Wednesday 28th.
At 1/2 past 6 a.m. Mrs. M. and myself set out in the Carriage from Parramatta, accompanied by the Gentlemen of our own Party and Mr. Gregory Blaxland, to prosecute my Tour of Inspection in the interior parts of the Colony. --We passed close to Prospect Hill, and by the Devils Back to Mr. Bayly's Farm near the South Creek; we halted here a little while and admired very much the situation of Mr. Bayly's Farm, and the neatness of his Barn and Stock-Yards; thence passed on across the South Creek to a small Farm belonging to Mr. Gregory Blaxland, at whose Farm Hut we halted to Breakfast. ---At 1/2 past 10 a.m. I set out on Horseback along with Mr. G. Blaxland to see his own and Mr. Badgery's Farms in the Bringelly District; leaving Mrs.M. and the rest of the Party at Mr. Blaxland's Hut where we had Breakfasted.

Called first at Badgery's Farm close on the left Bank of the South Creek, where I was much pleased to find a good Farm House built, a good Garden, and a considerable quantity of ground cleared. ---Thence we proceeded to Mr. Blaxland's own Farms, about 5 or six miles distant from the South Creek in a westerly direction. ---This is entirely as yet a grazing Farm, with only a miserable Hut for the Stock keepers, and Stock-Yards for the Cattle. ---The Land in some parts is tolerably good, and pretty well watered, but is better adapted to grazing than Tillage. We rode back, a different way to what we came, to Mr. G. Blaxland's Farm on the South Creek, through his second large Farm, and a Farm belonging to Doctor Wentworth in the Bringelly District; the Country through this last ride was pretty to look [at] but the Soil generally bad; at 1 p.m. arrived at Mr. Blaxland's Hut, where we rejoined our Friends again.---

At a quarter past 1 p.m. I set out with Mrs. M. in the Carriage, accompanied by the gentlemen of our Family and Mr. G. Blaxland; and recrossing the South Creek, we travelled along the Right Bank of it to Mr. Marsden's Farm, thence crossed the Creek again to Mrs. O'Connell's Farm of Frogmore ---thence to Mrs. King's Farm on the Right Bank of the South Creek; where we halted for a short while to look at her fine numerous Herds of Horned Cattle, of which she has upwards of 700 Head of all descriptions. ---Her agent Mr. Hassall was here for the purpose of strewing them to us, and we found them in very high condition.---

After taking a little refreshment at Mrs. King's Farm we pursued our journey to the Place intended for our Embarkation on the River Nepean; and arrived at Doctor Jamison's Farm, situated on the Right Bank of that River, at half past 4 o'clock in the afternoon; finding all our Servants & Baggage and Boat arrived some time before us. with our Tents ready Pitched for our reception. ---This day's Journey from Parramatta by the circuitous route we travelled, cannot be less than 35 miles. ---At 5 p.m. we had Ensign Maclaine's Boat launched into the River Nepean, naming her the Discovery. ---Here the Nepean is near a mile broad and has a great depth of water for some miles below as well as above Doctor Jamison's Farm; opposite to which is a very fine rich Tract of Country called Eemoo Island. Mr. Geo. Wm. Evans the Actg. Depy. Surveyor joined our Party at Mrs. King's Farm, and he and Mr. Hassall accompanied us to our Encampment; the latter staying to dine with us, and returning home in the Evening to Mrs. King's Farm. ---We went early to bed, being all a little tired after our long hot Journey.

27 November 1810 | 29 November 1810