Letter received by Banks from William Balmain, 24 May 1802 (Series 23.03) - No. 0008

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              Government of New South Wales 

     The Government of New South Wales is vested in one Man who is armed with Sufficient power to do what is necessary, but whose Duty has become so multifarious as to render it impossible for him to conduct the affairs of the Colony without the aid of others . 

     The prevalence of Vice and Wickedness which has kept pace with the Increase & augmention of European Inhabitants is a source of much Trouble and Vexation, and is equally injurious both at Head Quarters, and the Country Detatchments; to check which it would seem proper to place respectable Men in Command at the Detatched Districts as Assistants to the Governor who as I shall hereafter point out might very properly compose his Council . 

     The Detatched Districts have hitherto been in in general under the Management of Subaltern Officers Civil or Military to whom the Labour of a few Convicts have been allowed during their Command ;  and who from the instability of their Situation have for the most part contented themselves with a Simple obedience of the casual orders of the Governor feeling perfectly unconcerned about the prosperity of the Settlement or the Interest of its Inhabitants and only anxious to see the day of relief arrive that they may withdraw from a Scene which they never enjoyed . -

     Under these Circumstances have the Settlers and many of the Inhabitants been placed. and thus being like a flock almost without a Shepherd they have fallen into Disorder and the Spirit of Industry which they at first started with