Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 2]
is now on the eve of sailing for Norfolk Island. The favourable account I send to King of our new settlement will put him quite out of conceit with Norfolk. The navigation to the River is so safe the soil, produce &c equal if not supperior with the same advantage of having very excellent Timber much better for everything except Masts than that of Norfolk Island.
When the schooner returns if the Govr. is not here I intend sending her to the southward as we have every reason to believe that a large River empties itself into Jervis' Bay. Should the soil & situation prove favourable the climate would certainly answer well for all kinds of European fruits & Grain. At all events we will be able to form some Idea of the Country as I am afraid the Northward will never answer. Should both South & North fail we have plenty of excellent soil in this Neighbourhood, indeed more than thousands will be able to cultivate for many years to come. We are daily discovering tracks of good land & within a few miles of this place, but till Cattle are brought into the Country situations near the water can only be attended to.
I have the pleasure to inform you that the officers who took up the Britannia for the purpose of bringing cattle has been very fortunate. After a passage of seven weeks from the Cape of Good Hope she arrived here & landed thirty two Mares and one Horse beside many other usefull articles. As there were only ten shares I recd. three Mares for mine. The Vessel was only six months from this & lay eight weeks in Table Bay.
I hope you have received the Drawings of the Norfolk Island plants which Major Grose was kind enough to take charge of. The Daedalus sailed from this on the 17th Decr