(COPY) 44 Castlereagh-street, Sydney, I " Í6ih December, 1833. "Sin,-Permit me, through the medium of your office, to submit the underwritten statement and proposal to His Excellency the Governor; a proposal predominant with other views to me during the last four years, but indisposition emanating from the successive attacks of the destructive complaint, ' Noli me tangere or Lupus,' has alone deterred me, heretofore, from communicating it to the Government, but now renovated in health, with deference I anxiously hope for His Excellency's approbation. 44 Aware that it must be of much importance to the home a id local Governments of this Colony, to obtain knowledge of its internal features, and general eligibilities, and that forty-five years have baffled the efforts of the successive tourists, to ascertain this country's formation, or its resources westward of 139° east longitude, which efforts were made between the parallels of 28° and 29° south latitude, and that the largeness of this Island has, as yet, forbidden the attempt to traverse it longitudinally ç i e, from hence to Swan River. " To be deemed competent for a successful exploration of such an extent of country (-2,000 mitas in a direct line), I may have some weight in his Excellency's estimation, m my having been trained in youth and attained manhood in relative pursuit ; requisite education and forte (if not genius) to hunnount probable obstacles in prosecuting sucli .i tiük - pretensions gleaned through twenty-sev/n years practice (from the age of 15 to 42) in the haidv* habits of the 4l Bush" as a Surveyor in British America and in th*se Colonies. ¿Such <a ly and lengthy practice, by a person possessing niedioc.ital intellect, must have enlarged lids judgment, and perfected in himself, the indis «pensubie acquirements for such exploration ; <ex. "gr. To describe in his progress the qualities «of the surface soils,-the appearance and general <,cUaraet(«\of the intersected streams; to determine, tby.faniiliat* methods, the latitude and longitude of <:a sufficient nuwiber of points to truly delineate his jToute ; with ;dll the important or interesting ^features on it ; <io ascertain (barometrically) the «elevations oí'ibeimmediately highlands; to ob » serve the maguetie v'/ariation, on the whole line ; . the course or idic&eilon of the main ranges ; the dip or inclination ¿of the visible strata of remarkable rocks.andiiuejL .formation ; pre\ent the loss* of Pack animals /by galls from the saddles,-to obviate the temporary w*nt of grass ; to pass the cavalcade (unaided tby portable boats) over deep waters, swamps, Saß. " This tour ¿accomplished, the positions of the dividing ranges,-the sources of main streams of the conntryjbecome known, the ice of exploration will "have h»»en effectually .broken, and the subsequent or branch research .may yield to minor efforts -prompt to add in ^detail, and unfold the geographical, and geological jarena of New Holland. 41 Í seek for the mission :to ^conduct this pro , posed transverse Exploration., .and in thus advancing as the candidate for His "JSxceliency's support (not to exceed Four Hundred -Pounds) which would enable me to makj the itour (without a - depot,) across the country, to sW&fctern Australia ' CI am actuated by matured confidence, the offspring - of experience, that soars above the,charge -of presumption. 44 I have the honor to be" SSr, 44 Your very obedient seryant, 44THOMAS FLORANCE.
- 4 To Richard Bourke, Esq.,
Private Secretary, &c. &c. &c." (Copy of Answer.) % 44 Government House, Parramatta, 44 2$th December, 1833 44Silt,-I have the honor, by command of His ^Excellency the Governor, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th hist., addressed to the late Private Secretary, and with reference to the Expedition which you offer to undertake, to inform you, .that the Government does not at present contemplate such adventure. 441 have the honor to be, Sir, 44 Your most obedient servant (Signed) " GEO. KENYON .HOLDEN, ."Jtavate -Secretary.
- !* To Thomas Florance, £ag^
' Surveyor, Sydney." REMARKS. Wiisacres may style this proposal, the *4 Child of chimerical brain/' to such I am not inclined to barter argument for their crop of assertion, yet to the retiocinating mind I would say view the days of Superstition, and general ignorance, wherein we may contemplate the invincible spirit and towering genius of Columbus ascending the precipitous sides ofthe Crater of human incredulity, and contempt, in defiance of the noxious vapours and toppling rocks which threatened him willi destruction, but his faith Was equammous, and he had sighted his object through a lucid medium,-he gamed the summit, and Europe was thus inaugurated the Empress of a
- 4 New World I" such mind
will conclude, that to pass «ver New Holland to Western Australia, to be'a pigmy jaunt-a female effort in the contrast of its rushlight reflection with the lustre deverging from the halo that yet encircles the achievement of Columbus ! 'i hen, if in those days of opposition to genius, and improving innovation, an astounding proposal was gloriously effected by the powers ot a single mind struggling during years with the disapproba tion of importuned nations, and beset by numerous discouragements. Shall 1834 chronicle a population of 60,000 inhabitants in New South Waies, among whom were not found physical and mental powers combined in one person adequate to explore the length of their Island-although most ot them have traversed down the 44 smoke of their Mother's chimney ?" or will time continue to slip, year after year, without the community of Australia producing the 44 needful," or coming forward to the number of 400 persons, willing to expend £l, each to cause thi& Explora 1 tion to be effected, and thereby bring the unknown parts of this country into the market and display > a National mart instead of a hunters shop, to attract Migration ? am, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, THOMAS FLORANCE. . A loss that amounted to one-half of the Pack Animals used in the Surveying Department until I entered it--[T. F.] The Australian alludes to the Exploration Party in the following humourous style : YES-Mr. Fiorances noble offer to explore th« unknown wilds between this and Swan River, at no greater expense than ¿Ê400, has been met with the announcement that44 that the Government does not at present contemplate any such adventure." Though informed by this gentleman's letter that he is subject to 4t noli me längere or lupus"-but is now considerably better-that his early education has fitted him for the task-that he has considerable forte, though no genius-that he has in himself every other requisite for the business, name.y, a degree of knowledge and skiii that is pertèctly terrific-that he knows how to put a pack on a bullock's back, (in this case we fear he has not put the saddle on the right horse ;) and lastly, that he is " actuated by matured confidence, the offspriug of experience, that soars above the charge of presumption,"-in defiance of all this such was their answer. Mn Florance makes, naturally enough, some very bitter remarks upon the subject, written in a style too which at once proclaims him to be admirably fitted to climb mountains and precipices, so far does he soar in this imagery, above the clouds even ; and our faith being like that of Co iumbus, as he writes " unanimous," we fully concur in the view he takes of the matter, and come, too, to the conclusion so brilliantly conceived, and expressed in the following extract from his 44 remarks :"- ' 44 Such a mind will conclude that to. pass over New Holland to Western Australia to be a pigmy jaunt-a female effort in the contrast of a rushlight reflection with the lustre deverging from the halo that yet encircles the achievement of Columbus." Some part of this gem of literature we did not at first exactly comprehend-at last, one of our devils suggested that the journey might be justly called a female effort since it would undoubtedly be a great labour. " However a Commission of Enquiry will lettie »nth». ". . " *».'. nu '"' ...'* .
ACTS OF COUNCIL. ALL the ACTS, passed in the Legislative Council up to the present date, aré now printed and ready for delivery at the Government Printing Office, Perth-viz : No. lf 2 Win. 4.-An Act for Establishing a Court of Civil Judicature. No. 2, 2 Wm. 4.-An Act to provide a Summary Remedy for Trespasses committed by Catt!« and other Live Stock. No. 3, 2 Wm. 4. - An Act for regulating the Constitution of Juries aud the Office of Sheriff. Ne. 4, 2 Win. 4.-An Act to extend the Jurisdiction, and regulate the Proceedings of th« Court of Quarter Sessions. No. 5, 2 Wm. 4.--An Act to secure the Payment of Debts due to the Crown. No. 6, 2 Wm. 4.-An Act to provide for the registration of Deeds, Wills, Judgments and Conveyances affecting Real Property. No. 7, 2 Wm. 4.--An Act to facilitate and simplify the transfer of Real Property. No. 8, 2 Wm. 4.-An Act to regulate the Sale of Spirituous and Fermented* Liquors by Retail No. 9, 2W~m. 4.-An Act for the Regulation of Pilotage and Shipping in the Harbours of Western Australia. No. 10, 2 Wm. 4.-An Act to impose certain Duties on imported Spirituous Liquors. No. 1, 3 Wm. 4-An Act to enforce and regulate the Performance of Quarantine in certain Cases in Western Australia. No. 2, 3 Wm. 4.-An Act for the Regulation of Weights and Measures. No. 3, 3 Wm. 4.-An Act to enable the Governor, or other Officer administering the Government of Western Australia, to grant Exemptions from the Payment of License Duty to Persona keeping Public Houses under Special circumstances. No. 1, 4 Wm. 4.-An Act to regulate the Establishment and Management of Ferries ; and the Collection of Tolls thereat. No. 2, 4 Wm. 4.-An Act to amend an Act intituled 4t An Act to regulate the Sale of Spirituous and Fermented Liquors by Retail." No. 3, 4 Wm. 4.-An Act to regulate the Licensing of Public Houses. No 4, 4 Wm, 1.-An Act to regulate the Fencing of Town and Suburban Allotments. No. 5, 4 Wm. 4.-An Act to amend an Act intituled 4t An Act to provide a Summary Remedy for Trespasses committed by Cattle and other Live Stuck." MARKET PRICES, RETAIL. Bacon, per lb. Is. 3d [Jam-, ditto, Is. 6rf. li utter (salt), Is. 6d Bread, 4 lb loaf, 2s 6d Beef (salt), per lb. 6d. (fresh) Is. 6d. Mutton, per lb. Is: 6d. Kangaroo, per lb. Is. d. Pork (fresh), per lb. Is 3d. (salt), Sd. Cheese, Sydney, per lb. 2s. ditto English, 2s. Coffee, per lb. none Eggs, per doz. 2s 6d Milk, per quart Sd Fowls, each 3 a Wild-fowl ; pigeon, 9d ; duck, 2s; teal, Is ; swan, 6 a 8s Dried fruits, per lb. I Ad Raisins, per lb. lid Oil, per gallon 10s Rice, per lb. 6d Wine, Cape, per gallo« 5 s öd Rum Ditto, 14s. Brandy, Ditto Ki* Gin, Ditto, 16s Sugar, per lb. - Tea, per lb. 8s 6d Potatoes, per lb. id -Cabbages, each iW Flour per lb. Id, by the bag, Wheat, per bushel Hay, per ton 4£& Soap, per lb. I s . Starch, per lb. 4s <5¿. Tobacco, pet Jb. Vinegar, peí gallon 8* Gunpowdei, per lb 6* Shot Ale and porter, per doa 24* . EDITED, PRINTED, AND PUBLISHED, B¥ CHARLES MACFAULL, AT THE GAZETTE OF**CE, PERTH. Terms of Subscription:--^? 6d: per Q^rtf^ ST ! paid in advance ; or, 12s. ifpaid at the ena a/ the Quarter. Single number One sMhng. Terms ofAdvertisements: For Bight Iweito. fci. mud 3d. per Uñe above thi»numbers
