POSTSCRIPT TO TIIE WEEK'S NEWS.
SPECTATOR OFFiCit, SATITEDAY, Two O'CLOCK.
SWAN RIVE11.—We have been favoured with a copy of a letter from one of the passengers of the Atwick to his friends in London, received by the last arrivals. The description it gives of the country is favourable, and more minutely particular than any that we have yet seen. The voyage out seems to have been more than ordinarily prosperous. The letter is from Mr. P. II. Dud, and is addressed to Messrs. Henry
Dod and Son. "Swan River, Freemantle, Nov. 9, 1830.
"DEAR Sins,—We cast anchor in Gage's Roads on Monday, 19th October, and all much pleased with the appearance of the country : on our near approach it seemed beautifully wooded, and picturesque. We came round the north side of Rot. tenest Island with a slapping breeze, and cast anchor about two miles from the mouth of Swan River. We went on shore early the next morning ; and I must confess the first appearance rather damped our spirits ; but on proceeding twenty miles in the interior, the traveller meets with a beautiful fertile country, resembling parks in England. Here the land is remarkably good, as far as the Darling Range : all the land on the Swan but Mr. Peel's grant was located previous to our arrival, and as Mr. Peel did not arrive before the and of November, the Canning was thrown open ; and on the 5th, the remaining portion of the Swan. I have selected a considerable portion of my land from the grant intended for Mr. Peel but as it is expected some fine land will be tliscovered to the southward, shall not fix on any more at present. I have appointed a spot in Freemantle, the present port, for a town allotment, which has been allowed me for a store, on condition of my expending one hundred pounds upon it the first year.
" Perth is situated, by Crosse's map No. 642, about fourteen miles up the river. This is the seat of government, and a beautiful situation it is.
" 19th November. .1 have been three times up the river to Perth, and once further up the fin-an: the country above is exceedingly beautiful and picturesque; in some parts thinly wooded, and abounding in fine long grass, fit for the scythe; but in general there is a superabundance of wood. There are plenty of wild ducks, wid. geons, black swans, parrots, cockatoos, parroquets, and quails—all good eating; tine emus, than which I never tasted any thing more delicious. Kangaroos and kangaroo rats, both excellent eating; fish in abundance ; and we all agree that we never met with such excellent fish before. I have met the Governor several times he is polite and attentive to all, and has already become popular. " We have no church here yet, bat Mrs. Wells generally 'ends prayers in her husband's stead. In the course of time we shall have extensive vineyards here ; wool, wood, oil, skins, and salt, will be our chief articles of export, and in course of time, tobacco, hemp, flax, and wines that will rival the Constantia. Since we landed, there has been no arrival from England; but several have come in from Van Diemen's Land, Sydney, the Cape, and India, with live stock, grain, acc. It is my opinion that this colony must succeed, partly from the number of respectable emigrants swarming here; and, again, because sufficient good land has been discovered to maintain several millions of souls. The climate is the finest and most healthy you can imagine. I have not felt the heat too oppressive ; there is a continual breeze, which cools the air and renders the country highly salubrious. The Atwiek landed all her stock (without a single death) in good order; the sheep, particularly, are thriving well. This may be greatly attributed to the great attention bestowed on them by Captain M`Kay, of whom we entertain a very high opinion : he did not give -us the opportunity of a single murmur during the voyage,whichts a striking contrast to the mannerin which some of the settlers have represented their treatment of their passage out. The Atwick leaves to-morrow: I therefore must conclude ; but Will write more fully by next conveyance.
"I am yours, very affectionately, " P. H. Don."
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