A map of the colony of New South Wales. The various inset maps show ports and harbours around the territory: Port Philip (new to this issue) and Western Port, Botany Bay, Jervis Bay, Port Hunter, Broken Bay, Port Macquarie, Twofold Bay, Port Stephens, Morton Bay and Brisbane River, Port Jackson, and one larger map of the whole continent.

It is dedicated to Sir Thomas Mitchell, who became Surveyor- General of New South Wales in 1828, holding the position until his death. Mitchell's long career included four expeditions into Australia's interior to map uncharted territory, which earned him a knighthood in 1838. He was also the last man in Australia to challenge anyone to a duel. His opponent was Stuart Donaldson, who had refused to retract a public criticism of the expenditure of Mitchell's government department. Three shots were exchanged without injury (although one went through Donaldson's hat) and Donaldson went on to become the Premier of New South Wales.

The mapmaker
Joseph Cross, bookseller, publisher, copperplate printer and engraver had a shop at 18 Holborn "opposite Furnival's Inn" from about 1823 when he engraved 'A new map of the county of Monmouth'. Joseph Cross appears to have been joined in business by his son from between 1847 and 1854, when their imprint changed to "J. Cross & Son". Cross clearly had a keen interest in emigration to the Australian colonies, having published several works related, including: Atkinson's 'An Account of the State of Agriculture and Grazing in New South Wales' (1826); 'Chart of Van Dieman's Land' (1826); 'Chart of Part of New South Wales…' (1827 – 1829); Wakefield's 'A Letter from Sydney, the Principal Town of Australasia. Edited by Robert Gouger. Together with the Outline of a System of Colonization' (1829); Busby's 'Authentic Information Relating to New South Wales, and New Zealand' (1832); but most famously, "the earliest work relating to the inland exploration of Western Australia" (Wantrup): 'Journals of Several Expeditions Made in Western Australia During the Years 1829, 1830, 1831 and 1832: Under the Sanction of the Governor, Sir James Stirling' (1833), which includes his subsequent map of Western Australia.

Additionally, Cross published: 'Cross's New Plan of London, with improvements to 1840'; 'Cross's London Guide' (1837); and 'Cross's Miniature London' (1846).

Joseph Cross II, "bachelor", is recorded as having died on 19 November, 1865 at the age of forty-four, and his estate was left to his mother, Jane Cross.