Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/73

 cularly directed. . . . The numbers employed in cultivation will, of course, be increased as the necessary buildings are finished, which will be a work of time, for the numbers in the settlement who do nothing towards their own support exceed those employed for the public."

He proposed at the same time to place his free settlers on the banks of the Nepean river, where there was "as fine land for tillage as most in England." He would grant from 500 to a 1000 acres to each farmer; he would give to each at least twenty convict labourers, and would for two years support the labourers "from the public stores. In that time, if they are

"industrious, they will be in a situation to support themselves, and I do not think they would be able to do so in less time. At the expiration of two years they may return half the convicts they have been allowed, and would want no further assistance from government. It may be necessary to grant land to officers and soldiers, who, becoming settlers, will, of course, be entitled to every indulgence. But few officers now here have reaped any great advantage from being allowed convicts, and it is attended with unavoidable inconvenience, from their convicts being left much to themselves, and from their mixing with the soldiers."

Phillip never allowed the government to lull themselves into a conviction that the colony could exist without supplies from England. He told them (May, 1788) that he had sent the Supply to Lord Howe Island "to endeavour to procure turtle, in hopes of checking the scurvy with which most of the people were effected, and near 200 rendered incapable of doing any work." As early as July, 1788, he wrote (privately):—

"Your lordship may be assured that, anxious to render a very essential service to my country by the establishment of a colony which from its situation must hereafter be a valuable acquisition to Great Britain, no perseverance will be wanting on my part, and which consideration alone could make amends for the being surrounded by the most infamous of mankind. It is to your lordship and to Nepean alone that I make a declaration of this kind. Time will remove all difficulty, and with a few families who have been used to the cultivation of land, this country will wear a more pleasing aspect. As to myself, I am satisfied to remain so long as my services are wanted. I am serving my country and serving the cause of humanity. I flatter myself that by the return of the ships that bring us out provisions, and on which is placed our sole dependence, I shall be able to give your lordship a more satisfactory account of this country."

He wrote by the transport ships which, with Lieut. Shortland, agent for them, sailed northwards in May, sent duplicates by another vessel, and triplicates by the Borrowdale; but again (1st Sept.), thinking it "not impos-