A few miles beyond Willunga, the country is of the richest description, combining the most attractive forest scenery with far extended land and sea views. From thence onward, however, it deteriorates sadly, terminating in that dreary expanse of bush and sand, which is here denominated “scrub.” Descending to the Encounter Bay coast, a slight improvement takes place; and after emerging on the tract of land, over which runs the new tramline from Port Elliot to the Goolwa, some excellent pasture appears, which must soon assume a valuable character in connexion with the River Murray and the works in progress in this district. His Excellency repaired at once on board the _Lady Augusta_, which we reached about three p. m., there to await the arrival of Captain Cadell and party, who were to come down the following day and be present at the launching of the _Eureka_, as the new vessel built on the Goolwa by Messrs. Wisby (two brothers), formerly the carpenters of the _Cleopatra_ steamer, had been styled. Some delay, however, occurring with regard to this ceremony, Sir Henry Young repaired to the house of Mr. Laurie, the harbour agent at Port Elliot, where, with Mr. Grainger, he remained some days. The launch commenced on the 23rd; but, rather to the disappointment of the young lady destined to perform the bottle-breaking ceremony, and with the expenditure of some pretty tri-coloured silk, the _Eureka_[7] was only finally brought alongside the steamer on the morning of the 24th. On the evening of the 25th, the _Lady Augusta_, with a full complement of passengers, and including the _Eureka_, which was towed alongside, an aggregate number of forty-three persons, steamed off from the Goolwa Jetty, amidst the cheers of the assembled settlers of the district, many of whom had traversed long distances to witness the departure of the first steamer on the waters of the Murray. It was calculated that 300 persons were present at the launch; and, previous to the departure of the boat, a _déjeûner_, by a large and respectable number of the community, had been given to Captain Cadell, in honour of the enterprise he had engaged in, and as a mark of the sense entertained by the public of the zeal and energy with which he had carried on his measures. To particularize the features of this trip by a diary of the daily proceedings on board, or by the diurnal progress of the little vessel against the stream, would be tedious and uninteresting. Comprising good cheer in abundance, and, with hardly the exception of an unfavourable day, unvaried fine weather, our passage up the river could not afford much scope to the imagination, or offer a prolific subject even to the highest descriptive powers. [Illustration: MELBOURNE.] [Illustration: ADELAIDE.]