"For though most men are contented only to see a river as it runs bythem, and talk of the changes in it as they happen; when it istroubled, or when clear; when it drowns the country in a flood, orforsakes it in a drought: yet he that would know the nature of thewater, and the causes of those accidents (so as to guess at theircontinuance or return), must find out its source, and observe with whatstrength it rises, what length it runs, and how many small streams fallin, and feed it to such a height, as make it either delightful orterrible to the eye, and useful or dangerous to the country aboutit."...SIR WILLIAM TEMPLE'S NETHERLANDS.
TO THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF RIPON, VISCOUNT GODERICH, Lord Privy Seal&c. &c. &c.
MY LORD,
The completion of this Work affords me the opportunity I have longdesired of thanking your Lordship thus publicly, for the kindness withwhich you acceded to my request to be permitted to dedicate it to you.
The encouragement your Lordship was pleased to give me has served tostimulate me in the prosecution of a task, which would, I fear, havebeen too great for me to have accomplished in my present condition,under any ordinary views of ambition. Indeed, labouring as I have beenfor many months past, under an almost total deprivation of sight, (theeffect of exposure and anxiety of mind in the prosecution ofgeographical researches,) I owe it to the casual assistance of some ofmy friends, that I am at length enabled to lay these results beforeyour Lordship and the public.
While I feel a painful conviction that many errors must necessarilypervade a work produced under such unfavourable circumstances, itaffords me no small consolation to reflect that Your Lordship has beenaware of my situation, and will be disposed to grant me everyreasonable indulgence.
I have the honor to be, With the highest respect, My Lord, YourLordship's Very obedient and humble servant,
CHARLES STURT
London, June, 1833.
Purpose of this Chapter—Name of Australia—Impressions of its earlyVisitors—Character of the Australian rivers—Author's first view ofPort Jackson—Extent of the Colony of New South Wales—its rapidadvances in prosperity—Erroneous impressions—Commercial importance ofSydney—Growth of fine wool—Mr. M'Arthur's meritoriousexertions—Whale-fishery—Other exports—Geographical features—Causesof the large proportion of bad soil—Connection between the geology andvegetation—Geological features—Character of the soil connected withthe geological formation—County of Cumberland—Country westward of theBlue Mountains—Disadvantages of the remote sett