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[Page 2]
or difficulty they might replenish at Adventure Bay. As the colony is now becoming large I should think a sloop of War or two might likewise be very well employed. they know little of the coast they are upon, & their route to and from Batavia & here is still a Bugbear to them, as they seem to have no choice but by the North of the Line or round by Cape Horn, this however I hope I shall remove on my return, by making safe pass through between New Holland & New Guinea. A good & able officer might make the out fit of any number of ships easy, & supply them in such a manner at a moderate expense as to put everything within their own means.
My remarks on the passage between this & Vandiemans Land show that a passage back here may be effected that way, and I see no reason to doubt any ship performing the voyage twice a year, at least if I had the management of it I would make them, but I hear of nothing but difficulties and want of Bread when they have plenty of Potatoes. - The transport [indecipherable] arrived here from Rio Janiero, they lost 29 Men in their passage from St Iago [Santiago] of a fever they caught at the Island which also raged when I called at it - fortunate for me that I stayed only a few hours. - Even on Board their ship they have been at great Variance, and I may pronounce with some certainty is not blessed with a moderate share of good knowledge to give much stability to the New Settlement. I think it my duty to tell every thing I am acquainted with to you, and if I err by saying too much I rely on your good wishes towards me to do it away. - The Dedalus was at Rio Janiero in the