Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 2.djvu/103

 FSOM E17GLAND. S3 apmion on a point about which he could not possibly bave ^^'•^ -the knowledge that the Governor possessed. He knew that the soil of Norfolk Island was more fertile than that at Port Jackson, and for this reason, apparently, concluded that an unfortunate choice had been made. This opinion was expressed, it is evident, on the spur of the moment, and without giving attention to facts or paying respect to Phillip's judgment. The area of Norfolk Island is small, as Norfolk -could have been asoertained in a moment by reference to the maps and charts. Even supposing its whole surface to be suitable for cultivation, it was inadequate for the support of the large number of convicts that were to be sent out.* As to other conditions — ^whether it possessed a safe har- ansuited bour, whether the climate was favourable, or whether it was Mttfemen?/ soitable for trading purposes — the authorities were entirely ignorant. Phillip, on the other hand, was possessed of all the facts. He knew from the reports of Lieutenant King that the island, though exceedingly fertile, was so limited in area that under the most favourable conditions it was in- capable of supporting more than a handful of people, and that, so far from having a harbour where ships could lie, there was actually no place at which men or stores could be landed except in the finest weather. It was a common occurrence for vessels sent with stores from Port Jackson, to sight the island and have to stand off and on for several days before they could get near enough to send boats on shore, •and before it had been occupied a year several accidents occurred, attended with considerable loss of life. This is the place which in the opinion of Grenville should have been made the principal settlement, although he knew that Phillip had taken the fleet into ''the finest harbour in the world,'' and had before him territory of unknown extent, "but practically unlimited. island does not contain more than about 18,000 acres, of which 200 ore unfit for cultiyation." This, howerer, appears to hare been an oyer-estimate. In 1796, King set down the area at "about eleven thousand acres." — Ck)llin8, vol. i, p. 503..
 * Writing to Nepean on the 29fih Januaiy, 1792, £iog bkjts : — '* The whole