the case of Australia, as I can vouch, very powerfully and very interestingly."
After the publication of the first edition of this History the Government of New South Wales entered, officially, upon the task of preparing a history of that colony. The first volume appeared in 1889, and the second in 1894. The period covered by the two volumes was about seven years. Four bulky volumes of "Historical Records" of New South Wales (up to 1802) have also been published by the Government.
Such arsenals of past facts, though of great value to students, leave room for a history framed to embody the spirit of the time rather than to register every daily occurrence.
Amongst the "Historical Records" are numerous papers in the possession of the Hon. P. G. King, M.L.C., in New South Wales. They throw a flood of light upon the time with which they deal. The original MSS, lent to the author many years ago, justified him in the hope[1] that he might present the "age and body of the time, its form and pressure," with the aid of the old Governor's manuscripts, which had been carefully preserved in a chest, until his grandson—their present owner—brought them to light, and placed them at the author's disposal.[2]
- ↑ Vol. I, p. 382.
- ↑ The fourth volume of the "Historical Records" appeared after chapter V. of this History was in type. If it had appeared before, it would have been cited in the text to confirm the views of the author as to the disorders which Governor King had to check (Vol. 2, pp. 214—217, 219—231, 234—237, 380, 381). It appears (p. 228) that Colonel Paterson wrote (8th October 1800) to Sir Joseph Banks that before King's arrival in 1800 — "the government was getting every day into greater confusion in consequence of the immense quantities of spirits that got amongst the lower order of settlers and convicts. Although Governor King did not take the command until the 28th ult., the day that Governor Hunter embarked his presence and the steps he recommended have already had their good
