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New South Wales Sydney Oct 22.1807
Sir
I arrived at this place the 3d of April soon after which, I delivered my papers to Governor Bligh who has, I am sorry to say, totally perverted what you so kindly solicited and what when I left England I understood Mr. Windham had comply'd with, to whose Letter I now refer you N: 1.
My Brother who arrived here about twelve months before me and engaged with Government to employ a Capital of £3000, had granted him 4000 Acres of Land, 40 Convicts and was allowed by Governor King, 70 Cows by paying for them by Bills on England at £20 pr head. He was provided with a passage to this Colony for himself, Family and Servants, fifteen Tons, and was permitted to be on the Store Eighteen Months.
I came here with a large family at my own expence consisting of Mrs. Blaxland, Four Daughters, a Governess, two Female Servants, a Bailiff, a Carpenter, a Man for Agricultural purposes, and a Boy, and as a remuneration, Mr. Windham directed the Stock I should obtain, was to be paid for in produce from the Land, either wheat, or Corn, and not young female Calves, which is the only thing the Governor chuses to take, I must refer you to the Agreement N: 2.
I must state to you Sir, that I left England with a disposable Capital of £7000, and that I shew'd to the Governors satisfaction that I was possessed of the property I agreed with the Government at home to employ in this Colony, notwithstanding which, he will let me have only 60 Cows,and thirty Sheep, (Ewes) and the mode he has pointed out for the payment, tends to injure me very much, by taking the Female Calves, restricting me to so many generations, and not permiting me to make a return under four years; The Governor gives as a reason that he has not sufficient to spare me more, but from what I have seen of the different Government Herds, in the whole amounting to 3554, the increase would be more certain were they more generally distributed among the Settlers, as there were at the Seven Hills at the time I drew my Cows, two yards, not more than a quarter of a Mile apart, in one of which was
[rec'd] May 9 1808.
[William Windham, Sec. of War and the Colonies]