Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/70

 "very little further aid would be wanted" in the colony. The nine instructors were hired for three years at £40 a year with rations, and during their engagement were "not to be allowed to settle any land on their own account." Between each of the grants made Phillip was to make reserves for the Crown. He was also to make reserves for fortifications, &c., for edifices, for "growth and production of naval timber, if there are any woods fit for that purpose," and for church sites, with glebes of 400 adjacent acres, and 200 acres for school purposes.

Phillip did not receive these instructions until June 1790. They shall be obeyed" (he writes), but if settlers could be sent out many difficulties would be "removed. . . . They appear to me to be absolutely necessary." It would be little less than two years before the lands would " support the cultivators."

Of the instructors sent only five had arrived, and "one only is a farmer; . . . the two gardeners are said to be lost, having left the ship (Guardian) in a small boat after that unfortunate accident which deprived the colony of those supplies which had been so liberally provided by the government." In July, 1790, replying to inquiries as to when the colony would be able to support itself, he told the Secretary of State, "it will depend upon the numbers employed in agriculture."

". . . Experience has taught me how difficult it is to make men industrious who have passed their lives in habits of vice and indolence. In some cases it has been found impossible; neither kindness nor severity have had any effect, (though in general the convicts) behave well. There are many who dread punishment less than they fear labour, hence; my being so desirous of having a few settlers, to whom, as the first settlers, I think every possible encouragement should be given. In them I should have some resource.

Again (5th Nov., 1791) he represented the need of "a few honest, intelligent settlers. Precept has little effect, but example will do much." In Dec., 1791, he deplored that he had received no answer as "to settlers being sent out, which is so much to be desired. I allude to settlers who are farmers or planters, and who are possessed of some property."

The original instructions as to grants of land to settlers and to non-commissioned officers and marines did not