A Statistical Account Of The British Settlements In Australasia; Including The Colonies Of New South Wales and Van Diemens Land. With an Enumeration Of The Advantages Which They Offer To Emigrants, As Well With Reference To Each Other, As To The United States Of America and The Canadas - And Direction and Advice To Emigrants.
The Third Edition
In Two Volumes - This Being Volume II Only
By W.C. Wentworth - A Native Of New South Wales
Printed For Geo. B Whittaker: London 1824
"This is the third edition of one of the earliest comprehensive analyses of Australia's colonial development, written by one of the colony's most influential early-born settlers. Wentworth, known as a statesman, explorer, and reform advocate, presents a detailed examination of the economic, demographic, and political conditions of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania). The work discusses agricultural productivity, convict management, governance, and opportunities for emigration, comparing Australia's prospects to those of North America and Canada. It served as both a policy argument and promotional tract — encouraging immigration and investment in the colonies by highlighting their commercial and social advantages.
Wentworth's Statistical Account stands as a landmark in early Australian literature and political thought, merging empirical observation with persuasive rhetoric to advocate for the colony's self-determination. His inclusion of "directions and advice to emigrants" and official appendices (such as Acts of Parliament and maps) makes it one of the earliest statistical and economic surveys of Australasia. The volume also contains one of the earliest engraved views of Sydney, marking it as a collector's cornerstone in Australiana. Complete sets in good condition are rare and highly prized by institutional and private collectors alike."
General wear to original leather bindings and marbled boards with a few bumps, minor damage as shown. Binding is strong, covers are firm and secure. There are no loose pages. Carries a feint owner name on title page otherwise pages are clean. The odd age mark here and there to pages with some yellowing as would be expected of documents this age. A desirable and beautifully presented volume of early Australian government gazette history in very good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
Size 21cm x 14cm x 3cm - 416 Pages
