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[Page 6]
Hawkesbury, at which time the workmen had plenty of liquor. I should not have dwelled so long upon such a subject, had it not appeared so absurd to me, to think that people should be debarred from purchasing such a necessary article, even in a country in which the common diet affords so little aliment.
On viewing the colony from its commencement to to the present time, I find its progress has not been rapid. I think I may venture to assert, that it produced more supplies for its inhabitants 7 years ago, than it does now, in proportion to the number at that time, and at the present. Clearing of land gets on very slowly. Cows increase very fast, and improve much in the breed; but they are chiefly in the hands of Government. It is difficult to say, were they distributed to the settlers, whether they would benefit them, as they have got no fences to their farms; however they might incorporate them into herds. Horses have increased very fast since I have been here, but they do not improve in the breed like the cows. They are more in the possession of individuals, than Government, what the latter have got do not improve like those in the hands of the former. They have also increased in proportion, but they are far from being a good breed. Goats seem to be much upon the decline. Pigs have increased of late, but about a year ago they were very