Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 1.djvu/408

 296 SHEEP DO NOT TkRIVE. 1788 to be ripe and ordered it to be collected, very little was found, and 5 July, none in those places where it had been seen in any quantity, which I impute to the natives pulling up the plant when in flower to make their fishing-lines. A few plants have been collected, and which are sent home under the care of the agent of the transports. a*? ^^ Sheep do not thrive in this country at present, but as many cows, with one or two young bulls, as the ships intended for this settlement that touch at the Cape can receive on board, will, I hope, be ordered, as likewise seeds, and a few quarters of wheat, barley, and Indian coni. and^ick^ Cloathing for the natives, if sent out, will, 1 dare say, be very for the acceptable to them when they come amongst us. I should recom- mend long frocks and jackets only, which will equally serve both men and women. dothing. A. great part of the cloathing 1 have, sir, already observed was very bad, and a great part of it was likewise too small for people of common size. If some coarse blankets were to be sent out they would greatly, contribute to preserve the health of the convicts. In addition to the frocks and jackets for the natives, good house- Presents for carpenters' axes, hats, hooks, and lines will be most beneficial, as the nativea. ^^|j ^^ ^^^^ acceptable to the natives. A second series of despatches, bearing date 9th,*10th, and sccondaetof 12th July, tvas written by Phillip in continuation of those dated 15th and 16th May. The latter had apparently been written in anticipation of the early departure of the trans- ports bound for England ; but as they did not sail until the 14th July, another opportunity was afforded for addressing the Home Secretary. The two sets of despatches were received in London at the same time — March, 1789. The fiirst of those written in July gives an interesting review of his proceedings since the month of May : — Two store- ^ have had the honor of informing your lordship of the situa- flSi^. *^°^ ^^ *^^ colony prior to the 15th of May, since which two stores have been finished, and the ships are now landing the remainder of the stores and provisions. The hutting the battalion is still going on, and though from seventy to one hundred convicts have been almost constantly Digitized by Google