VAN DIEMEN'S LAND.

MUCH valuable information respecting this important colony, is to be found in the "Van Diemen's Land Almanack for the Year 1832,"—a publication which does great credit to the infant literature of that remote region. Besides the annual and local matter which belongs to an Almanack, it contains a very able account of the history and present state of the colony, from which we shall extract, in an abridged form, a few of the most interesting particulars.

The country is rich in minerals. Iron ore abounds every where; and specimens of copper, lead, and even silver and gold, (it is said) have been discovered. There are also coal and limestone. The animals of this region have been often described. Van Diemen's Land was discovered by Tasman, a Dutch navigator, in 1642; but no settlement took place upon it till 1803, when it was formed into a station for convicts transported from Botany Bay. For some years the colony suffered great hardships; such being sometimes the scarcity, that eighteen-pence per pound was given for kangaroo flesh; and even seaweed, or any other vegetable substance that could possibly be eaten, was eagerly sought after. Soon afterwards sheep and cattle began to be imported, and the colony continued gradually to increase, though still preserving its original character of a place of punishment for the convicted felons of New South Wales. During this period, all communication between Van Dieman's Land and other places, excepting England and New South Wales, was interdicted; but in 1813, the prohibitory penalties on such communication were removed, and the colony was placed on precisely the same commercial footing as New South Wales. From that time the increase of the colony became more rapid; though it was not till 1818, that Van Diemen's Land began to be spoken of in England as a place to which emigrants might advantageously direct their attention. In the course of the next two

set in; and the natural consequence of the capital thus introduced, was an enlargement of the colony in every shape. Trade began to assume regularity; distilleries and breweries were erected; the Van Diemen's Land Bank was established; and the growing importance of Hobart Town was heightened by the finishing and opening of St. David's church. In 1821, when a general census was taken, the inhabitants proved to be 7,185; acres in cultivation, 14,940; sheep, 170,000; cattle, 35,000; horses, 350.

Van Diemen's Land, formerly considered a part of New Holland, is now known to be an island, separated from New Holland by a narrow strait, called, from its discoverer, Bass's Strait. The island is about 210 miles in length, and 150 in breadth, comprising about fifteen millions of acres, and having a population of about 24,000 whites, and probably from 1000 to 1500 aborigines. It is not subject to any extremes of heat or of cold, but possesses one of the finest and most healthy climates in the world. The face of the country is much diversified; but, on the whole, it may be called mountainous. Towards the southern coast, nothing can be more rude or bold than the general appearance of the landscape; hills rising upon hills, all thickly covered with trees, save here and there a majestic and towering rocky eminence. It seems like one impenetrable forest, crowned by the heavens. Proceeding, however, more inward, the country loses much of its stern and forbidding aspect. Beau-years, the tide of emigration from England decidedly tiful plains come in view, divided by streams, and bounded only by the horizon; and, in proceeding towards the northern coast, every variety of hill and dale, woodland and plain, forest and tillage, that can contribute to the beauty of rural scenery, enlivens the scene. The western parts of the island have as yet been imperfectly explored; but they are represented as bold and mountainous, with many well-watered and fertile spots. The soil, in general, is fertile, and of a nature amply to reward the industry of the cultivator. It yields excellent herbage for sheep and cattle, and has been found to answer well for nearly all the productions of the mother country. Around the coast are numerous bays and harbours that afford secure anchorage. Sullivan's cove, where Hobart Town stands, is one of the noblest harbours in the world. There are many fine rivers: the most important are the Derwent, the Huon, and the Tamar, all of which are navigable. Several of the mountains are of great elevation: Mount Wellington rises 4000 feet above the level of the sea, immediately to the westward of Hobart Town. During eight of the twelve months, its summit is covered with snow; but so clear is the atmosphere of Van Diemen's Land, that the clouds very seldom obscure even its highest points. The mountains to the southward are even bigher than Mount Wellington; they form a chain, which reaches inwards for several miles, and, in some places, rise 5000 feet above the level of the sea.

In the summer months, (December, January, and February) the average height of the thermometer is about 70. In spring it is from 50 to 60, when the weather is generally bright and clear, with occasional rain and high winds. March, April, and May are the autumn, which is by far the pleasantest season. The air is then clear and bright,-the sky free from clouds or vapours,—the heat moderate,—and the nights cool and refreshing. June, July, and August, are the winter months; but this season is rather looked for as a period of moderate and kindly rain, sufficient to replenish the storehouses of the earth against the ensuing spring, than as the cold and dismal time with which we associate the idea of winter.

In December, 1825, Van Diemen's Land, which had hitherto been a dependency of New South Wales, was formally declared an independent colony, with a Legislature and Executive Council of its own; the members of both these Councils being named by the Crown. At that time, during the commercial excitement that prevailed in England, the Van Diemen's Company was formed, under the sanction of government, with a capital of £250,000 to be embarked in agricultural operations. This company has not shared the fate of many of the speculations of that disastrous period. It carries on its operations, and has succeeded in becoming possessed of upwards of 300,000 acres of land. It appears, however, that this company is far from being popular in the colony. It is admitted that the colony may have derived some advantages from the importation of men, money, stock, &c. caused by the company; but it is said that the terms on which this establishment has received its grants are unfavourable to the competition of private settlers. If such is really the case, (as it is strongly assered) it is an evil which ought to attract the notice of government; for nothing can be more hurtful than such exclusive privileges as check and hinder the enterprise of private individuals.

The progress of the colony was for some time kept under by the terror of the Bush Rangers bodics of robbers, consisting of runaway convicts, wno harboured in the woods, plundering, and sometimes murdering the settlers. By the energy of the government, however, these wretches have been exterminated; and it is not likely that they will have successors. But a more recent alarm has been caused

diseases of a dreadful nature, which are often fatal. Some of the people employed in these mines, are condemned to work there for their crimes, and others are hired by the lure of high wages. When the mercury first gains power over their constitution, they are affected with nervous tremblings; then their teeth drop out, for mercury loosens every thing it touches; violent pains, especially in the bones, succeed, for the quicksilver penetrates their very substance, and then they soon die. As it is chiefly from the vapours and fumes of the quicksilver that these effects proceed, the workmen take the precaution of holding in their mouths a piece of gold, which attracts the metal and prevents the poisonous matter from passing into the stomach; yet cases have occurred, in which the metal had so completely soaked the body, that a piece of brass rubbed with the finger only, would become white from the quicksilver oozing out of the man's flesh.

by the original savage inhabitants; who, though small | their bodies, especially by its fu.nes; and produces in number, have within the last few years, rendered themselves formidable to the whites. During 1829 they set fire to the houses and corn of the settlers wherever an opportunity offered. In September 1830 matters had reached such a pitch, that some decisive step became necessary. A plan was accordingly formed, the object of which was to force the whole of the black population into one corner of the island, which is joined to the rest by a very narrow neck, and which, it was thought, might be rendered impassable by the natives when once enclosed within it. This plan, however, failed; and, down to the time of this account, the aggressions of the natives still continued, though the system of defence which had been adopted rendered them less dangerous than before. We greatly fear that, in every case of settlements made by Europeans in savage countries, they have themselves to blame for the fierce hostility of the native inhabitants. The original trespass upon their soil is aggravated by oppression and cruelty; and the natural resentment of the persecuted race is made a pretext for waging against them an exterminating warfare.

One considerable mine of quicksilver is at Idria, a town of Carniola, a province of Austria, not far from the upper part of the Adriatic, or gulf of Venice. This mine was not known till 1497, when the mode of its discovery was rather curious. A few coopers inhabited that part of the country, for the convenience of being near the woods. One day having made a new tub, and being desirous to prove its soundness, one of them placed it where the water dripping from the rock might fall into it. In the morning it seemed to stick to the ground, and at first, he in his superstition thought it was bewitched; however, examining it more closely, he found something fluid, but shining and very heavy, at the bottom of the water in his tub. Not knowing what it was, he took some of it to a neighbouring apothecary, who shrewdly gave the man a trifle, and bade him bring all he could find of "that odd stuff." The story, however, soon became public; and a company was formed for searching the mountain, and working the mine.

The rapid increase of this colony within the last ten years may be perceived from the facts, that, in that period, the white population has increased from 7000 to 24,000; and that Hobart Town alone contains more inhabitants than the whole colony in 1821. In 1830 the revenue exhibited an excess of income over expenditure of £20,000; and the exportatation of the staple commodities of the island, wool, oil, bark, &c. has become steady and profitable. Society is making rapid advances. Literature may be said to flourish in a remarkable manner, considering the youth of the colony. There are five weekly newspapers, very respectably conducted; and the publication which has given occasion to this article would have been creditable to any country. There are some schools of great respectability; and, on the all-important subject of religion, the information is We will conclude this account with an interesting most satisfactory. Places of worship are erected description by a traveller, of a descent into this mine throughout the colony, conveniently situated for the of Idria :-"I thought I would visit those dreadful population; and the officiating ministers, who are subterraneous caverns where thousands are condemned paid by government, are zealous and exemplary in to reside, shut out from all hopes of ever seeing the their conduct. In short it is evident that the colony light of the sun, and obliged to toil out a miserable of Van Diemen's Land is rapidly becoming a great life under the whips of imperious taskmasters. Imaand prosperous community; and that, notwithstand-gine a hole in the side of a mountain, about five ing its remoteness, it will soon be one of the most valuable dependencies of the British Crown.

QUICKSILVER MINES.

QUICKSILVER, or as the chemists call it, Mercury, is a substance of very great importance in the arts. By it our mirrors are silvered; it is the basis of several colours for painting; it is used in various shapes for medicine; and its importance in the working of metals is very great.

The principal mines of quicksilver are in Hungary, Friuli, in the Venetian part of Italy, and in Spain. But it happens conveniently for the gold mines of South America, that there is a considerable store of it in Peru.

The entrance to the quicksilver mines of Friuli, is on a level with the streets of the town, from which the descent is by ladders into pits ninety fathoms (or 180 yards) deep. Being so low, they are often liable to be flooded by water: and powerful engines are constantly at work to keep them fit for the miners. But the chief evil endured by the wretched people employed in them, arises from the mercury itself, which insinuates itself into the very substance of

yards over: down this you are lowered in a kind of bucket, to more than a hundred fathoms, the prospect growing more gloomy, yet still widening as you descend. At length after swinging in terrible suspense for some time in this precarious situation, you reach the bottom and tread on the ground, which Ly its hollow sound under your feet, and the reverberations of the echo, seeins thundering at every step you take.

"In this gloomy and frightful solitude you are enlightened by the feeble gleam of lamps, here and there dispersed, so that the wretched inhabitants can go from one place to another without a guide; yet I could scarcely discern for some time any thing, not even the person who came to shew me these scenes of horror. Nothing can be more deplorable than the state of the wretched miners. The blackness of their visages, only serves to cover a horrid paleness, caused by the poisonous qualities of the mineral they are employed in procuring. As they consist in general of malefactors, condemned for life to this task, they are fed at the public expense; but they seldom consume much provision, as they lose their appetite in a short time, and commonly in about two years expire, through a total contraction of the joints.

POPULATION OF THE SEVERAL COUNTIES OF ENGLAND, WALES, & SCOTLAND. [From Returns presented to Parliament in 1831.]

CONSUMPTION OF WHEAT AND OTHER GRAIN IN THE UNITED KINGDOM,

IN A YEAR, SIX MONTHS, A MONTH, A WEEK, ETC.

[From M'CULLOCH'S Commercial Dictionary.]

Wheat,

Other Grain,

40,000,000

52,000,000 One month

26,000,000 Two weeks

13,000,000 One week

6,500,000 One day

CULTIVATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

THE following statement will be found interesting, as exhibiting the number of acres in cultivation in the United Kingdom, and the different purposes specified, for which they are employed in England and Wales; as well as the number of farms, and the annual amount of property derived from agriculture.

A SUMMER'S RAMBLE IN THE TYROL. AN interesting little book has lately appeared, called "The Pedestrian," or "A Summer's Ramble in the Tyrol Sir Jonah Barrington mentions in his memoirs, and some of the adjacent Provinces," in 1830, by Mr. that his father was carried to the grave on the shoul- LATROBE. This gentleman published a few years ders of his four sons, as a last mark of their affection. ago a work called the "Alpenstock, or Sketches of Swiss Other examples of this custom may doubtless be Scenery and Manners," to which he thinks his present found by a diligent inquirer. The instances here cited, volume may appropriately be considered as a compaare at all events, sufficient to show the practice of it,nion. It abounds with many valuable reflections, and both in England and elsewhere, at different and distant periods. It seems to have been most used by the clergy; and occasionally only by laymen. In very late times, bearing the pall appears to have been its substitute.