The new line of road we entered upon, was broad, straight, and in excellent condition. After travelling thirteen miles, we arrived at “Lupton’s Inn,” and did not find early rising, with a long morning’s ride, injuriously affect our appetites. Having breakfasted, we again proceeded over an excellent road, along which were neat houses, with gardens gay with the profusion of flowers, cleared patches of land under cultivation with grain, or forest land, animated by flowers; among them a beautiful _Clematis_ was conspicuous, covering the bushes with a profusion of white blossoms, or pendent in graceful festoons from the dead trunk of a tree. Having crossed the “Bargo River,” an inconsiderable stream, and passed “Myrtle Creek,” which has several pretty farms about it, we reached “Stonequarry Creek,” which at this time was in a dangerous state for vehicles, more particularly for heavily laden drays, the road being much out of repair. There are several farms about this place, and some quantity of land under cultivation for grain.[72] We passed the new line of road over the “Razor-back Mountain,” which was in an unfinished state; and, at first, some doubt existed whether this line would be completed, or another adopted; but it has been decided to finish it; for which purpose, road gangs were about to be employed upon it. On attaining the summit of Mount Prudhoe, an extensive and beautiful panoramic view of Appin, the Cowpastures, farms, together with cultivated and forest lands, &c. was laid before us in one extensive landscape. We descended by an excellent road, passed through “Camden,” the property of J. M’Arthur, Esq., came upon the Cowpasture road, crossing the Nepean river by a good wooden bridge, and arrived at Raby farm in the afternoon, after a long ride of forty-three miles. After occupying a few days in this vicinity, I proceeded to Sydney. During my stay at the Cowpastures, I visited the fine farm at Kirkham, the residence of Captain Coghill, and his amiable family: this farm is valuable, consisting principally of rich arable land; the Nepean river also running by the estate, is a valuable acquisition for sheep-washing, &c. The summer was more advanced at this part of the country than further in the interior. Strawberries and cream was not an uncommon dish, and the fruit was very abundant this season. Green peas were also in large quantities, and the gardens bloomed with English, and the more delicate, but evanescent China varieties of roses, and in such profusion, that one might have died of “roses in aromatic pain.” Pinks, stocks, and other European flowers, caused the atmosphere to teem with fragrance, and charmed the eye. At some farms, the beautiful rose-tree, covered with its carnation-tinted blossoms, adorned the verandahs; the white and pink _Robinia_ was attractive from the exquisite beauty imparted by its pendulous clusters of blossoms and the ornamental growth of the tree.