Rise early -- and sent off our heavy Baggage between 7 and 8 o'clock. Breakfast at 8 o'clock and set out from the 41 Mile Tree at 1/4 past 9 o'clock. -- At 11 o'clock, reached the termination of the Blue Mountains ending in a very abrupt descent almost perpendicular. -- Here we halted for a little while to view this frightful tremendous Pass, as well as to feast our eyes with the Grand and pleasing Prospect of the fine low Country below us and now in view from this termination of the Blue Mountains.

Mr. Cox and his Party with incredible labour and perseverance have constructed a very safe Carriage Road down the face of this Mountain which does him and them infinite honor; -- it being a most difficult and most arduous undertaking, and one which most People would have at first view abandoned in despair as being impracticable. --From the beginning of the Pass to the foot of the mountain is one mile and a quarter in length -- the Road being made in Traverses in as easy a manner as it was practicable to construct it; -- but still exceedingly steep in most Places along the declivity of the Mountain, which is above 600 Feet in Perpendicular Height from the Plain below. -- The distance from our last stage at the 41 Mile Tree and the Grand Termination of the Blue Mountains is 7 3/4 miles; and this Mountain being one of the most prominent and remarkable of the whole Range, I have named it "Mount York" in honor of H.R. Highness the Duke of York, on account of its being the only one by which it is at all practicable to descend into the low Country. -- The Pass constructed here by Mr. Cox and his Party I have named "Cox's Pass" in honor of that Gentleman and as a just tribute due to his indefatigable zeal and meritorious exertions in constructing and finally completing this grand and important Pass. ---

The Road down the mountain being so extremely steep as to render it hazardous to drive down it in the Carriage, we had the Horses taken out of it and had it brought down by hand, and the same method was adopted in regard to bringing down our Caravan and heavy loaded Carts. This retarded our Journey a long time, the whole of the Carriages not having been got down the Pass till 2 o'clock, tho' the first of them began to descend at 11 o'clock.

Mrs. Macquarie and myself accompanied by Mr. Cox and Mr. Secretary Campbell walked down the whole of the Pass, and waited at the foot of the Mountain till all the Carriages had come down.

At 1/4 past 2 p.m. we pursued our Journey in the Carriage over a fine plain verdant Country of open Forest Land through a beautiful extensive Vale of Five Miles, which I have named "The Vale Clwydd" after the Vale of the same name in Wales. -- This Vale terminates at a River running South formed by two smaller ones coming from the Westward and Eastward, and which unite at the distance of Five Miles from Mount York.

I have named the river thus formed "Cox's River", in honor of Mr. Cox. -- We arrived at this River at 3 o'clock, and Encamped on the Left Bank of the Western Branch of it; having here good grass and plenty of fine Water for our Cattle.

We dined at 5 o'clock and played Cards in the Evening after Dinner till Tea-Time, retiring early to Bed. -- The distance of this day's Journey is 14 miles from the 41 Mile Tree.---
The Ground about and adjacent to the 41 Mile Tree being a good stage for both Water and Forage, and it having rather a wild Heath-like appearance, I have named it "Hounslow".---

28 April 1815 | 30 April 1815