After leaving our anchorage under Keppel’s Island, we continued working to the southward against a strong South-East wind.  On the 24th while standing in for the land, about 11 P.M., the ship was suddenly found to be within a cable’s length of the rocks off the North-East end of Facing Island, on which we were fortunate in not having to spend our Christmas.  Next day a water-snake (Hypotrophis jukesii) four feet two inches long was caught when we were several miles off the land; it had accidentally been hooked by the tail by someone fishing for albacore, several of which fine fish were taken hereabouts.  We rounded Breaksea Spit on December 29th, and two days afterwards arrived at Moreton Bay, were we found the Bramble.

During our stay at Yule’s Roads, we had much gloomy blowing weather, with drizzly rain, and a heavy gale from North-East to North-North-East.

Arrive at Sydney.

After replenishing our nearly exhausted stock of water, we sailed for Sydney, which we reached on January 14th, 1848.  During this passage we were much aided by the strong current, and had usually the wind between South-East and East-South-East, with occasional calms.

Recent occurrences in Sydney.

February 2nd, 1848.

During our absence from Sydney, and since our arrival, some events of great importance to the colony had occurred.  Public attention had been strongly directed towards the question of Steam Communication with India and England, the facilitating of which was one of the principal objects of the Voyage of the Rattlesnake.* Meetings to discuss the practicability of forming railroads** had also been held.  Dr. Leichhardt, the well-known, indefatigable traveller, had started with a party to attempt to traverse the Continent of Australia, and reach Swan River—­and Mr. Kennedy had returned from tracing the Victoria River of Sir Thomas Mitchell, which he found to become lost in the stony desert of Sturt, instead of disemboguing into the head of the Gulf of Carpentaria, as some had conjectured.

(Footnote.  This project, I regret to add, has not yet been carried into effect, nor does there appear to be any reasonable prospect of its speedy accomplishment.)

(**Footnote.  I have lately heard that the first Australian railroad has actually been commenced at Sydney.)

Foundation of the colony.

During our stay the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the colony was celebrated, and a large proportion of the 50,000 inhabitants of Sydney and the neighbourhood joined in the festivities and amusements commemorating so glorious a day in the annals of their adopted country.  When witnessing the gaieties of the regatta, I could not help reflecting on the simple narrative of the first founder of what may hereafter become a great empire, a mighty monument of the genius of the Anglo-Saxon