bane Mountain, in a North Easterly direction, and afterwards, (if he met with no alistades) to proceed to the Pumice Stone River, and the GlassHouses, and from thence back to the Settlement. On Saturday 9th of October, he left this place, and reached the Limestone station the same night, distant overland twenty-five miles. The next day (Sunday the 10th) they all set out on their journey. The party consisted of Captain Logan,, Private Calism, 7th regiment, his servant, five prisoners, (all good Bushmen)) with two pack-bullocks. They travelled fourteen miles this day, in a North Westerly direction, and encamped on the Lime-stone side of the river. Two or three Blacks were seen near the camp place at night. On Monday, the 1, at seven in the morning, the party left their encampment,, which was near the river, but they had to proceed four miles further up before they could ford it. On approaching the river bank at the fording plate, the Blacks assembled in great numbers, upwards of 200, and cowered the bill dose to where they had to pass, which was on the Lime-stone site of the river, and at this place they began to show a hostile feeling, by throwing and milling dan lage stores on the party on passing, but no spears were thrown. At this time Captain Logan was in advance, and finding he could not proceed, on acount of the Natives, he was obliged to fall Back, and wait the coming up of the party. Callison, his servant, seeing what was going forward, fred a shot over their hands to frighten them: this for a time had the effect, and they kept more aloof, but while the party were in the art of firding the river, the Blacks closed on them again; he fired another shut while in the river, which again had the effect of keeping them off. The Natives appeared to know Captain Logan, for as soon as he had crossed, they repeatedly called out Commity Water, intimating thereby, it is supposed, he should go back over the water. They followed at a distance all this day, hiding themselves occasionally behind trees, and in the long grass. The party then proceeded on to the place where his own horse was lost, on the former journey, and encamped about ten miles to the Northward of Lockyer's Creek, about half-way between that and Mount Irwin; here the tent was pitched for three days and two nights. On the Tuesday and Wednesday, the 19th and 13th, no Blacks seen, and nothing of any consequence occurred during this time; the men were distributed in twos in search of the lost horse, and Captain Logan was alone exploring in a North-easterly direction from the Brisbane Mountain. On the morning of Thursday the 14th the tent was struck, and all went on towards the Junction, and encamped about half a mile from it. No Blacks seen, and mothing particular occurred this day. The next day, (Friday) was employed in traversing a newly-discovered Creek. On Saturday, the 16th, Captain Logan left the party early in the morning on horseback, to explore the new Creek; he was alone on this duty all the day, and in traversing the first, he discovered a second Creek; this perplexed and retarded him for a time, and it was late when he returned from the examination of both. On Sunday, the 17th, Captain Logan said he had accomplished all that he could accomplish at this time, and by his directions, about seven o'clock this morning, they all commenced their return-journey back to the Lime-stone station. At eight he left the party, and went away ale, after having previously told Collison to make the nearest way for the action of the river, and that he should find the party somewhere about t spot. He fell in with them betw twelve and one o'clock, much ser than was expected, and rem them about two hours, travel seen; and on crossing the riv of a bullock or horse: he the side of a creek, at a spot w Captain Logan then, for t or bullock track, which l which place he had bee Collison and the party o'clock this afternoon ( Captain Logan: soon afterwards, the men thought they heard him "cooey;" they answered him, and then waited about half-an-hour, when they thought they heard him "cooey" again: he was again answered, and four or five shots were fired at intervals during the evening, and the men fancied they heard him "cooey" in reply two or three times between the shots, but he did not return. The next morning early, (Monday, the 18th,) two men were sent down the creek to search, because it was known he must cross the creek on returning home; the men saw the track of his horse in the direction of the Lime-stone. It was then taken for granted he had gone a-head, towards the above place, after missing the party. The tent was then struck, and all pursued their journey back. On this day, Monday, about twelve o'clock, fifty or sixty Blacks made their appearance with spears, shields, and waddies. They hovered about the party shouting, getting behind trees, and endeavouring to close upon the party undiscovered. No shots were fired: they continued their course, and, in an hour or two after the Blacks went off towards Mount Irwin, which was the direction Captain Logan had taken the preceding evening. Nothing more occurred this day; and the party reached safely the same fording-place they had crossed on the Monday before. The encampment this night was chosen on the Pineridge side of the river, thinking some signs of Captain Logan's track might be found on that side; but nothing was seen. The men then marked the trees, and made marks in the sand at the crossing place, to attract his notice (if he had not already passed,) that he might find and know the party had gone a-head. The men walked one by one after the bullocks, to make their track more distinct: this encampment was left on Tuesday morning, and nothing occurred between this place and the Lime-stone Station, which the party reached on Wednesday afternoon. Not finding Captain Logan at the above station as was expected, Collison, four prisoners, and private Hardacre, 57th regiment, started the next morning on a second journey to search for him. The party had light baggage, and travelled between thirty and forty miles this day (Thursday 21st), and about five o'clock in the evening, they arrived at the camp, where Captain Logan's horse was lost on the former journey. The first thing seen on reaching the ground, was the saddle laying beside a tree, with the stirrup-leathers cut asunder, evidently by a stone tomahawk, and the stirrup-irons gone. The saddle was about thirty yards from the remains of a fire; and it appeared to have been taken there by the Blacks, for the purpose of cutting it on a fallen tree. A space had been eaten round where the horse had been tethered-and there were marks where Captain Logan had taken the horse to water. It also appeared that he had roasted some chesnuts at this fire: the remains of the roasted chesnuts lay about the stump of a tree that had been burning; and it was at this place the Blacks must have surprised him, for his foot-marks were very distinct, with long strides, where he had rushed from the fire to his horse. A further search was then made, to see if any signs of struggling or violence could be found; but nothing of the sort appearing, it was then evident he must have jumped on his horse bare-backed, and made his escape: the party then returned to the Lime-stone Station, without having seen a Black on the whole journey. Being disappointed a second time in not finding him there, another party went out, consisting of five soldiers of the 57th and twelve prisoners, to verse the country all about the junction. The second day, (Tuesday) the Limestone Station, they fell in with another traversing the party. On the following morning, (Thursday,) Doctor Cooper, Collison, and five or six men, left the camp on another search, and after travelling about a mile, the Doctor smelled something very unpleasant; he made towards it, and on approaching a small creek with shallow water, he discovered the horse dead in the bottom, covered over with boughs; it appeared a leap had been attempted over the creek, and from the way the horse lay he could not have reached the other side. The Blacks must have pursued him to this place, and the marks were those of a horse in full gallop. One broken spear only was found in the opposite bank, and at this spot the Blacks must have certainly closed upon him. The party then went over the creek, and about seven or ten yards from the opposite bank, the body of poor Capt. Logan was found. The back of his head appeared to have been much beaten about by waddies. The Blacks made him a grave about two feet deep, and buried him with his face downwards. The body had been carefully covered over by them, but the native dogs had scratched away the earth from his feet, which were found quite exposed. No clothes, or any of his covering, was found, except his shoes, which were left near him: the grave appeared to have been made with some care, and long sticks were laid on each side of it. The body was then taken up, put into blankets, and by stages brought to the Lime-stone Station, and afterwards by water to the settlement. His afflicted family return to Sydney by the " Governor Phillip." I have the honour to be, &c. Signed GEORGE EDWARDS, Lieut. 57th Regiment. To Lieut.-Col. Allan, Commanding 57th Regiment, SIR, Sydney. GOVERNMENT ORDER. Colonial Secretary's Office, Sydney, His Excellency the Governor publishes, with feelings of deep concern, the following copy of a letter from Capt. Clunie, 17th regiment conveying intelligence of the melancholy fate of Capt. Logan, 57th regiment, late Commandant at Moreton Bay, who was murdered by the natives when completing a survey which he had commenced last year. It would be painful to dwell on the particulars of this distressing event. Every one who is capable of estimating Capt. Logan's character, his zeal, his chivalrous and undaunted spirit, will deplore it. He had held for a period of four years the command at Moreton Bay, a situation, from the character of the Settlement, of the most troublesome and arduous description. He did not, however, confine himself to the immediate duties of his command, but had on several occasions, at great personal risk, explored the country to a considerable extent. And on one of these discovered a river which, in compliment to his services, was named the " Logan," as will be seen by the Government order of the 16th July 1827. No. 27. The circumstances of Capt. Logan's death prove the ardour of his character was not to be restrained by personal considerations. His life was devoted to the public service; professionally he possessed those qualities which distinguish the best officers, and in the conduct of an extensive public establishment, his services were highly important to the Colony. The Governor, though he deeply regrets the occasion, is gratified in expressing his sentiments of Capt. Logan's character and services. He is assured that every feeling mind will sympathize with the afflicted widow, who, with her infant family, has, by an act of savage barbarity, sustained a loss which cannot be repaired. As a tribute to the memory of this meritorious officer, His Excellency requests that the gentlemen of the Civil Service will join the military in attending the funeral, of which due notice will be given. (A true Copy.) J. ALLAN, Lieut.-Col. Commanding 57th Regiment. By His Excellency's command, EDITOR'S PORTFOLIO; OR NAVAL AND MILITARY REGISTER. AFFAIRS AT HOME AND ABROAD. The Dissolution of Parliament has suspended the principle and beaten down the practice of Free Representation in these Realms. In a vast majority of the New Elections the Mob have been the Nominees, returning, at the point of the bludgeon, a herd of pliant Creatures," bound hand and foot" to serve as the passive instruments, and syllable the will and wisdom, of their Liege Lords. The New Parliament will consequently resemble rather a Convention of Delegates representing a single and the lowest order, than a Deliberative Assembly constituted by the various classes of the nation. How far its decrees may be sanctioned by the great body of the British PEOPLE (in the true sense of that much abused term,) remains to be seen. One singular result of the New Elections, contradictory in a signal manner of the avowed objects of Reform," appears in the fact, that the existing system has proved in the late struggle sufficiently elastic for the utmost elans of the "Liberal" or Democratic principle. Here, at least, it has "worked well"-Reformee and Reformer at one and the same time! This is assuredly an unexpected property of a system so rotten." But is there no rottenness in the puppets of the system ? 66 Where has lain the vaunted "virtue" of "The People" on former occasions? Dazzled as we are, forsooth, by its present blaze, how comes it that a light so pure should have been hitherto hidden U. S. JOURN. No. 31. JUNE 1831. under a bushel? Is there no room for Reform amongst the immaculate Electors, and must the Constitution alone suffer for the vices of a Constituency betraying the most flagrant corruption in those ranks which are the most clamorous for the "Reform" of every thing-but themselves? As an offset to the preponderance of mere unreasoning clamour, and the logic of physical force during the nomination of the New Parliament, the decided verdict of the three Universities Oxford, Cambridge, and Dublin-each returning Constitutional Representatives, affords ground of congratulation. This honourable fact proves, that where the exercise of deliberate opinion was permitted, reason asserted its just predominance over transient passion. It is especially painful to note the moral degeneracy and political Decline of a Great Nation ; but we are bound to record that our Revolution has commenced amidst scenes of savage atrocity and sanctioned intimidation at Home: while Abroad it is hailed with complacent scoffs and malicious anticipations by our chuckling and no longer envious Rivals. The state of Ireland generally is unsettled, that of certain districts is frightful. The fruits of eternal agitation are apparent in a state of excitement now beyond the power even of the Arch-Agitator to control. In Clare and the adjoining Counties the combined Peasantry have displaced the authority of the Law, and exercise a despotic and almost undisputed control over the lives and properties of the respectable inhabitants of all persuasions. In other times, perhaps, this Rebellion would have been suppressed with a prompt and strong hand; but in the liberal spirit of the hour, indiscriminate murder and incendiarism exercised upon every obnoxious resident, the massacre of devoted soldiers and policemen, the suspension of business and labour, and, to crown all, pestilence and famine, produced by these very causes in combination, are looked upon with folded arms as harmless ebullitions or wholesome eruptions which purify the Body Politic! In this philosophic course shall we probably proceed till the Body Politic itself be dismembered, and the isolated Heart of the System, bereft of sound support and vital energy, be paralyzed and stagnate! FRANCE. Each revolution of the moon produces some new movement-some clash and culmination of the troubled waters of society in France. The squabbles of children for their brittle baubles are not more inept and restless than the caprices and conflicts of this crazy People. An Ordonnance of the King for regulating the Distribution of a certain Decoration, to be conferred upon the hole and corner Heroes of the "Three Days," and meant to produce a highly popular effect, was interpreted of course in a different spirit by the patriots aforesaid, who made the Revolution, as they frankly proclaim, by no means for King Philip, but for certain little projects of their own. Hence, another trooping of the Mob, and a counterdisplay of force and gasconade on the part of the Perrier Government. La Vendée is again in arms, and the French King has been making a Tour of Conciliation through the Northern Provinces. tween France and Austria appears to gain ground. The Sceptre of BELGIUM remains still in the market, neither finally rejected nor accepted by Prince Leopold. In consequence of the restlessness of the Belgians with regard to the Duchy of Luxemburg, and their incessant aggressions on the Dutch frontiers, the Commissioners of the Mediating Powers have addressed a Paper to the Belgian Congress, couched in stronger and more explicit terms on those points. At Antwerp, some offensive works having been carried on towards the citadel, contrary to the spirit of the Armistice, General Chassé, with the decision which has stamped his command throughout, made a sortie from the citadel, and took possession of the Lunette of St. Laurent upon which those works were appuyed. That commander has farther threatened to repeat the bombardment of Antwerp, should farther provocation justify such a measure. POLAND. Circumstances have again retarded the decisive shock between the Russian and Polish armies-but the relative situation of each proves both that it cannot be far distant, and that the superiority rests with the former. After the operations described in our last, Count Diebitsch, having made fresh arrangements, again advanced upon Warsaw, threatening, as we anticipated, the right flank of Skrzynecki, who retreated with deliberation before him. The Russian Commander, however, at the moment when his adversaries had summoned their best energies and last resources for a final struggle, and when the prize appeared at least in view, was compelled by the exhausted state of the country, and the prevalence of disease amongst his troops, suddenly to discontinue his forward movement, and again The probability of a war be- retire upon his convoys. |