(From the Sydney Morning Herald.)

We feel much pleasure in being able to announce the arrival of this vessel [Acheron]. Her destination is New Zealand, whither she has been despatched by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to complete a scientific and maritime survey of that important division of Australasia.

By all well-wishers to the commercial prosperity of our sister colony, this step of the home government will be duly appreciated. The skill and energy displayed by the same commander when prosecuting discoveries on our coasts in the Beagle, from 1837 to 1842, are not likely soon to be forgotten. The subordinate officers have all been selected for their zeal and high professional attainments, so that every benefit ordinarily derived from these expeditions when skillfully conducted, will in the present instance be realized for New Zealand.

If it be true that we are gradually approaching a crisis in the world's moral government when to advance the arts of peace shall be esteemed an object of nobler ambition than the promotion of those of war ; if to save, be better than to slay ; if to pave the way for a still further spread among those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death of that purer faith and civilization, which, under Providence, has exalted Britain to sit a queen among nations ; then the conduct of expeditious such as that on which the Acheron is now about to enter - by directly promoting these great designs - must be esteemed the most honourable duties her Majesty's navy can be called upon to fulfil.

Captain Stokes having been provided, through the kindness and foresight of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, with every necessary equipment, sailed from Plymouth on Friday, the 21st of January last. After a passage of five days, they made Madeira, exchanging within that brief period the leaden skies, snow-clad hills, and leafless woods of Britain, for a landscape embellished with almost tropical verdure, and the warmth and softness of a climate that in the ordinary sense of the term never knows a winter. Among those whom delicate health had compelled to seek there a refuge from the ruder temperature of their native land, was Her Majesty Queen Adelaide. Every body will rejoice to learn the experiment proved successful, and this illustrious Lady, who with "a hand open as melting charity," every where leaves behind her solid proofs of unostentatious munificence, has returned to England greatly benefited by her sojourn at Madeira. The same generous spirit which prompted her to build, endow, and furnish with a magnificent service of communion plate a church at Malta, some years since, induced her to offer the Madeiriens the sum of two thousand pounds out of her private purse towards forming a road across the island from north to south. Their own dishonest cupidity, however, defeated her Majesty's benevolent intentions for the public good. In a day or two after the Acheron's arrival in Funchal Roads. Captain Stokes was honoured with an invitation to dine with the Queen and a select party, where he met her illustrious relatives, the Duke of Saxe Weimar and family. Her Majesty, who showed a marked interest in the object of the expedition, made many inquiries into the actual condition of the aborigines, and the prosperity of the colonists. She seemed surprised and delighted at the picture given of the health and beauty of the Great Australian metropolis, and smiled with much good humour when allusion was made to the mineral treasures of Adelaide - a settlement which has the honour of being called after Her Majesty.

The expedition quitted Madeira after a short delay, and running down the south-east trade, made a rapid passage to the Brazilian capital. Monday, the 28th February, saw them near Cape Frio, and on the following day the Acheron steamed gallantly through those well known gigantic buttresses, which rising almost perpendicularly from Ocean's bed, seem to guard the entrance to the magnificent harbour of Rio

After completing the necessary repairs, the voyage was continued towards the African shore. There brilliant sunsets, the rich blue sky, and glowing atmosphere, which had accompanied their progress through the tropics now gradually disappeared. They steered towards the gloomy and often tempestuous regions of the south, uncheered for days together by a gleam of sunshine, until rounding the extremity of that Cape, at once the terror and the joy of the ancient mariner, * they cast anchor in Simon's Bay early in the month of May.

Hitherto the progress of this interesting expedition had been auspicious, and its commander, justly proud of the confidence reposed in him by the British Government, and happy in the presence of his family on board, a privilege not always conceded - considered his position as a highly favoured one. But life is a I mingled yarn, and unalloyed happiness the lot of few. Mrs. Stokes, who left England in a delicate state of health, had borne the voyage indifferently from the first, and went ashore at Simon's Bay in a very precarious condition. All that the resources of medical skill could devise - all that the fond assiduity of an affectionate husband clinging to hope to the last - could do to avert the impending blow, availed not, she passed from time to eternity, without a struggle.

Beloved by all, to all the good a friend.

Her remains lie buried in the little cemetery of Simon's Bay, a secluded and congenial spot situated on a mountain slope, near the sea beach. The officers of the Acheron, by whom her gentleness and affability - which acute suffering could not diminish - had been fully appreciated, with those from other vessels in harbour, attended to pay a last tribute of respect to her memory. Those alone, whom Providence has visited with a like bereavement, can picture the agony of him, the chief mourner at this sad ceremony, thus consigning to a stranger soil, the ashes of one who had formed the light and solace of his path.

The departure of this much-lamented lady, in the Beagle, for England, some years since, was witnessed by a crowd of attached friends with a regret merit such as hers never fails to excite in congenial minds. Ardently did they look forwards to the pleasure of a re-union, of the possibility of which they had been early apprised, but which none were destined to see realised. Chiefly, however, do we sympathize with them - a mother, a brother, and two sisters, whose anticipated joy is turned into sorrow - with whom the house of feasting is transformed into the house of mourning. Let us draw a veil over the sacredness of their sorrow. May that beneficent being who "tempers the wind to the shorn lamb," whose very chastisements are but mysterious dispensations of good, pour the balm of consolation into their bruised spirit ! The bereavement falls heaviest on them, but it will also cast a shade over the happiness of more than one family circle in almost every district of this widely extended colony.

We hasten to conclude this narrative.

The Acheron steamed out of Simon's Bay, on June the 6th, and after a passage rendered somewhat tedious by an alternation of light and fresh winds, dropped a mail at Western Australia, whence, after a short delay, she continued her voyage through Bass's traits, and arrived on Friday, the 18th August, at this anchorage.

It forms a pleasing illustration of the interest felt by individuals at home in the well being of these colonies that the Acheron should bring out a splendid collection of choice fruit trees, plants, and flowers, the unsolicited gift of Sir Thomas and Sir Peregrine Acland, baronets, whom our settlers from Somersetshire will recognize as representatives of a very influential family of the ancient West of England gentry. There is another most valuable gift of a similar kind, also the spontaneous contribution of Captain Fleming, who enjoys the otium cum dignitate at that thrice lovely spot - Tintern Abbey, Monmouthshire. Among other specimens far more costly, the excellent taste and good feeling of this gentleman has introduced some cuttings of the common English blackberry. Many of our readers will remember the anecdote of an Englishman who, when strolling through the gardens of a princely mansion in the vicinity of Calcutta, had his attention suddenly arrested by a common English daisy, which raised its humble stem in a sheltered nook of that vast parterre. India, with her palm and spice groves, and flowers of gorgeous aspect,-

Beautiful with varied dyes.

were in a moment forgotten - his thoughts reverted to the green meads and sloping uplands of his native home :

In a moment, he seem'd to be there !

Similar emotions will hereafter crowd upon the colonist's mind, into whose possession these off sets of the humble blackberry may fall. While wandering among the hedgerows which bound the fields his industry has fertilized, he will pluck and eat of its fruit with a relish the, rarest produce of the sun-lit tropics would fail to bestow ; and his thoughts by a natural association will recal those happy hours, when merry and free he rambled, - a careless child, - through the green lanes and forest paths of his cherished fatherland.

SG & SGTL Vol 5 ; pp 210-1

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