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[Page 2]
increase in price. Every thing is exorbitantly dear. At a rough estimate 5d in England will go farther than 20d here, yet what is still singular, we see some people who appear very gay, whom we should believe had scarce the means of gaining a livelihood. This I cannot account for, otherwise than considering them rogues. I do not expect that the colony will emerge from its present grievance until supplies are sent from the Mother country. It is not what a single ship can bring as will relieve it now, by its great increase in population. I have hinted to you before, that in course of time it would be difficult to enforce orders, all this I have seen verified; in general, the orders are only binding to honest people. But Gov Bligh issued an order of late, respecting the price of labour, which if it had not been violated, a great quantity of wheat would have been spoiled on the ground, therefore if it was criminal to break it. It would have been imprudent to obey it.
Since I have been in the colony I never saw a more favorable season than the last, yet the crops have turned out altogether as indifferent. This is attributed I believe in general to a deal of the grain perishing in the ground at seed time. I am led to consider it farther, that the seed, by being constantly sown in the same ground has caused a degeneracy, the hardness of tillage, and probably to the germinating parts of the seed being perished before sowing, may have been all equal in being unproductive as the former. I noticed wheat, oats, & trahe [?] (Lolium)] to be all three growing promiscuously together, and had not I known which had been sown for the crop, it would have puzzled me to have told. This was not confined to the place where I made the observation only, but common elsewhere. From this you may form an idea in what state agriculture remains in this part. This we may attribute arises from the high price of labor.
When I went the voyage to Norfolk Island & the River Derwent, Gov King was so obliging as to let me deposit my collection in Government House for safety, but this has been attended with ill-success, for I have suffered greatly by dampness; and it is doubtful whether I shall be able to renew such as has been infused. I have been employed 3 weeks in brushing of mould, which has prevented me from clearing up some doubts I had already engaged in. Should there not be an opportunity of my quitting the country until the return of your answer, I trust you will send me out some paper, in order that I may better secure my collection, for all is now confusion with me, and I do not know what I have by me that remains not sent. The garden which Mr Brown left will likewise require your attention.