Anofficerwithadetachmentoftroops,wassentinpursuitofthem;
butafteraharassingmarchreturnedwithoutsuccess.Inthecourseofaweekthegreatestpartofthemwereeitherbroughtbackbydifferentpartieswhohadfalleninwiththem,orweredriveninbyfamine.
Uponbeingquestionedaboutthecauseoftheirelopement,thosewhomhungerhadforcedback,didnothesitatetoconfessthattheyhadbeensogrosslydeceivedastobelievethatChinamighteasilybereached,beingnotmorethan100milesdistant,andseparatedonlybyariver.
Theothers,however,ashamedofthemerrimentexcitedattheirexpense,saidthattheirreasonforrunningawaywasonaccountofbeingoverworkedandharshlytreated,andthattheypreferredasolitaryandprecariousexistenceinthewoodstoareturntothemiserytheywerecompelledtoundergo.Oneortwoofthepartyhadcertainlyperishedbythehandsofthenatives,whohadalsowoundedseveralothers.
Itrustthatnomanwouldfeelmorereluctantthanmyselftocastanilliberalnationalreflection,particularlyonapeoplewhomIregardinanaggregatesenseasbrethrenandfellow-citizens;andamongwhom,Ihavethehonourtonumbermanyofthemostcordialandendearingintimacieswhichalifepassedonservicecouldgenerate.ButitiscertainthatallthesepeoplewereIrish.
CHAPTERXVI
Transactionsofthecolonyuntil18thofDecember1791,whenIquittedit,withanAccountofitsstateatthattime.
TheGorgonhadarrivedonthe21stofSeptember,andthehourofdeparturetoEngland,forthemarinebattalion,drewnigh.IfIbeallowedtospeakfrommyownfeelingsontheoccasion,Iwillnotsaythatwecontemplateditsapproachwithmingledsensations:wehaileditwithraptureandexultation.
The\'Supply\',evertheharbingerofwelcomeandgladtidings,proclaimedbyherowndeparture,thatourswasathand.Onthe26thofNovembershesailedforEngland.Itwasimpossibletoviewourseparationwithinsensibility:thelittleshipwhichhadsooftenagitatedourhopesandfears,whichfromlongacquaintancewehadlearnedtoregardaspartofourselves,whosedoorsofhospitalityhadbeeneverthrownopentorelieveouraccumulatedwants,andchaseoursolitarygloom!
Inconsequenceoftheoffersmadetothenon-commissionedofficersandprivatesofthemarinebattaliontoremaininthecountryassettlersortoenterintotheNewSouthWalescorps,threecorporals,onedrummerand59privatesacceptedofgrantsofland,tosettleatNorfolkIslandandRoseHill.Ofthesemen,severalwereundoubtedlypossessedofsufficientskillandindustry,bytheassistanceofthepaywhichwasduetothemfromthedateoftheirembarkation,inthebeginningoftheyear1787,tothedayonwhichtheyweredischarged,tosetoutwithreasonablehopesofbeingabletoprocureamaintenance.Buttheonlyapparentreasontowhichthebehaviourofamajorityofthemcouldbeascribedwasfrominfatuatedaffectiontofemaleconvicts,whosecharactersandhabitsoflife,Iamsorrytosay,promisefromaconnectionneitherhonournortranquillity.
Thenarrativepartofthisworkwill,Iconceive,bebestbroughttoaterminationbyadescriptionoftheexistingstateofthecolony,astakenbymyselfafewdaysprevioustomyembarkationintheGorgon,tosailforEngland.
December2nd,1791.WentuptoRoseHill.Publicbuildingsherehavenotgreatlymultipliedsincemylastsurvey.Thestorehouseandbarrackhavebeenlongcompleted;alsoapartmentsforthechaplainoftheregiment,andforthejudge-advocate,inwhichlast,criminalcourts,whennecessary,areheld;butthesearepettyerections.
Inacolonywhichcontainsonlyafewhundredhovelsbuiltoftwigsandmud,wefeelconsequentialenoughalreadytotalkofatreasury,anadmiralty,apubliclibraryandmanyothersimilaredifices,whicharetoformpartofamagnificentsquare.Thegreatroadfromnearthelandingplacetothegovernor\'shouseisfinished,andaverynobleoneitis,beingofgreatbreadth,andamilelong,inastraitline.Inmanyplacesitiscarriedovergulliesofconsiderabledepth,whichhavebeenfilledupwithtrunksoftreescoveredwithearth.Allthesawyers,carpentersandblacksmithswillsoonbeconcentredunderthedirectionofaveryadequatepersonofthegovernor\'shousehold.Thisplanisalreadysofaradvancedastocontainninecoveredsawpits,whichchangeofweathercannotdisturbtheoperationsof,anexcellentworkshedforthecarpentersandalargenewshopfortheblacksmiths.Itcertainlypromisestobeofgreatpublicbenefit.Anewhospitalhasbeentalkedofforthelasttwoyears,butisnotyetbegun.Twolongsheds,builtintheformofatentandthatched,arehoweverfinished,andcapableofholding200patients.
Thesicklistoftodaycontains382names.RoseHillislesshealthythanitusedtobe.Theprevailingdisorderisadysentery,whichoftenterminatesfatally.Therewaslatelyoneveryviolentputridfeverwhich,bytimelyremovalofthepatient,waspreventedfromspreading.
Twenty-fivemenandtwochildrendiedhereinthemonthofNovember.
WhenatthehospitalIsawandconversedwithsomeofthe\'Chinesetravellers\';fourofthemlayhere,woundedbythenatives.IaskedthesemeniftheyreallysupposeditpossibletoreachChina.Theyansweredthattheywerecertainlymadetobelievetheyknewnothowthatataconsiderabledistancetonorthwardexistedalargeriver,whichseparatedthiscountryfromthebackpartofChina;andthatwhenitshouldbecrossedwhichwaspracticabletheywouldfindthemselvesamongacopper-colouredpeople,whowouldreceiveandtreatthemkindly.
Theyadded,thatonthethirddayoftheirelopement,oneofthepartydiedoffatigue;anothertheysawbutcheredbythenativeswho,findingthemunarmed,attackedthemandputthemtoflight.ThishappenednearBrokenBay,whichharbourstoppedtheirprogresstothenorthwardandforcedthemtoturntotherighthand,bywhichmeanstheysoonafterfoundthemselvesontheseashore,wheretheywanderedaboutinadestitutecondition,pickingupshellfishtoallayhunger.Deemingthefartherprosecutionoftheirschemeimpracticable,severalofthemagreedtoreturntoRoseHill,whichwithdifficultytheyaccomplished,arrivingalmostfamished.Ontheirroadbacktheymetsixfreshadventurerssallyingforthtojointhem,towhomtheyrelatedwhathadpassedandpersuadedthemtorelinquishtheirintention.Thereareatthistimenotlessthanthirty-eightconvictmenmissing,wholiveinthewoodsbyday,andatnightenterthedifferentfarmsandplunderforsubsistence.
December3rd,1791.Beganmysurveyofthecultivatedlandbelongingtothepublic.Theharvesthascommenced.Theyarereapingbothwheatandbarley.Thefieldbetweenthebarrackandthegovernor\'shousecontainswheatandmaize,bothverybad,buttheformerparticularlyso.
InpassingthroughthemainstreetIwaspleasedtoobservethegardensoftheconvictslookbetterthanIhadexpectedtofindthem.
Thevegetablesingeneralarebutmean,butthestalksofmaize,withwhichtheyareinterspersed,appeargreenandflourishing.
Thesemicircularhill,whichsweepsfromtheoverseerofthecattle\'shousetothegovernor\'shouse,isplantedwithmaize,which,Iamtold,isthebesthere.Itcertainlylooksinmostpartsverygood——
stoutthickstalkswithlargespreadingleaves——butIamsurprisedtofinditsobackward.ItisatleastamonthlaterthanthatinthegardensatSydney.Behindthemaizeisafieldofwheat,whichlookstolerablyforthispartoftheworld.Itwill,Ireckon,yieldabouttwelvebushelsanacre.Continuedmywalkandlookedatalittlepatchofwheatinthegovernor\'sgarden,whichwassownindrills,thegroundbeingfirstmixedwithaclaywhichitsdiscovererspretendedwasmarle.
Whateveritbe,thisexperimentbespeaksnotmuchinfavourofitsenrichingqualities;forthecornlooksmiserably,andisfarexceededbysomeneighbouringspotsonwhichnosuchadvantagehasbeenbestowed.
Wentroundthecrescentatthebottomofthegarden,whichcertainlyinbeautyofformandsituationisunrivalledinNewSouthWales.
Hereareeightthousandvinesplanted,allofwhichinanotherseasonareexpectedtobeargrapes.Besidesthevinesareseveralsmallfruittrees,whichwerebroughtintheGorgonfromtheCape,andlooklively;
ononeofthemarehalfadozenapplesasbigasnutmegs.Althoughthesoilofthecrescentbepoor,itsaspectandcircularfigure,soadvantageousforreceivingandretainingtheraysofthesun,eminentlyfititforavineyard.Passedtherivuletandlookedatthecornlandonitsnorthernside.OnthewesternsideofClarke\'s*housethewheatandmaizearebad,butontheeasternsideisafieldsupposedtobethebestinthecolony.Ithoughtitofgoodheight,andtheearswellfilled,butitisfarfromthick.
[*Dod,whoismentionedinmyformerjournalofthisplace,haddiedsomemonthsago.AndMr.Clarke,whowasputinhisroom,isoneofthesuperintendants,sentoutbygovernment,onasalaryoffortypoundsperannum.Hewasbredtohusbandry,underhisfatheratLewesinSussex;
andis,Iconceive,competenttohisofficeofprincipalconductoroftheagricultureofRoseHill.]
WhileIwaslookingatit,Clarkecameup.ItoldhimIthoughthewouldreapfifteenorsixteenbushelsanacre;heseemedtothinkseventeenoreighteen.IhavenowinspectedalltheEuropeancorn.
Amanofsolittleexperienceofthesemattersasmyselfcannotspeakwithmuchconfidence.Perhapstheproducemayaveragetenbushelsanacre,ortwelveattheoutside.Allowanceshould,however,bemadeinestimatingthequalityofthesoil,forthespaceoccupiedbyrootsoftrees,forinadequateculture,andinsomemeasuretowantofrain.Lesshasfallenthanwaswished,butthisspringwasbynomeanssodryasthelast.
IfindthatthewheatgrownatRoseHilllastyearweighedfifty-sevenpoundsandahalfperbushel.Mynextvisitwastothecattle,whichconsistsoftwostallions,sixmares,andtwocolts;besidessixteencows,twocow-calves,andonebull-calf,whichwerebroughtoutbytheGorgon.Twobullswhichwereonboarddiedonthepassage,sothatontheyounggentlemanjustmentioneddependsthestockingofthecolony.
TheperiodoftheinhabitantsofNewSouthWalesbeingsuppliedwithanimalfoodoftheirownraisingistooremoteforaprudentmantocalculate.
Thecattlelookingoodcondition,andIwassurprisedtohearthatneithercornnorfodderisgiventothem.Theenclosuresinwhichtheyareconfinedfurnishhardlyabladeofgrassatpresent.Therearepeopleappointedtotendthemwhohavebeenusedtothiswayoflife,andwhoseemtoexecuteitverywell.
Sunday,December4th,1791.DivineserviceisnowperformedhereeverySunday,eitherbythechaplainofthesettlementorthechaplainoftheregiment.Iwenttochurchtoday.Severalhundredconvictswerepresent,themajorityofwhomIthoughtlookedthemostmiserablebeingsintheshapeofhumanityIeverbeheld.Theyappearedtobeworndownwithfatigue.
December,5th.Madeexcursionsthisdaytoviewthepublicsettlements.
Reachedthefirst,whichisaboutamileinanorth-westdirectionfromthegovernor\'shouse.Thissettlementcontains,byadmeasurement,134acres,apartofwhichisplantedwithmaize,verybackward,butingeneraltolerablygood,andbeautifullygreen.Thirteenlargehuts,builtintheformofatent,areerectedfortheconvictswhoworkhere;
butIcouldnotlearnthenumberoftheselast,beingunabletofindasuperintendantoranypersonwhocouldgivemeinformation.
Pondsofwaterheresufficienttosupplyathousandpersons.
Walkedontothesecondsettlement,abouttwomilesfarther,throughanunclearedcountry.HeremetDaveney,thepersonwhoplannedandnowsuperintendsalltheoperationscarriedonhere.Hetoldmethatheestimatedthequantityofclearedgroundhereat300acres.
Hecertainlyover-ratesitone-third,bythejudgmentofeveryotherperson.
Sixweeksagothiswasaforest.ithasbeencleared,andthewoodnearlyburntoffthegroundby500men,inthebefore-mentionedperiod,orratherinthirtydays,foronlythatnumberhavetheconvictsworked.
Hesaiditwastoolatetoplantmaize,andthereforeheshouldsowturnips,whichwouldhelptomeliorateandprepareitfornextyear.Onexaminingthesoil,Ithoughtitingenerallight,thoughinsomeplacesloamytothetouch.HemeanstotrytheRoseHill\'marle\'uponit,withwhichhethinksitwillincorporatewell.Ihopeitwillsucceedbetterthantheexperimentinthegovernor\'sgarden.IwishedtoknowwhetherhehadchosenthisgroundsimplyfromtheconveniencyofitssituationtoRoseHill,anditseasyformfortillage,andhavingwater,orfromanymarkswhichhehadthoughtindicatedgoodsoil.HesaidthatwhatIhadmentionednodoubtweighedwithhim,andthathejudgedthesoiltobegood,fromthelimbsofmanyofthetreesgrowingonitbeingcoveredwithmoss.
\"Are,\"saidI,\"your500menstillcomplete?\"
\"No;thisday\'smustergaveonly460.Therestareeithersickandremovedtothehospital,orarerunawayinthewoods.\"
\"Howmuchiseachlabourer\'sdailytask?\"
\"Sevenrods.Itwaseight,butontheirrepresentingtothegovernorthatitwasbeyondtheirstrengthtoexecute,hetookoffone.\"
Thirteenlargehuts,similartothosebeforementioned,containallthepeoplehere.Toeveryhutareappointedtwomen,ashutkeepers,whoseonlyemploymentistowatchthehutsinworkinghourstopreventthemfrombeingrobbed.Thishassomewhatcheckeddepredations,andthoseendlesscomplaintsoftheconvictsthattheycouldnotworkbecausetheyhadnothingtoeat,theirallowancebeingstolen.Theworkinghoursatthisseasonsummerarefromfiveo\'clockinthemorninguntilten;restfromtentotwo;
returntoworkattwo;andcontinuetillsunset.Thissurelycannotbecalledveryseveretoil;butontheotherhandmustberememberedtheinadequacyofarationofsaltprovisions,withfewvegetables,andunassistedbyanyliquorbutwater.
HerefinishedmyremarksoneverythingofapublicnatureatRoseHill.
Buthavingsufficienttime,Ideterminedtovisitalltheprivatesettlerstoinspecttheirlabours,andlearnfromthemtheirschemes,theirhopesandexpectations.
Inpursuanceofmyresolution,IcrossedthecountrytoProspectHill,atthebottomofwhichlivethefollowingthirteenconvicts,whohaveacceptedallotmentsofground,andarebecomesettlers.
Men\'snames.Trades.NumberofNumberofacresacresineachincultivation.
allotment.
JohnSilverthorneWeaver4013/4
ThomasMartin\"4011/2
JohnNicholsGardener402
WilliamButler*,andhiswifeSeaman50——
Lisk*Watchmaker404
WilliamParish,wife,andachildSeaman6023/4
WilliamKilby,andhiswifeHusbandman6011/4
EdwardPugh,wife,andtwochildrenCarpenter7021/2
SamuelGriffithJohnHerbertt**
JamesCastleJosephMarlow***
JohnWilliams,andhiswife
[*Inpartnership.[ButlerandLisk]
[**Notoutofhistime;butallowedtoworkhereathisleisurehours,ashehasdeclaredhisintentionofsettling.]
[***InasimilarpredicamentwithHerbert.]
Thetermsonwhichtheseallotmentshavebeengrantedare:
thattheestatesshallbefullycededforevertoallwhoshallcontinuetocultivateforfiveyears,ormore;thattheyshallbefreeofalltaxesforthefirsttenyears;butafterthatperiodtopayanannualquit-rentofoneshilling.Thepenaltyonnon-performanceofanyofthesearticlesisforfeitureoftheestate,andallthelabourwhichmayhavebeenbestoweduponit.Thesepeoplearetoreceiveprovisions,thesamequantityastheworkingconvicts,clothes,andmedicinalassistance,foreighteenmonthsfromthedayonwhichtheysettled.
Toclearandcultivatetheland,ahatchet,atomahawk,twohoes,aspadeandashovel,aregiventoeachperson,whethermanorwoman;andacertainnumberofcross-cutsawsamongthewhole.Tostocktheirfarms,twosowpigswerepromisedtoeachsettler,buttheyalmostallsaytheyhavenotyetreceivedany,ofwhichtheycomplainloudly.Theyallreceivedgraintosowandplantforthefirstyear.TheysettledhereinJulyandAugustlast.Mostofthemwereobligedtobuildtheirownhouses;
andwretchedhovelsthree-fourthsofthemare.Shouldanyofthemfallsick,therestareboundtoassistthesickpersontwodaysinamonth,providedthesicknesslastsnotlongerthantwomonths;fourdayslabourineachyear,fromeveryperson,beingallthatheisentitledto.
Togiveprotectiontothissettlement,acorporalandtwosoldiersareencampedinthecentreofthefarms,asthenativesonceattackedthesettlersandburntoneoftheirhouses.Theseguardsare,however,inevitablyatsuchadistancefromsomeofthefarmsastobeunabletoaffordthemanyassistanceincaseofanotherattack.
WithallthesepeopleIconversedandinspectedtheirlabours.
SomeIfoundtranquilanddeterminedtopersevere,providedencouragementshouldbegiven.Otherswereinastateofdespondency,andpredictedthattheyshouldstarveunlesstheperiodofeighteenmonthsduringwhichtheyaretobeclothedandfed,shouldbeextendedtothreeyears.
Theircultivationisyetinitsinfancy,andthereforeopinionsshouldnotbehastilyformedofwhatitmayarriveat,withmoderateskillandindustry.Theyhaveatpresentlittleinthegroundbesidesmaize,andthatlooksnotverypromising.SomesmallpatchesofwheatwhichIsawaremiserableindeed.ThegreatestpartofthelandIthinkbutindifferent,beinglightandstoney.Ofthethirteenfarmstenareunprovidedwithwater;
andatsomeofthemtheyareobligedtofetchthisnecessaryarticlefromthedistanceofamileandahalf.Allthesettlerscomplainsadlyofbeingfrequentlyrobbedbytherunawayconvicts,whoplunderthemincessantly.
December6th.Visitedthesettlementstothenorthwardoftherivulet.
ThenearestofthemliesaboutamileduenorthofMr.Clarke\'shouse.
Hereareonlytheundernamedfivesettlers.
Men\'snames.Trades.NumberofNumberofacresacresineachincultivation
[*Thesethreecultivateinpartnership.Brown,Bradbury,Mold.]
ThesesettlersareplacedonthesamefootingineveryrespectwhichconcernstheirtenureandtheassistancetobegrantedtothemasthoseatProspectHill.Nearthemiswater.ParrandBurnearemenofgreatindustry.Theyhavebothgoodhouseswhichtheyhiredpeopletobuildforthem.Parrtoldmethathehadexpendedthirteenguineasonhisland,whichneverthelesshedoesnotseempleasedwith.
Ofthethreepoorfellowswhoworkinpartnership,oneBradburyisrunaway.
Thismanhadbeenallowedtosettle,onabelief,fromhisownassurance,thathistermoftransportationwasexpired;butitwasafterwardsdiscoveredthathehadbeencastforlife.Hereuponhegrewdesperate,anddeclaredhewouldratherperishatoncethanremainasaconvict.Hedisappearedaweekagoandhasneversincebeenheardof.WereIcompelledtosettleinNewSouthWales,Ishouldfixmyresidencehere,bothfromtheappearanceofthesoil,anditsproximitytoRoseHill.Acorporalandtwoprivatesareencampedheretoguardthissettlement,asatProspect.
ProceededtothesettlementcalledthePonds,anamewhichIsupposeitderivedfromseveralpondsofwaterwhicharenearthefarms.
Hereresidethefourteenfollowingsettlers.
Men\'snames.Trades.NumberofNumberofacresacresineachincultivation.
allotment.
ThomasKellyServant3011/2
WilliamHubbard,andwifePlasterer5021/4
CurtisBrand,andwifeCarpenter503
JohnRamsay,andwifeSeaman5031/2
WilliamField——3021/2
JohnRichards*Stone-cutter3041/2
JohnSummers*Husbandman30——
Varnell——301
AnthonyRope**,andwife,andtwochildrenBricklayer701
JosephBishop,andwifeNone5011/2
MathewEveringham,andwifeAttorney\'sclerk502
JohnAnderson,andwife——502
EdwardElliot***Husbandman302
JosephMarshall***Weaver30
[*TheyRichardsandSummerscultivateinpartnership.]
[**Aconvictwhomeanstosettlehere;andispermittedtoworkinhisleisurehours.]
[***TheyElliotandMarshallcultivateinpartnership.]
TheProspectHilltermsofsettlementextendtothisplace.Myprivateremarkswerenotmany.SomespotswhichIpassedoverIthoughtdesirable,particularlyRamsay\'sfarm;andhedeservesagoodspot,forheisacivil,sober,industriousman.Besideshiscornland,hehasawelllaidoutlittlegarden,inwhichIfoundhimandhiswifebusilyatwork.
Hepraisedherindustrytome;andsaidhedidnotdoubtofsucceeding.
Itisnotoftenseenthatsailorsmakegoodfarmers;butthismanIthinkbidsfairtocontradicttheobservation.Thegentlemanofnotradehisownwordstomewill,Iapprehend,attheconclusionofthetimewhenvictuallingfromthestoreistocease,havethehonourofreturningtodragatimberorbrickcartforhismaintenance.Thelittlemaizehehasplantedisdoneinsoslovenlyastyleastopromiseaverypoorcrop.
Hewholooksforwardtoeatgrapesfromhisownvine,andtositundertheshadeofhisownfig-tree,mustlabourineverycountry.
Hemustexertmorethanordinaryactivity.Theattorney\'sclerkIalsothoughtoutofhisprovince.Idarebelievethathefindscultivatinghisownlandnothalfsoeasyataskasheformerlyfoundthatofstringingtogethervolumesoftautologytoencumber,orconveyaway,thatofhisneighbour.Hubbard\'sfarm,andKelly\'salso,deserveregard,frombeingbettermanagedthanmostoftheothers.Thepeopleherecomplainsadlyofadestructivegrubwhichdestroystheyoungplantsofmaize.
Manyofthesettlershavebeenobligedtoplanttwice,naythrice,onthesameland,fromthedepredationsofthesereptiles.Thereisthesameguardhereasattheothersettlements.
Nothingnowremainsforinspectionbutthefarmsontheriverside.
December7th.WenttoScheffer\'sfarm.Ifoundhimathome,conversedwithhim,andwalkedwithhimoverallhiscultivatedground.Hehad140acresgrantedtohim,fourteenofwhichareincultivation,twelveinmaize,oneinwheatandoneinvinesandtobacco.Hehasbesidestwenty-threeacresonwhichthetreesarecutdownbutnotburntofftheland.
HeresignedhisappointmentandbeganhisfarmlastMay,andhadatfirstfiveconvictstoassisthim;hehasnowfour.Allhismaize,exceptthreeacres,ismean.Thishethinksmaybeattributedtothreecauses:
amiddlingsoil;toodryaspring;andfromthegroundnotbeingsufficientlypulverizedbeforetheseedwasputintoit.Thewheatisthinandpoor:hedoesnotreckonitsproduceatmorethaneightorninebushels.
Hisvines,900innumber,areflourishing,andwill,hesupposes,bearfruitnextyear.Histobaccoplantsarenotveryluxuriant:tothesetwolastarticleshemeansprincipallytodirecthisexertions.Hesaysandtrulythattheywillalwaysbesaleableandprofitable.Ononeoftheboundariesofhislandisplentyofwater.Averygoodbrickhouseisnearlycompletedforhisuse,bythegovernor;andinthemeantimehelivesinaverydecentone,whichwasbuiltforhimonhissettlinghere.
Heistobesuppliedwithprovisionsfromthepublicstore,andwithmedicalassistanceforeighteenmonths,reckoningfromlastMay.
Attheexpirationofthisperiodheisboundtosupporthimselfandthefourconvictsaretobewithdrawn.Butifheshallthen,oratanyfutureperiod,declarehimselfabletomaintainamoderatenumberofthesepeoplefortheirlabour,theywillbeassignedtohim.
Mr.Schefferisamanofindustryandrespectablecharacter.Hecameouttothiscountryassuperintendantofconvicts,atasalaryoffortypoundsperannum,andbroughtwithhimadaughteroftwelveyearsold.HeisbybirthaHessian,andservedinAmerica,inacorpsofYaghers,withtherankoflieutenant.Heneverwasprofessionally,inanypartoflife,afarmer,buthetoldme,thathisfatherownedasmallestateonthebanksoftheRhine,onwhichheresided,andthathehadalwaysbeenfondoflookingatandassistinginhislabours,particularlyinthevineyard.
Inwalkingalong,hemorethanonceshookhisheadandmadesomemortifyingobservationsonthesoilofhispresentdomain,comparedwiththebanksofhisnativestream.HeassuredmethatexclusiveofthesacrificeofhissalaryhehasexpendedmorethanfortypoundsinadvancinghisgroundtothestateinwhichIsawit.Oftheprobabilityofsuccessinhisundertaking,hespokewithmoderationandgoodsense.Sometimeshesaidhehadalmostdespaired,andhadoftenbalancedaboutrelinquishingit;
buthadasoftenbeencheckedbyrecollectingthathardlyanydifficultycanarisewhichvigourandperseverancewillnotovercome.Iaskedhimwhatwasthetenureonwhichheheldhisestate.Heofferedtoshowthewrittendocument,sayingthatitwasexactlythesameasRuse\'s.
Ithereforedeclinedtotroublehim,andtookmyleavewithwishesforhissuccessandprosperity.
NearMr.Scheffer\'sfarmisasmallpatchoflandclearedbyLieutenantTownsonoftheNewSouthWalescorps,abouttwoacresofwhichareinmaizeandwheat,bothlookingverybad.
ProceededtothefarmofMr.Arndell,oneoftheassistantsurgeons.
Thisgentlemanhassixacresincultivationasfollows:rathermorethanfourinmaize,oneinwheat,andtheremainderinoatsandbarley.Thewheatlookstolerablygood,ratherthinbutofagoodheight,andtheearswellfilled.Hisfarmingservantguessestheproducewillbetwelvebushels,*
andIdonotthinkheover-ratesit.Themaizeheguessesatthirtybushels,whichfromappearancesitmayyield,butnotmore.Theoatsandbarleyarenotcontemptible.ThisgroundhasbeenturnedupbutonceTheaspectofitisnearlysouth,onadeclivityoftheriver,orarmofthesea,onwhichRoseHillstands.Itwasclearedofwoodaboutninemonthsago,andsownthisyearforthefirsttime.
[*IhavereceivedaletterfromPortJackson,datedinApril1792,whichstatesthatthecropofwheatturnedoutfifteenbushels,andthemaizerathermorethanfortybushels.]
December8th.WentthismorningtothefarmofChristopherMagee,aconvictsettler,nearlyoppositetothatofMr.Scheffen.Thesituationofthisfarmisveryeligible,providedtheriverinfloodsdoesnotinundateit,whichIthinkdoubtful.Thismanwasbredtohusbandry,andlivedeightyearsinAmerica;hehasnolessthaneightacresincultivation,fiveandahalfinmaize,oneinwheat,andoneandahalfintobacco.Fromthewheathedoesnotexpectmorethantenbushels,butheisextravagantenoughtoratetheproduceofmaizeat100bushelsperhapshemaygetfifty;ontobaccohemeanstogolargelyhereafter.
HebegantoclearthisgroundinApril,butdidnotsettleuntillastJuly.
Iaskedbywhatmeanshehadbeenabletoaccomplishsomuch?Heanswered,\"Byindustry,andbyhiringalltheconvictsIcouldgettoworkintheirleisurehours,besidessomelittleassistancewhichthegovernorhasoccasionallythrownin.\"Hisgreatestimpedimentiswantofwater,beingobligedtofetchallheusesmorethanhalfamile.Hesunkawell,andfoundwater,butitwasbrackishandnotfittodrink.Ifthismanshallcontinueinhabitsofindustryandsobriety,Ithinkhimsureofsucceeding.
ReachedRuse\'sfarm,*andbeggedtolookathisgrant,thematerialpartofwhichrunsthus:\"Alotofthirtyacres,tobecalledExperimentFarm;
thesaidlottobeholden,freeofalltaxes,quit-rents,&c.fortenyears,providedthattheoccupier,hisheirsorassigns,shallresidewithinthesame,andproceedtotheimprovementthereof;reserving,however,fortheuseofthecrown,alltimbernowgrowing,orwhichhereaftershallgrow,fitfornavalpurposes.Attheexpirationoftenyears,anannualquit-rentofoneshillingshallbepaidbytheoccupierinacknowledgment.\"
[*SeethestateofthisfarminmyformerRoseHilljournalofNovember1790,thirteenmonthsbefore.]
Rusenowlivesinacomfortablebrickhouse,builtforhimbythegovernor.
Hehaselevenacresandahalfincultivation,andseveralmorewhichhavebeenclearedbyconvictsintheirleisurehours,onconditionofreceivingthefirstyear\'scrop.Hemeanstocultivatelittlebesidesmaize;wheatissomuchlessproductive.Ofthecultureofvineyardsandtobaccoheisignorant;and,withgreatgoodsense,hedeclaredthathewouldnotquitthepathheknew,foranuncertainty.
Hislivestockconsistsoffourbreedingsowsandthirtyfowls.
Hehasbeentakenfromthestorethatis,hassuppliedhimselfwithprovisionsforsomemonthspast;andhiswifeistobetakenoffatChristmas,atwhichtime,ifhedeemshimselfabletomaintainaconvictlabourer,oneistobegiventohim.
CrossedtheriverinaboattoRobertWebb\'sfarm.Thismanwasoneoftheseamenofthe\'Sirius\',andhastaken,inconjunctionwithhisbrotheralsoaseamanofthesameshipagrantofsixtyacres,onthesametermsasRuse,savethattheannualquit-rentistocommenceattheexpirationoffiveyears,insteadoften.ThebrotherisgonetoEnglandtoreceivethewagesduetothembothfortheirservices,whichmoneyistobeexpendedbyhiminwhateverhejudgeswillbemostconducivetothesuccessoftheirplan.Webbexpectstodowell;talksasamanshouldtalkwhohasjustsetoutonadoubtfulenterprisewhichheisboundtopursue.
Heissanguineinhope,andlooksonlyatthebrightsideoftheprospect.
Hehasreceivedgreatencouragementandassistancefromthegovernor.
Hehasfiveacresclearedandplantedwithmaize,whichlooksthriving,andpromisestoyieldadecentcrop.Hishouseandasmalloneadjoiningforpigsandpoultrywerebuiltforhimbythegovernor,whoalsogavehimtwosowsandsevenfowls,towhichheaddsalittlestockofhisownacquiring.
NearWebbisplacedWilliamRead,anotherseamanofthe\'Sirius\',onthesameterms,andtowhomequalencouragementhasbeengranted.
MysurveyofRoseHillisnowclosed.Ihaveinspectedeverypieceofgroundincultivationhere,bothpublicandprivate,andhavewrittenfromactualexaminationonly.
ButbeforeIbadeadieutoRoseHill,inallprobabilityforthelasttimeofmylife,itstruckmethatthereyetremainedoneobjectofconsiderationnottobeslighted:Barringtonhadbeeninthesettlementbetweentwoandthreemonths,andIhadnotseenhim.
Isawhimwithcuriosity.Heistall,approachingtosixfeet,slender,andhisgaitandmanner,bespeaklivelinessandactivity.Ofthateleganceandfashion,withwhichmyimaginationhaddeckedhimIknownotwhy,Icoulddistinguishnotrace.Greatallowanceshould,however,bemadefordepressionandunavoidabledeficiencyofdress.Hisfaceisthoughtfulandintelligent;toastrongcastofcountenanceheaddsapenetratingeye,andaprominentforehead.Hiswholedemeanourishumble,notservile.