Weft's, Mrs. Infidel Father 406 - 679 THE BRITISH CRITIC, For JANUARY, 1803. "Men's principles, notions, and relifhes, are fo different, that it is hard to find a book which pleases or difpleases all men.” LOCKE. ART. I. An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, from its firft Settlement, in January, 1788, to Auguft, 1801; with Remarks on the Difpofitions, Cufloms, Manners &c. of the Native Inhabitants of that Country. To which are added, fome Particulars of New Zealand; compiled, by Permiffion, from the MSS. of Lieutenant-Governor, King; and an Account of a Voyage performed by Captain Flinders and Mr, Ba/s; by which the Existence of a Strait Separating Van Dieman's Land from the Continent of New Holland was afcertained. Abstracted from the Journal of Mr. Bafs. By Lieutenant-Colonel Collins, of the Royal Marines, late Judge Advocate and Secretary of the Colony. Illuftrated by Engravings. Vol. II. 4to. 11. 17s. 6d. Cadell and Davies. 1802. X IN our twelfth volume, p. 364, the reader will find a detailed account of the firft part of this interefting work, which, as we there obferved, cannot fail to become highly important to the future hiftorian of this remote Colony. When we confider the peculiar circumftances of this fettlement, and the defcription of individuals of which it is compofed,, we cannot be fury prifed if its progrefs towards refinement thould be tardy, and impeded with various difficulties. Itdoes, however, certainly apy 7. A BRIT. CRIT. VOL. XXI. JAN. 1803. pear that thefe difficulties feem, though flowly yet progreffively, to diminish, from the firm but temperate meafures of government, which have there been adopted. The native inhabitants indeed fternly and obftinately refift all attempts to meliorate their condition, by the introduction of European arts and manners, though it cannot be doubted that their reluctance to affimilate with the new fettlers would have been more eafily overcome, if circumftances had given them the opportunity of beholding the better rather than the most degraded fpecimens of our fellow fubjects. If inftead of feeing the most abject, depraved, and abandoned of human kind, they could have contemplated the courtefy, the generofity, the integrity, and the mildnefs, which are, thanks be to heaven, the general characteristics of Britons. The form of this volume is the fame as that of the former. A faithful Journal has been kept of the more particular tranfactions of the Colony, with fuch judicious obfervations interfperfed, as feem to arife immediately and pertinently from the fubject. A journal of this kind thus conducted, is well calculated to excite univerfal curiofity. It is alike curious and inftructive, to mark the delineation of the human character in all its fhades, varieties, and contrafts; and it is important, both to the legiflator and the moralift, to follow with fixed attention to this fecluded fpot, the reftlefs and turbulent spirit, which to fatisfy its inordinate ambition, would annihilate all principalities and powers, the fubtle perpetrators of fecret frauds, the fierce and relentless minifters of rapine and of murder. We have, however, no inducement to protract this article, as unfortunately the Journal only records repeated examples, that change of climate and of fituation produces no alteration in minds debafed by habitual profligacy and vice. One extract from this part of the work may fuffice. "Toward the latter end of the month, James Wilfon, who had for fome time taken up his abode in the woods, and was one of thofe named in the proclamation of the 13th of May laft, furrendered himfelf to the governor's clemency. He had been herding with the favages in different parts of the country, and was obliged to fubmit to have his fhoulders and breaft fcarified after their manner, which he defcribed to have been very painful in the operation. He made his appearance with no other covering than an apron formed of a Kangaroo's fkin, which he had fufficient fenfe of decency remaining to think was proper. "The governor, well knowing, from his former habits, that if he punished and fent him to hard labour, he would quickly rejoin his late companions, thought it more advisable to endeavour to make him ufeful even in the mode of living which he feemed to prefer; he therefore pardoned him, and propofed his attempting, with the affift ance |