Page:Narrative of a Visit to the Australian Colonies.djvu/44



Town, the capital of Tasmania or Van Diemens Land, is beautifully situated on undulating ground by the side of an estuary called the Derwent, from its resemblance to the lake of that name in Cumberland—In 1831, the number of its inhabitants was 8,360. In 1837 it had become augmented to 14,461, and was still rapidly increasing. The streets are spacious, and most of them cross at right angles. The houses are chiefly brick, and covered with shingles that have the appearance of slates: they stand separately in little gardens, except in a few of the streets best situated for business, and extend over several low hills at the foot of Mount Wellington, which is 4,000 feet high, and covered with wood, except where bassaltic cliffs protrude near the top.—The view from the town toward the sea is exceedingly beautiful, extending over many miles of water, enlivened by shipping and bounded by woody hills, on which the greenness of numerous patches of cultivated ground, ornamented by whitewashed cottages, has taken the place of the sombre forest. The sketch of this picturesque spot forming the frontispiece of this volume, was taken by my friend Charles Wheeler, in 1833. Since that period it has undergone several alterations, and a tall cupola has been substituted for the spire of the Episcopal place of worship.