Letter received by Banks from John Hunter, 12 March, 25 July 1798 (Series 38.09) - No. 0008

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[indecipherable] has been some time written, yet it goes by the Barwell (Via Conton) I will if possible enclose an Account of our Live Stock & land under Wheat at this time July 25th: as well as what is prepard for Maize - I really wish Sir Joseph that Government woud determine how so large a Stock as we shall soon have on the Pubic Account is to be taken Care of, We have none but worthless Convicts to look after them, & it is not possible that the Governor can see them so often as to prevent tricks & impositions of some Magnitute Amongst them, I am already Convincd we lose Many Lambs & kids. The flocks are divided, we have one at Toongabbe of Cowes, we have another at Parramatta, Cowes, One of Sheep Do: & one of Goats beside a few Hogs all these Valuable Animals are under Car of Convicts, who woud require the whole time of Persons of Authority to look after them.

I am with the utmost respect & highest Esteem

Dear Sir

Your most Humble & most

Obedient Servant

Jno. Hunter

P.S.

I wish Sir you woud advise Govt. to Instruct me what to do with the Stock, for it Grieves me to see them ill attended to - woud it not be well to lend to Every decent Settler a Cow, & to receive for a Certain Number of Years, half the Produce? or to Sell them to the Settlers, but I think the first woud be the best Plan, because it woud keep up a Stock both for the Public & the Private individual, & the Cattle woud be better lookd after