第8章

Anofficerwithadetachmentoftroops,wassentinpursuitofthem;

butafteraharassingmarchreturnedwithoutsuccess.Inthecourseofaweekthegreatestpartofthemwereeitherbroughtbackbydifferentpartieswhohadfalleninwiththem,orweredriveninbyfamine.

Uponbeingquestionedaboutthecauseoftheirelopement,thosewhomhungerhadforcedback,didnothesitatetoconfessthattheyhadbeensogrosslydeceivedastobelievethatChinamighteasilybereached,beingnotmorethan100milesdistant,andseparatedonlybyariver.

Theothers,however,ashamedofthemerrimentexcitedattheirexpense,saidthattheirreasonforrunningawaywasonaccountofbeingoverworkedandharshlytreated,andthattheypreferredasolitaryandprecariousexistenceinthewoodstoareturntothemiserytheywerecompelledtoundergo.Oneortwoofthepartyhadcertainlyperishedbythehandsofthenatives,whohadalsowoundedseveralothers.

Itrustthatnomanwouldfeelmorereluctantthanmyselftocastanilliberalnationalreflection,particularlyonapeoplewhomIregardinanaggregatesenseasbrethrenandfellow-citizens;andamongwhom,Ihavethehonourtonumbermanyofthemostcordialandendearingintimacieswhichalifepassedonservicecouldgenerate.ButitiscertainthatallthesepeoplewereIrish.

CHAPTERXVI

Transactionsofthecolonyuntil18thofDecember1791,whenIquittedit,withanAccountofitsstateatthattime.

TheGorgonhadarrivedonthe21stofSeptember,andthehourofdeparturetoEngland,forthemarinebattalion,drewnigh.IfIbeallowedtospeakfrommyownfeelingsontheoccasion,Iwillnotsaythatwecontemplateditsapproachwithmingledsensations:wehaileditwithraptureandexultation.

The"Supply",evertheharbingerofwelcomeandgladtidings,proclaimedbyherowndeparture,thatourswasathand.Onthe26thofNovembershesailedforEngland.Itwasimpossibletoviewourseparationwithinsensibility:thelittleshipwhichhadsooftenagitatedourhopesandfears,whichfromlongacquaintancewehadlearnedtoregardaspartofourselves,whosedoorsofhospitalityhadbeeneverthrownopentorelieveouraccumulatedwants,andchaseoursolitarygloom!

Inconsequenceoftheoffersmadetothenon-commissionedofficersandprivatesofthemarinebattaliontoremaininthecountryassettlersortoenterintotheNewSouthWalescorps,threecorporals,onedrummerand59privatesacceptedofgrantsofland,tosettleatNorfolkIslandandRoseHill.Ofthesemen,severalwereundoubtedlypossessedofsufficientskillandindustry,bytheassistanceofthepaywhichwasduetothemfromthedateoftheirembarkation,inthebeginningoftheyear1787,tothedayonwhichtheyweredischarged,tosetoutwithreasonablehopesofbeingabletoprocureamaintenance.Buttheonlyapparentreasontowhichthebehaviourofamajorityofthemcouldbeascribedwasfrominfatuatedaffectiontofemaleconvicts,whosecharactersandhabitsoflife,Iamsorrytosay,promisefromaconnectionneitherhonournortranquillity.

Thenarrativepartofthisworkwill,Iconceive,bebestbroughttoaterminationbyadescriptionoftheexistingstateofthecolony,astakenbymyselfafewdaysprevioustomyembarkationintheGorgon,tosailforEngland.

December2nd,1791.WentuptoRoseHill.Publicbuildingsherehavenotgreatlymultipliedsincemylastsurvey.Thestorehouseandbarrackhavebeenlongcompleted;alsoapartmentsforthechaplainoftheregiment,andforthejudge-advocate,inwhichlast,criminalcourts,whennecessary,areheld;butthesearepettyerections.

Inacolonywhichcontainsonlyafewhundredhovelsbuiltoftwigsandmud,wefeelconsequentialenoughalreadytotalkofatreasury,anadmiralty,apubliclibraryandmanyothersimilaredifices,whicharetoformpartofamagnificentsquare.Thegreatroadfromnearthelandingplacetothegovernor"shouseisfinished,andaverynobleoneitis,beingofgreatbreadth,andamilelong,inastraitline.Inmanyplacesitiscarriedovergulliesofconsiderabledepth,whichhavebeenfilledupwithtrunksoftreescoveredwithearth.Allthesawyers,carpentersandblacksmithswillsoonbeconcentredunderthedirectionofaveryadequatepersonofthegovernor"shousehold.Thisplanisalreadysofaradvancedastocontainninecoveredsawpits,whichchangeofweathercannotdisturbtheoperationsof,anexcellentworkshedforthecarpentersandalargenewshopfortheblacksmiths.Itcertainlypromisestobeofgreatpublicbenefit.Anewhospitalhasbeentalkedofforthelasttwoyears,butisnotyetbegun.Twolongsheds,builtintheformofatentandthatched,arehoweverfinished,andcapableofholding200patients.

Thesicklistoftodaycontains382names.RoseHillislesshealthythanitusedtobe.Theprevailingdisorderisadysentery,whichoftenterminatesfatally.Therewaslatelyoneveryviolentputridfeverwhich,bytimelyremovalofthepatient,waspreventedfromspreading.

Twenty-fivemenandtwochildrendiedhereinthemonthofNovember.

WhenatthehospitalIsawandconversedwithsomeofthe"Chinesetravellers";fourofthemlayhere,woundedbythenatives.IaskedthesemeniftheyreallysupposeditpossibletoreachChina.Theyansweredthattheywerecertainlymadetobelieve(theyknewnothow)thatataconsiderabledistancetonorthwardexistedalargeriver,whichseparatedthiscountryfromthebackpartofChina;andthatwhenitshouldbecrossed(whichwaspracticable)theywouldfindthemselvesamongacopper-colouredpeople,whowouldreceiveandtreatthemkindly.

Theyadded,thatonthethirddayoftheirelopement,oneofthepartydiedoffatigue;anothertheysawbutcheredbythenativeswho,findingthemunarmed,attackedthemandputthemtoflight.ThishappenednearBrokenBay,whichharbourstoppedtheirprogresstothenorthwardandforcedthemtoturntotherighthand,bywhichmeanstheysoonafterfoundthemselvesontheseashore,wheretheywanderedaboutinadestitutecondition,pickingupshellfishtoallayhunger.Deemingthefartherprosecutionoftheirschemeimpracticable,severalofthemagreedtoreturntoRoseHill,whichwithdifficultytheyaccomplished,arrivingalmostfamished.Ontheirroadbacktheymetsixfreshadventurerssallyingforthtojointhem,towhomtheyrelatedwhathadpassedandpersuadedthemtorelinquishtheirintention.Thereareatthistimenotlessthanthirty-eightconvictmenmissing,wholiveinthewoodsbyday,andatnightenterthedifferentfarmsandplunderforsubsistence.

December3rd,1791.Beganmysurveyofthecultivatedlandbelongingtothepublic.Theharvesthascommenced.Theyarereapingbothwheatandbarley.Thefieldbetweenthebarrackandthegovernor"shousecontainswheatandmaize,bothverybad,buttheformerparticularlyso.

InpassingthroughthemainstreetIwaspleasedtoobservethegardensoftheconvictslookbetterthanIhadexpectedtofindthem.

Thevegetablesingeneralarebutmean,butthestalksofmaize,withwhichtheyareinterspersed,appeargreenandflourishing.

Thesemicircularhill,whichsweepsfromtheoverseerofthecattle"shousetothegovernor"shouse,isplantedwithmaize,which,Iamtold,isthebesthere.Itcertainlylooksinmostpartsverygood——

stoutthickstalkswithlargespreadingleaves——butIamsurprisedtofinditsobackward.ItisatleastamonthlaterthanthatinthegardensatSydney.Behindthemaizeisafieldofwheat,whichlookstolerablyforthispartoftheworld.Itwill,Ireckon,yieldabouttwelvebushelsanacre.Continuedmywalkandlookedatalittlepatchofwheatinthegovernor"sgarden,whichwassownindrills,thegroundbeingfirstmixedwithaclaywhichitsdiscovererspretendedwasmarle.

Whateveritbe,thisexperimentbespeaksnotmuchinfavourofitsenrichingqualities;forthecornlooksmiserably,andisfarexceededbysomeneighbouringspotsonwhichnosuchadvantagehasbeenbestowed.

Wentroundthecrescentatthebottomofthegarden,whichcertainlyinbeautyofformandsituationisunrivalledinNewSouthWales.

Hereareeightthousandvinesplanted,allofwhichinanotherseasonareexpectedtobeargrapes.Besidesthevinesareseveralsmallfruittrees,whichwerebroughtintheGorgonfromtheCape,andlooklively;

ononeofthemarehalfadozenapplesasbigasnutmegs.Althoughthesoilofthecrescentbepoor,itsaspectandcircularfigure,soadvantageousforreceivingandretainingtheraysofthesun,eminentlyfititforavineyard.Passedtherivuletandlookedatthecornlandonitsnorthernside.OnthewesternsideofClarke"s*housethewheatandmaizearebad,butontheeasternsideisafieldsupposedtobethebestinthecolony.Ithoughtitofgoodheight,andtheearswellfilled,butitisfarfromthick.

[*Dod,whoismentionedinmyformerjournalofthisplace,haddiedsomemonthsago.AndMr.Clarke,whowasputinhisroom,isoneofthesuperintendants,sentoutbygovernment,onasalaryoffortypoundsperannum.Hewasbredtohusbandry,underhisfatheratLewesinSussex;

andis,Iconceive,competenttohisofficeofprincipalconductoroftheagricultureofRoseHill.]

WhileIwaslookingatit,Clarkecameup.ItoldhimIthoughthewouldreapfifteenorsixteenbushelsanacre;heseemedtothinkseventeenoreighteen.IhavenowinspectedalltheEuropeancorn.

Amanofsolittleexperienceofthesemattersasmyselfcannotspeakwithmuchconfidence.Perhapstheproducemayaveragetenbushelsanacre,ortwelveattheoutside.Allowanceshould,however,bemadeinestimatingthequalityofthesoil,forthespaceoccupiedbyrootsoftrees,forinadequateculture,andinsomemeasuretowantofrain.Lesshasfallenthanwaswished,butthisspringwasbynomeanssodryasthelast.

IfindthatthewheatgrownatRoseHilllastyearweighedfifty-sevenpoundsandahalfperbushel.Mynextvisitwastothecattle,whichconsistsoftwostallions,sixmares,andtwocolts;besidessixteencows,twocow-calves,andonebull-calf,whichwerebroughtoutbytheGorgon.Twobullswhichwereonboarddiedonthepassage,sothatontheyounggentlemanjustmentioneddependsthestockingofthecolony.

TheperiodoftheinhabitantsofNewSouthWalesbeingsuppliedwithanimalfoodoftheirownraisingistooremoteforaprudentmantocalculate.

Thecattlelookingoodcondition,andIwassurprisedtohearthatneithercornnorfodderisgiventothem.Theenclosuresinwhichtheyareconfinedfurnishhardlyabladeofgrassatpresent.Therearepeopleappointedtotendthemwhohavebeenusedtothiswayoflife,andwhoseemtoexecuteitverywell.

Sunday,December4th,1791.DivineserviceisnowperformedhereeverySunday,eitherbythechaplainofthesettlementorthechaplainoftheregiment.Iwenttochurchtoday.Severalhundredconvictswerepresent,themajorityofwhomIthoughtlookedthemostmiserablebeingsintheshapeofhumanityIeverbeheld.Theyappearedtobeworndownwithfatigue.

December,5th.Madeexcursionsthisdaytoviewthepublicsettlements.

Reachedthefirst,whichisaboutamileinanorth-westdirectionfromthegovernor"shouse.Thissettlementcontains,byadmeasurement,134acres,apartofwhichisplantedwithmaize,verybackward,butingeneraltolerablygood,andbeautifullygreen.Thirteenlargehuts,builtintheformofatent,areerectedfortheconvictswhoworkhere;

butIcouldnotlearnthenumberoftheselast,beingunabletofindasuperintendantoranypersonwhocouldgivemeinformation.

Pondsofwaterheresufficienttosupplyathousandpersons.

Walkedontothesecondsettlement,abouttwomilesfarther,throughanunclearedcountry.HeremetDaveney,thepersonwhoplannedandnowsuperintendsalltheoperationscarriedonhere.Hetoldmethatheestimatedthequantityofclearedgroundhereat300acres.

Hecertainlyover-ratesitone-third,bythejudgmentofeveryotherperson.

Sixweeksagothiswasaforest.ithasbeencleared,andthewoodnearlyburntoffthegroundby500men,inthebefore-mentionedperiod,orratherinthirtydays,foronlythatnumberhavetheconvictsworked.

Hesaiditwastoolatetoplantmaize,andthereforeheshouldsowturnips,whichwouldhelptomeliorateandprepareitfornextyear.Onexaminingthesoil,Ithoughtitingenerallight,thoughinsomeplacesloamytothetouch.HemeanstotrytheRoseHill"marle"uponit,withwhichhethinksitwillincorporatewell.Ihopeitwillsucceedbetterthantheexperimentinthegovernor"sgarden.IwishedtoknowwhetherhehadchosenthisgroundsimplyfromtheconveniencyofitssituationtoRoseHill,anditseasyformfortillage,andhavingwater,orfromanymarkswhichhehadthoughtindicatedgoodsoil.HesaidthatwhatIhadmentionednodoubtweighedwithhim,andthathejudgedthesoiltobegood,fromthelimbsofmanyofthetreesgrowingonitbeingcoveredwithmoss.

"Are,"saidI,"your500menstillcomplete?"

"No;thisday"smustergaveonly460.Therestareeithersickandremovedtothehospital,orarerunawayinthewoods."

"Howmuchiseachlabourer"sdailytask?"

"Sevenrods.Itwaseight,butontheirrepresentingtothegovernorthatitwasbeyondtheirstrengthtoexecute,hetookoffone."

Thirteenlargehuts,similartothosebeforementioned,containallthepeoplehere.Toeveryhutareappointedtwomen,ashutkeepers,whoseonlyemploymentistowatchthehutsinworkinghourstopreventthemfrombeingrobbed.Thishassomewhatcheckeddepredations,andthoseendlesscomplaintsoftheconvictsthattheycouldnotworkbecausetheyhadnothingtoeat,theirallowancebeingstolen.Theworkinghoursatthisseason(summer)arefromfiveo"clockinthemorninguntilten;restfromtentotwo;

returntoworkattwo;andcontinuetillsunset.Thissurelycannotbecalledveryseveretoil;butontheotherhandmustberememberedtheinadequacyofarationofsaltprovisions,withfewvegetables,andunassistedbyanyliquorbutwater.

HerefinishedmyremarksoneverythingofapublicnatureatRoseHill.

Buthavingsufficienttime,Ideterminedtovisitalltheprivatesettlerstoinspecttheirlabours,andlearnfromthemtheirschemes,theirhopesandexpectations.

Inpursuanceofmyresolution,IcrossedthecountrytoProspectHill,atthebottomofwhichlivethefollowingthirteenconvicts,whohaveacceptedallotmentsofground,andarebecomesettlers.

Men"snames.|Trades.|Numberof|Numberofacres||acresineach|incultivation.

||allotment.|

JohnSilverthorneWeaver4013/4

ThomasMartin"4011/2

JohnNicholsGardener402

WilliamButler*,andhiswifeSeaman50)——

Lisk*Watchmaker40)4

WilliamParish,wife,andachildSeaman6023/4

WilliamKilby,andhiswifeHusbandman6011/4

EdwardPugh,wife,andtwochildrenCarpenter7021/2

SamuelGriffithJohnHerbertt**

JamesCastleJosephMarlow***

JohnWilliams,andhiswife

[*Inpartnership.[ButlerandLisk]

[**Notoutofhistime;butallowedtoworkhereathisleisurehours,ashehasdeclaredhisintentionofsettling.]

[***InasimilarpredicamentwithHerbert.]

Thetermsonwhichtheseallotmentshavebeengrantedare:

thattheestatesshallbefullycededforevertoallwhoshallcontinuetocultivateforfiveyears,ormore;thattheyshallbefreeofalltaxesforthefirsttenyears;butafterthatperiodtopayanannualquit-rentofoneshilling.Thepenaltyonnon-performanceofanyofthesearticlesisforfeitureoftheestate,andallthelabourwhichmayhavebeenbestoweduponit.Thesepeoplearetoreceiveprovisions,(thesamequantityastheworkingconvicts),clothes,andmedicinalassistance,foreighteenmonthsfromthedayonwhichtheysettled.

Toclearandcultivatetheland,ahatchet,atomahawk,twohoes,aspadeandashovel,aregiventoeachperson,whethermanorwoman;andacertainnumberofcross-cutsawsamongthewhole.Tostocktheirfarms,twosowpigswerepromisedtoeachsettler,buttheyalmostallsaytheyhavenotyetreceivedany,ofwhichtheycomplainloudly.Theyallreceivedgraintosowandplantforthefirstyear.TheysettledhereinJulyandAugustlast.Mostofthemwereobligedtobuildtheirownhouses;

andwretchedhovelsthree-fourthsofthemare.Shouldanyofthemfallsick,therestareboundtoassistthesickpersontwodaysinamonth,providedthesicknesslastsnotlongerthantwomonths;fourdayslabourineachyear,fromeveryperson,beingallthatheisentitledto.

Togiveprotectiontothissettlement,acorporalandtwosoldiersareencampedinthecentreofthefarms,asthenativesonceattackedthesettlersandburntoneoftheirhouses.Theseguardsare,however,inevitablyatsuchadistancefromsomeofthefarmsastobeunabletoaffordthemanyassistanceincaseofanotherattack.

WithallthesepeopleIconversedandinspectedtheirlabours.

SomeIfoundtranquilanddeterminedtopersevere,providedencouragementshouldbegiven.Otherswereinastateofdespondency,andpredictedthattheyshouldstarveunlesstheperiodofeighteenmonthsduringwhichtheyaretobeclothedandfed,shouldbeextendedtothreeyears.

Theircultivationisyetinitsinfancy,andthereforeopinionsshouldnotbehastilyformedofwhatitmayarriveat,withmoderateskillandindustry.Theyhaveatpresentlittleinthegroundbesidesmaize,andthatlooksnotverypromising.SomesmallpatchesofwheatwhichIsawaremiserableindeed.ThegreatestpartofthelandIthinkbutindifferent,beinglightandstoney.Ofthethirteenfarmstenareunprovidedwithwater;

andatsomeofthemtheyareobligedtofetchthisnecessaryarticlefromthedistanceofamileandahalf.Allthesettlerscomplainsadlyofbeingfrequentlyrobbedbytherunawayconvicts,whoplunderthemincessantly.

December6th.Visitedthesettlementstothenorthwardoftherivulet.

ThenearestofthemliesaboutamileduenorthofMr.Clarke"shouse.

Hereareonlytheundernamedfivesettlers.

Men"snames.|Trades.|Numberof|Numberofacres||acresineach|incultivation

[*Thesethreecultivateinpartnership.(Brown,Bradbury,Mold.)]

ThesesettlersareplacedonthesamefootingineveryrespectwhichconcernstheirtenureandtheassistancetobegrantedtothemasthoseatProspectHill.Nearthemiswater.ParrandBurnearemenofgreatindustry.Theyhavebothgoodhouseswhichtheyhiredpeopletobuildforthem.Parrtoldmethathehadexpendedthirteenguineasonhisland,whichneverthelesshedoesnotseempleasedwith.

Ofthethreepoorfellowswhoworkinpartnership,one(Bradbury)isrunaway.

Thismanhadbeenallowedtosettle,onabelief,fromhisownassurance,thathistermoftransportationwasexpired;butitwasafterwardsdiscoveredthathehadbeencastforlife.Hereuponhegrewdesperate,anddeclaredhewouldratherperishatoncethanremainasaconvict.Hedisappearedaweekagoandhasneversincebeenheardof.WereIcompelledtosettleinNewSouthWales,Ishouldfixmyresidencehere,bothfromtheappearanceofthesoil,anditsproximitytoRoseHill.Acorporalandtwoprivatesareencampedheretoguardthissettlement,asatProspect.

ProceededtothesettlementcalledthePonds,anamewhichIsupposeitderivedfromseveralpondsofwaterwhicharenearthefarms.

Hereresidethefourteenfollowingsettlers.

Men"snames.|Trades.|Numberof|Numberofacres||acresineach|incultivation.

||allotment.|

ThomasKellyServant3011/2

WilliamHubbard,andwifePlasterer5021/4

CurtisBrand,andwifeCarpenter503

JohnRamsay,andwifeSeaman5031/2

WilliamField——3021/2

JohnRichards*Stone-cutter30)41/2

JohnSummers*Husbandman30)——

Varnell——301

AnthonyRope**,andwife,andtwochildrenBricklayer701

JosephBishop,andwifeNone5011/2

MathewEveringham,andwifeAttorney"sclerk502

JohnAnderson,andwife——502

EdwardElliot***Husbandman30)2

JosephMarshall***Weaver30)

[*They(RichardsandSummers)cultivateinpartnership.]

[**Aconvictwhomeanstosettlehere;andispermittedtoworkinhisleisurehours.]

[***They(ElliotandMarshall)cultivateinpartnership.]

TheProspectHilltermsofsettlementextendtothisplace.Myprivateremarkswerenotmany.SomespotswhichIpassedoverIthoughtdesirable,particularlyRamsay"sfarm;andhedeservesagoodspot,forheisacivil,sober,industriousman.Besideshiscornland,hehasawelllaidoutlittlegarden,inwhichIfoundhimandhiswifebusilyatwork.

Hepraisedherindustrytome;andsaidhedidnotdoubtofsucceeding.

Itisnotoftenseenthatsailorsmakegoodfarmers;butthismanIthinkbidsfairtocontradicttheobservation.Thegentlemanofnotrade(hisownwordstome)will,Iapprehend,attheconclusionofthetimewhenvictuallingfromthestoreistocease,havethehonourofreturningtodragatimberorbrickcartforhismaintenance.Thelittlemaizehehasplantedisdoneinsoslovenlyastyleastopromiseaverypoorcrop.

Hewholooksforwardtoeatgrapesfromhisownvine,andtositundertheshadeofhisownfig-tree,mustlabourineverycountry.

Hemustexertmorethanordinaryactivity.Theattorney"sclerkIalsothoughtoutofhisprovince.Idarebelievethathefindscultivatinghisownlandnothalfsoeasyataskasheformerlyfoundthatofstringingtogethervolumesoftautologytoencumber,orconveyaway,thatofhisneighbour.Hubbard"sfarm,andKelly"salso,deserveregard,frombeingbettermanagedthanmostoftheothers.Thepeopleherecomplainsadlyofadestructivegrubwhichdestroystheyoungplantsofmaize.

Manyofthesettlershavebeenobligedtoplanttwice,naythrice,onthesameland,fromthedepredationsofthesereptiles.Thereisthesameguardhereasattheothersettlements.

Nothingnowremainsforinspectionbutthefarmsontheriverside.

December7th.WenttoScheffer"sfarm.Ifoundhimathome,conversedwithhim,andwalkedwithhimoverallhiscultivatedground.Hehad140acresgrantedtohim,fourteenofwhichareincultivation,twelveinmaize,oneinwheatandoneinvinesandtobacco.Hehasbesidestwenty-threeacresonwhichthetreesarecutdownbutnotburntofftheland.

HeresignedhisappointmentandbeganhisfarmlastMay,andhadatfirstfiveconvictstoassisthim;hehasnowfour.Allhismaize,exceptthreeacres,ismean.Thishethinksmaybeattributedtothreecauses:

amiddlingsoil;toodryaspring;andfromthegroundnotbeingsufficientlypulverizedbeforetheseedwasputintoit.Thewheatisthinandpoor:hedoesnotreckonitsproduceatmorethaneightorninebushels.

Hisvines,900innumber,areflourishing,andwill,hesupposes,bearfruitnextyear.Histobaccoplantsarenotveryluxuriant:tothesetwolastarticleshemeansprincipallytodirecthisexertions.Hesays(andtruly)thattheywillalwaysbesaleableandprofitable.Ononeoftheboundariesofhislandisplentyofwater.Averygoodbrickhouseisnearlycompletedforhisuse,bythegovernor;andinthemeantimehelivesinaverydecentone,whichwasbuiltforhimonhissettlinghere.

Heistobesuppliedwithprovisionsfromthepublicstore,andwithmedicalassistanceforeighteenmonths,reckoningfromlastMay.

Attheexpirationofthisperiodheisboundtosupporthimselfandthefourconvictsaretobewithdrawn.Butifheshallthen,oratanyfutureperiod,declarehimselfabletomaintainamoderatenumberofthesepeoplefortheirlabour,theywillbeassignedtohim.

Mr.Schefferisamanofindustryandrespectablecharacter.Hecameouttothiscountryassuperintendantofconvicts,atasalaryoffortypoundsperannum,andbroughtwithhimadaughteroftwelveyearsold.HeisbybirthaHessian,andservedinAmerica,inacorpsofYaghers,withtherankoflieutenant.Heneverwasprofessionally,inanypartoflife,afarmer,buthetoldme,thathisfatherownedasmallestateonthebanksoftheRhine,onwhichheresided,andthathehadalwaysbeenfondoflookingatandassistinginhislabours,particularlyinthevineyard.

Inwalkingalong,hemorethanonceshookhisheadandmadesomemortifyingobservationsonthesoilofhispresentdomain,comparedwiththebanksofhisnativestream.Heassuredmethat(exclusiveofthesacrificeofhissalary)hehasexpendedmorethanfortypoundsinadvancinghisgroundtothestateinwhichIsawit.Oftheprobabilityofsuccessinhisundertaking,hespokewithmoderationandgoodsense.Sometimeshesaidhehadalmostdespaired,andhadoftenbalancedaboutrelinquishingit;

buthadasoftenbeencheckedbyrecollectingthathardlyanydifficultycanarisewhichvigourandperseverancewillnotovercome.Iaskedhimwhatwasthetenureonwhichheheldhisestate.Heofferedtoshowthewrittendocument,sayingthatitwasexactlythesameasRuse"s.

Ithereforedeclinedtotroublehim,andtookmyleavewithwishesforhissuccessandprosperity.

NearMr.Scheffer"sfarmisasmallpatchoflandclearedbyLieutenantTownsonoftheNewSouthWalescorps,abouttwoacresofwhichareinmaizeandwheat,bothlookingverybad.

ProceededtothefarmofMr.Arndell,oneoftheassistantsurgeons.

Thisgentlemanhassixacresincultivationasfollows:rathermorethanfourinmaize,oneinwheat,andtheremainderinoatsandbarley.Thewheatlookstolerablygood,ratherthinbutofagoodheight,andtheearswellfilled.Hisfarmingservantguessestheproducewillbetwelvebushels,*

andIdonotthinkheover-ratesit.Themaizeheguessesatthirtybushels,whichfromappearancesitmayyield,butnotmore.Theoatsandbarleyarenotcontemptible.ThisgroundhasbeenturnedupbutonceTheaspectofitisnearlysouth,onadeclivityoftheriver,orarmofthesea,onwhichRoseHillstands.Itwasclearedofwoodaboutninemonthsago,andsownthisyearforthefirsttime.

[*IhavereceivedaletterfromPortJackson,datedinApril1792,whichstatesthatthecropofwheatturnedoutfifteenbushels,andthemaizerathermorethanfortybushels.]

December8th.WentthismorningtothefarmofChristopherMagee,aconvictsettler,nearlyoppositetothatofMr.Scheffen.Thesituationofthisfarmisveryeligible,providedtheriverinfloodsdoesnotinundateit,whichIthinkdoubtful.Thismanwasbredtohusbandry,andlivedeightyearsinAmerica;hehasnolessthaneightacresincultivation,fiveandahalfinmaize,oneinwheat,andoneandahalfintobacco.Fromthewheathedoesnotexpectmorethantenbushels,butheisextravagantenoughtoratetheproduceofmaizeat100bushels(perhapshemaygetfifty);ontobaccohemeanstogolargelyhereafter.

HebegantoclearthisgroundinApril,butdidnotsettleuntillastJuly.

Iaskedbywhatmeanshehadbeenabletoaccomplishsomuch?Heanswered,"Byindustry,andbyhiringalltheconvictsIcouldgettoworkintheirleisurehours,besidessomelittleassistancewhichthegovernorhasoccasionallythrownin."Hisgreatestimpedimentiswantofwater,beingobligedtofetchallheusesmorethanhalfamile.Hesunkawell,andfoundwater,butitwasbrackishandnotfittodrink.Ifthismanshallcontinueinhabitsofindustryandsobriety,Ithinkhimsureofsucceeding.

ReachedRuse"sfarm,*andbeggedtolookathisgrant,thematerialpartofwhichrunsthus:"Alotofthirtyacres,tobecalledExperimentFarm;

thesaidlottobeholden,freeofalltaxes,quit-rents,&c.fortenyears,providedthattheoccupier,hisheirsorassigns,shallresidewithinthesame,andproceedtotheimprovementthereof;reserving,however,fortheuseofthecrown,alltimbernowgrowing,orwhichhereaftershallgrow,fitfornavalpurposes.Attheexpirationoftenyears,anannualquit-rentofoneshillingshallbepaidbytheoccupierinacknowledgment."

[*SeethestateofthisfarminmyformerRoseHilljournalofNovember1790,thirteenmonthsbefore.]

Rusenowlivesinacomfortablebrickhouse,builtforhimbythegovernor.

Hehaselevenacresandahalfincultivation,andseveralmorewhichhavebeenclearedbyconvictsintheirleisurehours,onconditionofreceivingthefirstyear"scrop.Hemeanstocultivatelittlebesidesmaize;wheatissomuchlessproductive.Ofthecultureofvineyardsandtobaccoheisignorant;and,withgreatgoodsense,hedeclaredthathewouldnotquitthepathheknew,foranuncertainty.

Hislivestockconsistsoffourbreedingsowsandthirtyfowls.

Hehasbeentakenfromthestore(thatis,hassuppliedhimselfwithprovisions)forsomemonthspast;andhiswifeistobetakenoffatChristmas,atwhichtime,ifhedeemshimselfabletomaintainaconvictlabourer,oneistobegiventohim.

CrossedtheriverinaboattoRobertWebb"sfarm.Thismanwasoneoftheseamenofthe"Sirius",andhastaken,inconjunctionwithhisbrother(alsoaseamanofthesameship)agrantofsixtyacres,onthesametermsasRuse,savethattheannualquit-rentistocommenceattheexpirationoffiveyears,insteadoften.ThebrotherisgonetoEnglandtoreceivethewagesduetothembothfortheirservices,whichmoneyistobeexpendedbyhiminwhateverhejudgeswillbemostconducivetothesuccessoftheirplan.Webbexpectstodowell;talksasamanshouldtalkwhohasjustsetoutonadoubtfulenterprisewhichheisboundtopursue.

Heissanguineinhope,andlooksonlyatthebrightsideoftheprospect.

Hehasreceivedgreatencouragementandassistancefromthegovernor.

Hehasfiveacresclearedandplantedwithmaize,whichlooksthriving,andpromisestoyieldadecentcrop.Hishouseandasmalloneadjoiningforpigsandpoultrywerebuiltforhimbythegovernor,whoalsogavehimtwosowsandsevenfowls,towhichheaddsalittlestockofhisownacquiring.

NearWebbisplacedWilliamRead,anotherseamanofthe"Sirius",onthesameterms,andtowhomequalencouragementhasbeengranted.

MysurveyofRoseHillisnowclosed.Ihaveinspectedeverypieceofgroundincultivationhere,bothpublicandprivate,andhavewrittenfromactualexaminationonly.

ButbeforeIbadeadieutoRoseHill,inallprobabilityforthelasttimeofmylife,itstruckmethatthereyetremainedoneobjectofconsiderationnottobeslighted:Barringtonhadbeeninthesettlementbetweentwoandthreemonths,andIhadnotseenhim.

Isawhimwithcuriosity.Heistall,approachingtosixfeet,slender,andhisgaitandmanner,bespeaklivelinessandactivity.Ofthateleganceandfashion,withwhichmyimaginationhaddeckedhim(Iknownotwhy),Icoulddistinguishnotrace.Greatallowanceshould,however,bemadefordepressionandunavoidabledeficiencyofdress.Hisfaceisthoughtfulandintelligent;toastrongcastofcountenanceheaddsapenetratingeye,andaprominentforehead.Hiswholedemeanourishumble,notservile.