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[Page 12]
active & expert swimmer contrivd with George Young to convey many valuable refreshments through the Surf as a few small Pigs Yams Cocoa Nuts Bananas &c.
I was informd by John Adams that from a Root in this Island he could extract a Spirit equal if not superior to our Jamaica Rum. Apprehensive however that it might be detrimental to this young Colony were it known; he has very prudently abstained from making any lately
I should imagine this Island is about six miles long & perhaps 3 or 4 miles Broad, coverd with wood. The soil appears very rich, but as the ground must be cleared before it can be cultivated, it will be very many years 'ere this is effected
In closing this cursory & hasty account of what I could learn whilst I was on the Island, it is but justice to John Adams to say he would have been happy to have accompanied us to England, could he have removed all his family, but it would have been a heart breaking circumstance to have torn him from those he mostly dearly loved, as well as cruel to a degree to have left a young Colony to perish without such a protector & adviser, as he was in all their concerns both with respect to tilling the ground as well as to the private & domestic concerns of all. Considering however that a small Colony well organized is settled upon this Island, that may hereafter supply Ships trading across these Seas or driven there or in search of Provisions with considerable refreshments. it remains to be determind whether it would be politic to withdraw them from the Settlement & destroy it altogether. In my humble opinion such an Act would be very unwise.
P. Pipon.