Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

622 DROUGHT — AauEDucT — POSITION Jan. There ray'd from cities o'er the eultur'd land, Shall bright canals, and solid roads expand. There the proud arch, Colossus-like, bestride Yon glittering streams, and bound the chasing tide ; Erabellish'd villas crown the landscape scene, Farms wave with gold, and orchards blush between.— There shall tall spires, and dome-capt towers ascend, And piers and quays their massy structures blend; While with each breeze approaching vessels glide. And northern treasures dance on every tide!' Here ceased the nymph— tumultuous echoes roar. And Joy's loud voice was heard from shore to shore Her graceful steps descending press'd the plain ; And Peace, and Art, and Labour, join'd her train." When I was at Sydney in 1836, all that was foretold in this allegory had come to pass, with one exception only, that of canals. It was always a country comparatively dry ; and un- fortunately the more wood is cleared away, the drier both cli- mate and soil become, therefore it is unlikely that canals should ever be made there. This want of fresh water is the only drawback to the future prosperity of this mushroom city ; which is now dependent upon a supply brought through iron pipes from a distance of several leagues. Mr. Busby, father of the resident at New Zealand, was the projector and executor of this aqueduct, but, — like many other really valuable things, — his useful work as ably planned as it was perseveringly car- ried on against uncommon difficulties, is but little appreciated, even by those who daily drink the pure water which it supplies. It is difficult to believe that Sydney will continue to flourish in proportion to its rise. It has sprung into existence too suddenly. Convicts have forced its growth, even as a hot- bed forces plants, and premature decay may be expected from such early maturity. Other rising colonies have advantages in point of situation and climate, which the country about Syd- ney does not possess ; and if ovir government establishment should be withdrawn, from that day the decline of the city would commence, because its natural advantages are not suffi- cient to enable it to compete with other places in those regions,