Letter received by Banks from Arthur Phillip, 24 March 1791. (Series 37.14) - No. 0005

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the labour of clearing & cultivating the ground will be very great. This has ever been my opinion & I have said it from the beginning, I repeat it, for I know not what letters may reach England.

Norfolk Island has greatly the advantage of this settlement both in the goodness of its Soil & in that the roots of the trees when left in the ground, they soon rot. Unfortunately that Island is very small, I don't suppose it contains more than nine thousand Acres, perhaps not so much. If you wish to see any person who has resided for a time on the Island, there are two now returning to England, Altree who was employed there as an