On the whole, as a place of punishment, the
object is scarcely gained; as a real system of reform it has
failed, as perhaps would every other plan; but as a means of making
men outwardly honest,--of converting vagabonds, most useless in one
hemisphere, into active citizens of another, and thus giving birth
to a new and splendid country--a grand centre of civilisation--it
has succeeded to a degree perhaps unparalleled in history.
JANUARY 30, 1836.
(PLATE 90. HOBART TOWN AND MOUNT WELLINGTON.)
The "Beagle" sailed for Hobart Town in Van Diemen's Land. On the
5th of February, after a six days' passage, of which the first part
was fine, and the latter very cold and squally, we entered the
mouth of Storm Bay; the weather justified this awful name. The bay
should rather be called an estuary, for it receives at its head the
waters of the Derwent. Near the mouth there are some extensive
basaltic platforms; but higher up the land becomes mountainous, and
is covered by a light wood. The lower parts of the hills which
skirt the bay are cleared; and the bright yellow fields of corn,
and dark green ones of potatoes, appear very luxuriant. Late in the
evening we anchored in the snug cove on the shores of which stands
the capital of Tasmania.
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