ional openings which cultivation and the
axe have made on the tops of some of the highest hills. Beyond the
numberless undulations of this wooded country the Blue Mountains are
espied, towering behind the whole background of the scene, and forming a
stately boundary to the prospect. This description of the scenery of
Port Jackson applies to a particular spot very near to Sydney, but the
views are similar in general character, though infinitely varied in
detail, at other places in the neighbourhood; and nearer to the entrance
of the harbour a new and still grander object breaks upon the sight:--

"Where the mighty Pacific with soft-swelling waves
A thousand bright regions eternally laves."

[137] See Wentworth's Australasia, vol. i. pp. 52-55.

Upon this beautiful and convenient piece of water, which has been just
described, is the capital of the principal British colony in Australia
situated. It is chiefly built upon two hilly necks of land, enclosing
between them a small inlet, named Sydney Cove. The western of these two
projections divides Sydney Cove from another called Cockle Bay, in both
of which the water is deep enough to allow the approach of the largest
ships to the very sides of the rocks. On this western neck, (which is
occupied with houses down to the water's edge, besides many others which
extend into the country behind,) the town forms a little peninsula,
being surrounded with water everywhere, except where it adjoins the
mainland. On the eastern neck of land the increase of the town has been
stopped by the government-house, and its adjoining domains, which occupy
the whole of what is called Bennillong's Point. With the exception of
the portion of the shore thus enclosed, the water-side is occupied by
wharfs, warehouses, ship-yards, mills, and all the other buildings which
mark a naval and commercial town. Behind these marts of industry and
wealth, the houses rise one above the other, and, by their situation
on the slope of the hill, force themselves conspicuously into notice.
Indeed, the town covers a considerable extent of ground, although land
for building is so valuable, that the intervening spaces, formerly used
as gardens and pleasure-grounds, will soon disappear and be covered with
houses. The public buildings of Sydney are said to be neither numerous
nor elegant, and certainly no great beauty of architecture can be
reasonably expected in a town so recently built, and under such
circums