Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 1.djvu/548

 424 JAMES MARIA MATRA'S 1783 than any one of them. In naval equipment it wonld be of the greatest importance. A cable of the circumference of ten inches would be equal in surength to one of eighteen inches made of Curo- FUx— ita pean hemp. Our manufacturers are of opinion that canvas made tormfcnu^ of it would be superior in strength and beauty to any canvas of our facuire. own country. The threads or fragments of this plant are formed by nature with the most exquisite delicacy, and they may be so minutely divided as to be small enough to make the finest cambric. In colour and gloss it resembles silk. After my true, though imperfect, description of this plant, I need not enlarge on it as a very singular acquisition both to the arts of convenience and luxury. This icountry may afford an asylum to those unfortunate The American loyalitsts, whom Great Britain is bound by every tie of toj^^ honor and gratitude to protect and support, where they may re> pair their broken fortunes and again enjoy their former domestic felicity. That the Crovemment may run no risk, nor be left to act in a business of this kind without sufficient information, it is proposed Send a ihip that One ship of the peace establishment (to incur the least possible J^^^****" expense) be directly sent to that country for the discoveiy and allotment of a proper district for the intended settlement ; that one or two gentlemen of capacity and knowledge, as well in soil and situation as in every other requisite, be sent in her, that there may be no imposition on the Grovemment, nor upon the Americans who, with their families, shall adventure there. • If the Crovemment be disposed to extend this plan, two vessels may be sent with two companies of marines, selected from among wtwo such of that corps as best understand husbandry or manufactures, maSneTand and about twenty artificers, who are all the emigration required artaioen, from the parent State ; these last to be chiefly such as are taken on board ships-of-war for carpenters and armourers' crews^ with a few potters and gardeners. These twenty men and the marines, under a proper person, to be left at the new settlement with materials and proviaionay to prepare to prepare for the reception of the intended settlers, that their Koepdon of ''^*^'^*8 may be as few as possible on their arrivaL setuere. As the ship or ships stop at the Cape of Good Hope, a sufficient stock, to begin with, of cows, sheep, goats, hogs, poultry, and seeds Live stock may be obtained there. A supply of the like articles, as well as "wJptants. ^jQ^tQjj seeds, plantains, grapes, grain, Ac, may be had in any quantity at Savu or any of the Moluccas, which are very near New South Wales. When the landing is effected, the smaller vessels may be de- Oneshipto spatched home with the intelligence, and whUe the party designed '"*'™* to be left are superintending the gardens and increase of live stock, the other slup may, if thought proper, be despatched to New i Digitized by Google