Letter received by Banks from Charles Francis Greville, April 1802 (Series 23.25) - No. 0005

[Page 5]

Strata are found on Coal Island & the Reefs you see markd on the map are all coal, as is also the South side of the Island forming a sort of Tongue between the sand & the Island. This stratum is on the Level of the Water & small vessel may easily be laden.

As to Patersons River it is a stream which will never be of use to a new settlement, if I may estimate the degree in which floods rise by traces on Trees of above 40 feet high, & all the Country calld Schank Forest plain appear, consequently, to be under water at certain times of the year & ponds of different dimensions are in great number at other seasons.

Patersons River has 14 Banks of sand, & rolled stones, which render its navigation by the smallest boat dangerous 3 Miles above Schanks Forest, but it has the advantage to have on its Banks the finest Cedars ever seen which may be transported on Rafts with ease, & this is all I can see advantageous in this River.