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GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION

were allowed—Rottenest, Buache, and the exclusive right to a considerable part of the coast, with other immunities, for fourteen years. The Governor very handsomely offered them a lease of seven years; but they did not consider these terms advantageous enough, and the speculation dropped.

Besides Perth and Freemantle, there is a station at Garden Island, where the stores are kept. The government have also hired, as a depôt for stores, the stranded ship Marquis of Anglesey, for a hundred pounds per annum, from an individual who purchased her for a hundred and fifty pounds.

There were several government regulations which, as is usual in all new colonies, did not meet universal approbation; but, without entering into any discussion on this subject, I may mention, that the exaction of pilotage and harbour dues,—there being no pilots,—appeared rather premature.

I shall conclude this brief account of Swan River, by stating the geographical position of Arthur's Head[1], according to our observations:—

Latitude 32° 4' 13" S.
Longitude 116° 1' 46" E.
Variation of Compass 4° 16' 46" E.

As this longitude is more than twenty miles farther east than that given by Captain Stirling, it may be

  1. The peninsular projecting eminence of the left bank of the river, at its embouchure.