓Απλοελληνικῆς Διαλέκτου Γραμματική ὑπὸ 'Aλegarder Néven. A Grammar of the Modern Greek Language; with an Appendix, containing Original Specimens of Prose and Verse. By ALEXANDER NEGRIS. Boston. Hilliard, Gray, Little, and Wilkins. 1828. 12mo.

2. Article Greece,' in the London Encyclopedia, and Neugriechische Sprache,' in the German Conversations-Lex

icon.

DURING the long period in which Greece remained submissive to the Turkish yoke, the recollection of her existence was preserved only by her ancient renown. Her fate served to point a declamation on the rise and ruin of nations, and was forgotten with the sentence which commemorated it. But when a struggle for liberty began in its ancient home, all eyes were turned thither with interest. Now that the contest is decided, and Greece has resumed the character of an independent nation, we are all eagerly waiting to learn what will be