But Without Giving Offence, Or Incurring Reproach,
He Hopes His Opinion On The Probability Of Advantage To Be Drawn From Hence
By Great Britain, May Be Fairly Made Known.
If only a receptacle for convicts be intended, this place stands unequalled
from the situation, extent, and nature of the country.
When viewed
in a commercial light, I fear its insignificance will appear very striking.
The New Zealand hemp, of which so many sanguine expectations were formed,
is not a native of the soil; and Norfolk Island, where we made sure to find
this article, is also without it. So that the scheme of being able to assist
the East Indies with naval stores, in case of a war, must fall to the ground,
both from this deficiency, and the quality of the timber growing here.
Were it indeed possible to transport that of Norfolk Island, its value
would be found very great, but the difficulty, from the surf,
I am well informed, is so insuperable as to forbid the attempt.
Lord Howe Island, discovered by Lieut. Ball, though an inestimable acquisition
to our colony, produces little else than the mountain cabbage tree.
Should a sufficient military force be sent out to those employed in cultivating
the ground, I see no room to doubt, that in the course of a few years,
the country will be able to yield grain enough for the support of its new
possessors. But to effect this, our present limits must be greatly extended,
which will require detachments of troops not to be spared from the present
establishment.
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