Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 2.djvu/200

 166 SETTLERS 1798 Popular opinion unfavour- able. PhUlip combatoiL Expert reports land gCKXL Settlers responsible tor non- Buoceea. DifflcultioB to be overcome. that the land was worthless — that it would produce next to nothing, and, in short, was incapable of supporting life. Reports of this nature reached England, and Phillip hearing of them took an opportunity of presenting the other side of the case. He did not pretend to be an expert, but he made use of the first one ho could lay his hands upon. This was Mr. David Burton, a superintendent who was sent out in the Grorgon.* He had been brought up as a gardener, and knew good land when he saw it. Phillip instructed him to report on the soil at Parramatta and Toongabbie, and he was particularly directed not to overrate the value of the land.t His reportj was of a very favourable character. It stated that the land, as a rule, was good, and that all the settlers seemed to be in a fair way to success, excepting two at Prospect Hill and three at The Ponds, who complained that their land was bad ; but Mr. Burton, having inquired into these cases, came to the conclusion that want of success was owing not to the sterility of the soil, but to other causes, for which the cultivators were responsible. § The results of Phillip's efEorts in the settlement and culti- vation of the land were, so far, not of great magnitude, and they were probably disappointing to the English authorities who expected more than could be attained under such unfavourable circumstances. The difficulties that had been encountered, and had still to be met, were of an extraordi- nary character. Convicts had been poured into the country. Even if they had landed in good health, want of food and the absence of men capable of directing their labours in the a few days afterwards. Collins speaks of him as a talented botanist and a capable surreyor. t See Phillip's despatch. — Historical Records, toI. i, part 2, p. 599. J lb., pp. 599, 600. § Hunter's first impressions regarding the quality of the soil were un£aTTernment to persevere in establishing a settlement in this country upon an extensive plan, the nation must be content to submit to a very heavy expense. It must be stocked with cattle, were it only for the manure, for without manure this country is too poor ever to yield tolerable crops."
 * He ehofc himself accidcn tally on 13th April, 1792, and died of the wound