Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 2.djvu/151

 CKOWN' HABDB TTNDEE PHILLIP. 12J to tEe principle laid down from the firsb— that' land was to be ^'^ parted with only for the purposes of settlement. Phillip's tetter was aiddressed to Lord GreHville; it was replied- to on the 14th July, 1792., by his. successor, the Bight HonJ Henry Ddndas : — "In answer to the request made by several of the military and»nrtioMd civil o£Scer8 to have grants of land made them, whidi they may dispose of at their departure, I do not foresee that any inoon- venience can arise from your complying with their requisitions,^ Jirovided the allotments are made nbt with .a view- to a temporary but an established settlement thereon-; that is, comprehending such portions of land^ and in such situations as would be suitable lor a hond'Jide settler, should it ever come into the hands of such a person."* This reply to the request for laijd on the part of the civil and military oflScers, which did not reach the colony until Phillip had left it, may be taken as an. indication that the marine officers would have been included in the Additional rnstructions if it had been supposed that any of them desired to remain in the colony as settlers. It will be seen later on how far this power of granting lands to officers was exer- cised, and to what extent the settlement of the colony was affected thereby. Two points in which the scheme was defective may be Defects referred to now. While the area of land which a non-» scheme, commissioned officer could take up was limited, the direc- tions given in Dundas's despatch prescribed in the case of commissioned officers neither maximum nor minimum. < . The other point in which the scheme failed to realise the expectations which had been formed was the ease with which settlers were able to dispose of their property.. They wera required by the conditions embodied in the grants- to preside upon and cultivate the land ; but there was nothing to prevent thepafrom-selling their allotments after they had ^JJ^*"*- gpne into possession. Phillip brought the- question undep
 * fiittorical JELeooids, to1« i, part.2, p. ^2v