save us from having one man (William Blake) severely wounded by them, but by the skilful care bestowed upon him by Dr Harris (who accompanied the expedition as a volunteer, and to whom, upon this occasion, and throughout the whole course of it, we are indebted for much valuable assistance), I trust his recovery is no longer doubtful. "The general merit of Mr Evans is so well known to your Excellency, that it will here be sufficient to observe, that by his zealous attention to every point that could facilitate the progress of the expedition, he has endeavoured to deserve a continuance of your Excellency's approbation. " Mr Charles Frazer, the Colonial Botanist, has added near seven hundred new specimens to the already extended catalogue of Australasian plants, besides many seeds, &c. and in the collection and preservation he has indefatigably endeavoured to obtain your Excellency's approval of his services. " I confidently hope that the journal of the expedition will amply evince to your Excellency the exemplary and praiseworthy conduct of the men employed on it; and I feel the sincerest pleasure in earnestly soliciting for them your Excellency's favourable consideration. "Respectfully hoping, that, on a perusal and inspection of the journals and charts of the expedition, the course I have pursued in the execution of your Excellency's instructions will be honoured by your approbation, I beg leave to subscribe myself, with the greatest respect, Sir, your Excellency's most obedient and humble servant, (Signed) "J. OXLEY, Surveyor-General." "To his Excellency Governor Macquarie." It appears also, that a communication of easy access, and running through lands of the very best description, has been opened by the enterprise of a Mr Throsby, to the delightful country beyond the Blue Mountains. This discovery must prove of the highest importance to the future colonization and improvement of this fifth continent; and it is the more remarkable, as every attempt to find a practicable passage to the great western wilderness had hitherto proved abortive. Mr Throsby was on the whole occupied fifteen days in the expedition which terminated so fortunately. The geography of this singular and anomalous region is, however, still in its infancy; but the most favourable results may be anticipated from the spirit of enterprise and discovery with which the local government, greatly to its honour, appears to be actuated. ORIGINAL POETRY, WRITTEN EXPRESSLY FOR THIS VOLUME. THE LEAGUE OF THE ALPS, OR THE MEETING ON THE FIELD OF GRUTLI. BY MRS HEMANS. It was in the year 1308, that the Swiss rose against the tyranny of the Bailiffs appointed over them by ALBERT of Austria. The field called Grütli, at the foot of the Selisberg, and near the boundaries of Uri and Unterwalden, was fixed upon by three spirited yeomen, WALTER FÜRST, (the father-in-law of WILLIAM TELL,) WERNER STAUFFACHER, and ERNI, (or ARNOLD) MELCHTHAL, as their place of meeting to deliberate on the accomplishment of their projects. "Hither came FÜRST and MELCHTHAL along secret paths over the heights, and STAUFFACHER in his boat across the Lake of the Four Cantons. On the night preceding the 11th November 1307, they met here, each with ten associates, men of approved worth; and while, at this solemn hour, they were wrapt in the contemplation, that on their success depended the fate of their whole posterity, WERNER, WALTER, and ARNOLD held up their hands to heaven, and in the name of the ALMIGHTY, who has created man to an inalienable degree of freedom, swore jointly and strenuously to defend that freedom. The thirty associates heard the oath with awe, and with uplifted hands attested the same God and all his Saints, that they were firmly bent on offering up their lives for the defence of their original liberty. They then calmly agreed on their future proceedings, and, for the present, each returned to his hamlet." - Planta's History of the Helvetic Confederacy. On the first day of the year 1308, they succeeded in throwing off the Austrian yoke; and "it is well attested," says the same author, "that not one drop of blood was shed on this memorable occasion, nor had one proprietor to lament the loss of a claim, a privilege, or an inch of land. The Swiss met on the succeeding Sabbath, and once more confirmed by oath their ancient, and (as they fondly named it) perpetual league." THE LEAGUE OF THE ALPS. 'Twas night upon the Alps. The (1) Senn's wild horn, And the rock-eagle couch'd, high on his cloudy nest. Oh! who may tell the Majesty of Night, For awful, e'en as death, the calm around, The leaves were falling, but without a sound, When winds are laid (4). With solemn radiance crown'd, Came rolling mightier to the lake's dark shore, Where life's far murmur swell'd the breathless air no more. Did the land sleep? - The Woodman's axe had ceas'd The night in its mid-watch: it was a time For there, where snows, in crowning glory spread, Yet thus it was! - Amidst the fleet streams gushing And hollow sounds that wake to Guilt's dull stealthy tread. But in a land of happy shepherd-homes, For they, that from the forest-silence turn A sound went up the wave's dark rest was broken; Of man's brief course the troubled waters bore; Of torch-fires streaming out o'er crag and wood; They stood in arms--the wolf-spear and the bow O'er their low pastoral valleys might the tide Till some rash voice or step disturb its brooding might. So were they rous'd!-th' invading step had pass'd Of sovereign Alps, that wing'd their eagles with the day? This might not long be borne!-the tameless hills The weight of sufferance from their hearts repelling, -Oh! what hath earth more strong than the good peasant-spear? Sacred be Grütli's field!-their vigil keeping |