d of attempts to ascertain the
nature of the country of which Mr. Lawson only obtained a glimpse. An
expedition was accordingly dispatched under Mr. Evans, the Deputy
Surveyor-General, to follow the route taken by the former one, and to
penetrate as far as practicable into the western interior. The result
was the discovery of the Macquarie river, and of Bathurst Plains. The
report of Mr. Evans was so favourable, that orders were immediately
issued for the construction of a line of road across the mountains.
When that was completed, the Governor went in person to fix the site of
a future town on Bathurst Plains. From thence Mr. Evans, who
accompanied the Governor on the occasion, was directed to proceed to
the southward and westward, to ascertain the nature of the country in
that direction. He discovered another considerable river, flowing, like
the Macquarie, to the west, to which he gave the name of the Lachlan.
The promising appearance of these two streams, and the expectation of
all parties that they would be found to water rich and extensive tracts
of country, led to the fitting out of a more important expedition than
any which had before been contemplated.

MR. OXLEY'S DISCOVERIES.

Mr. Oxley, the Surveyor-General of the Colony, was appointed chief of
this expedition, and was directed to trace the Lachlan and Macquarie
rivers, as far as practicable, with a view to ascertain their
capabilities and the nature of the country they watered. In 1817, Mr.
Oxley directed his attention to the former river, and continued to
follow its windings, until it appeared that its waters were lost in
successive marshes and it ceased to be a river. In the following year
he turned towards the Macquarie, and traced it, in like manner, until
he was checked by high reeds that covered an extensive plain before
him, amidst which the channel of the river was lost.

From what he observed of the country, on both these occasions, he was
led to infer that beyond the limits of his advance the interior had a
uniform level, and was, for the most part, uninhabitable and under
water. Its features must have been strongly marked to have confirmed
such an opinion in the mind of the late Surveyor-General. It stands
recorded on the pages of his journal, that he travelled over a country
of many miles in extent, after clearing the mountains, which so far
from presenting any rise of ground to the eye, bore unequivocal marks
of frequent and extensive inunda