production, which
I deem equally unfair and unphilosophical. The thermometer, whence my
observations were constantly made, was hung in the open air in a southern
aspect, never reached by the rays of the sun, at the distance of several
feet above the ground.

My other remarks on the climate will be short. It is changeable beyond any
other I ever heard of; but no phenomena sufficiently accurate to reckon
upon, are found to indicate the approach of alteration. Indeed, for the
first eighteen months that we lived in the country, changes were supposed
to take place more commonly at the quartering of the moon than at other
times. But lunar empire afterwards lost its credit. For the last two years
and a half of our residing at Port Jackson, its influence was unperceived.
Three days together seldom passed without a necessity occurring for
lighting a fire in an evening. A 'habit d'ete', or a 'habit de demi
saison', would be in the highest degree absurd. Clouds, storms and sunshine
pass in rapid succession. Of rain, we found in general not a sufficiency,
but torrents of water sometimes fall. Thunder storms, in summer, are common
and very tremendous, but they have ceased to alarm, from rarely causing
mischief. Sometimes they happen in winter. I have often seen large
hailstones fall. Frequent strong breezes from the westward purge the air.
These are almost invariably attended with a hard clear sky. The easterly
winds, by setting in from the sea, bring thick weather and rain, except
in summer, when they become regular sea-breezes. The 'aurora australis' is
sometimes seen, but is not distinguished by superior brilliancy.

To sum up: notwithstanding the inconveniences which I have enumerated, I
will venture to assert in few words, that no climate hitherto known is more
generally salubrious*, or affords more days on which those pleasures which
depend on the state of the atmosphere can be enjoyed, than that of New
South Wales. The winter season is particularly delightful.

[*To this cause, I ascribe the great number of births which happened,
considering the age and other circumstances, of many of the mothers. Women
who certainly would never have bred in any other climate here produced as
fine children as ever were born.]

The leading animal production is well known to be the kangaroo. The natural
history of this animal will, probably, be written from observations made
upon it in England, as several living ones of both sexes, have been