An Anonymous Proposal For The Settlement of New South Wales.[Extract.]

At this juncture—when the ties of exclusive commerce with America are dissolved; when the trade to the East Indies. is in a declining if not in a precarious state; when our trade to the Mediterranean has been long interrupted, and almost annihilated, and when that to Africa and the West Indies does not promise to be what it has been without a change of measures—it will be highly commendable in any individual to point out a New new source of trade, and form any probable scheme for encouraging attempts to lay the foundation of future sources. There is no object, except internal improvement and cultivation of waste land, which a Minister should so much encourage as foreign trade, especially where the exports are chiefly the manufactures of the country, and the imports ready money or raw materials. The merchant and husbandman are a reciprocal benefit to each other.

Having been employed abroad many years, and during that time acquired some degree of commercial knowledge, and having, moreover, made myself geographically and descriptively acquainted with the new discoveries of the late circumnavigators, I have often turned my thoughts to the advantages which may hereafter be derived from them, and the resources which Great Britian may find in some new establishments to recompense her in part for the losses of the late war.

In pursuit of such ideas, I formed a project early in 1779, which I communicated to Lord North, for an expedition to the South Seas, to give countenance and support to the inhabitants of Chili and Peru, by assistance of arms, ammunition, and troops from India, that these provinces or kingdoms might be enabled to fulfil their disposition and throw off the Spanish yoke. Had it been undertaken at the time and in the manner suggested, it must have been attended with great loss to the Spaniards, and probably with future advantages to this country in its consequences, because the natives soon after, without foreign assistance, attempted to liberate themselves, and tho’ their endeavours are suppressed for the present, yet it is more than probable their efforts will in the end be successful.

The peace which is now concluded with Spain puts such an open enterprize at present out of the question; but it requires no great depth of penetration to foresee that the Spaniards will not be suffered long to enjoy the extensive trade to and possession of South America. One would have thought that the apprehension of such an event, as a natural consequence, would have made them backward in seconding the views of the thirteen colonies of North America. The people of these States have formerly tasted the sweets of the interloping trade, and will not will let the Spaniards quietly carry to Europe the produce of the mines which the North Americans so much want. When contests of this kind happen (and most assuredly ten years will not first elapse), the Chilese and Peruvians will again attempt to throw off the yoke, and, after the example and on better pretensions than the North Americans, become free States, or subject only to a native government. A trade then with them on the footing of the most favored nation will be a very desirable object, and open a prospect of replacing what we have lost, or may lose, of our trade to North America.

But perhaps this is a delicate subject to touch on, and it may be held better policy to avoid giving Spain any grounds of jealousy; on the contrary, it may be a preferable object to endeavor to wean her from the family compact, and with that view to exchange the barren Rock of Gibraltar for the Island of Porto Rico and other advantages of commerce more desirable to this nation. Be it so, there are other matters of sufficient importance to draw the attention of his Majesty’s Ministers to consider whether some establishments may not be effected either on the coast of New South Wales, New Zealand, New Caledonia, or some other islands nearer the Line and more to the eastward. Each of these situations offers choice of establishments, as will be shewn in the respective descriptions thereof.

And first of New South Wales: The coast as explored and named by Capt. Cook in 1770 extends from Van Diemen’s Land in the latitude of 44° South, to Endeavor. Straits in the latitude of 10° south, and occupies the whole east and north-east shore of the island (or, rather, 5th continent) called New Holland, for it contains more square miles than all Europe, and comprehends the finest latitude on the Globe. Its greatest longitudinal length of near 44° lies under the Tropic of Capricorn, and its difference of latitude from the extreme capes is near 34° : but there are parts of the island which approach to within 20° of latitude to each other. Upon such an extensive superficies of land there can scarce be a doubt but many capital and navig able rivers must drain the internal country, and conduct the waters which fall plentifully and periodically within the Tropics and near them, to the sea-coast. And, consequently, that in a circumference of more than 6,000 miles there must be many spacious and secure harbours with all the advantages requisite to constitute convenient sea-ports, docks, &c.

Captain Cook had neither time nor proper vessels narrowly to explore every inlett on the east and north-east side of New Holland—much less the great Bay of Carpentaria—or the north, north-west, and south coasts. These are still unknown, except certain points which have been seen by other navigators, and principally on the west side by Mons. Allowan in 1772; but none, nor all of them taken collectively, have actually examined the coast throughout, and given true outline. In his concluding observations, Captain Cook does not indeed give the most favourable account of the soil, timber, vegetable or animal productions, or even of the inhabitants that he saw, nor does he suppose the latter are very numerous. But as he could not penetrate far inland, or obtain a sufficient knowledge of the language spoken by any of the natives, it is but reasonable to suppose so large an extent of country under such latitudes must be capable of producing with as little trouble as any other country grain and other esculent vegetables, as well as feeding for quadrupeds, sufficient to subsist millions of people. But perhaps the necessary seeds and plants are wanting, as well as cultivation to improve such as are there already.

Without better grounds than Capt. Cook had, no negative judgement can be pronounced. He could only speak positively of what he saw and examined, for if conclusions had been definite from first appearances (or even of nine parts in ten at present), would the Cape of Good Hope ever have been settled, or supposed to afford the abundant necessaries of life, or even superfluities as it does at present ? Nothing can be more forbidding than its distant view, nor is such an appearance to be wondered at, considering it is a projecting point of a great continent running out in an high southern latitude between the two great oceans. Other instances might be quoted equally striking of discouraging appearances, to which New Holland throughout has comparatively an inviting aspect. And as to the number or nature of the whole people, a Briton would be sorry to have the national character drawn from those who might appear at either extreme, or even on some of the intermediate coasts of this island. But if anything is due in an advantageous light to analogous reasoning, is there not the strongest presumption that such an extensive tract of land has in its bowels, or on its surface, every production that other countries have in a similar latitude?

The coast, it is true, which Capt. Cook explored is surrounded by a distant line of coral rocks and shoals, apparently dangerous to navigation; but at the same time it must be allowed that such a barrier has its use in protecting the interior coast from the fury of storms and a tumbling sea. There are navigation’s now which from use and the assistance of experienced pilots are perfectly safe, which from first appearances on the spot and the delineations on paper present every idea of shipwreck. The river Thames has its barriers of shoals and sands, and the Straits of Malacca appear in the charts to be wholly obstructed therewith, yet nothing is easier at present than the navigation of both.

Not more than six days’ sail to the eastward from the coast of New South Wales lies the western coast of the two great islands called New Zealand, which extend in latitude from 35° south to 45°, and tho’ their breadth is unequal, yet they cover a space nearly equal to Great Britian. Charlotte Sound and the river Thames (an inlett so called) afford ports of great convenience to maritime objects; and the country is so situated with respect to climate that it comprehends the most habitable and temperate divisions on the Globe. Captain Cook circumnavigated both islands, and delineated as exactly as he possibly could the whole sea-coast in his several returns thereto, yet he acknowledges his defective observations of many parts. In the 438th page of the 3rd volume of “Hawkesworth’s Compilation“ a very flattering description may be found, concluding thus : “So that if this country should be settled by people from Europe they would, with a little industry, be very soon supplied, not only with the necessaries, but the luxuries of life in abundance.“ In page 441 he says: “Here are forests of vast extent full of the straitest, the cleanest, and the largest timber trees that we had ever seen.“ And what is an object of more consequence, for uses on the spot as well as exportation to this country, a plant grows there spontaneously, which he says (page 443) “serves the inhabitants instead of hemp and flax, which excels all of the kind put to the same uses in other countries.“ But of this more in the sequel. In page 444 the best place for an establishment is pointed out to be the river Thames, which Captain Cook seems to have looked forward to. And he adds, “that from the plenty of iron-sand found in Mercury Bay the ore could not be at any great distance.“

About the same length of run eastward from New Zealand as New South Wales is, but in the latitude from 181/2 to 23° south, lies New Caledonia, which, tho’ narrow in its longitudinal extent, is a very considerable island, inhabited by a very strong and well-disposed people; and tho’ Captain Cook, in the Narrative of his Voyage in 1774, vol. 2, page 128 to 145, does not speak so favourably of it as he does of many others, yet certainly it is a very favourable latitude, and probably only wants industry to be exerted on it. One article there is to be found in great abundance which is wanting in New Holland and New Zealand, and that is pine-trees for masting vessels of great burthen, as is observed in page 140.

In the midway almost from the south end of New Caledonia to the north extremity of New Zealand, and nearly equidistant east from New Holland, lies a small new-discovered island, named by Captain Cook Norfolk Isle, in latitude 29° south. It is about six miles long and fifteen miles round, shaped from its projecting points somewhat like an egg, the large end being to the south. This island has an advantage not common to the others by not being inhabited, so that no injury can be done by possessing it to the rest of mankind.^* Tho’ Captain Cook discovered it the 10th of September, 1774, at daybreak, and left it the 11th at the same time, yet he gives such an account of its productions in pages 147, 148, and 149, that there seems to be nothing wanting but inhabitants and cultivation to make it a delicious residence. The climate, soil, and sea promise everything that can be expected from them. The timber, shrubs, vegetables, and fish already found there need no embellishment to pronounce them excellent samples; but the most invaluable of all is the flax-plant, which grows more luxuriant than in New Zealand.

It may, moreover, be objected on general grounds (for it is best to obviate every objection) that propositions of this kind for establishing very distant colonies are at’ best problematical, and that besides the expence and difficulty of the outsett, the prospect of future advantage is too precarious and faint to attract many adventurers; that Great Britain has already been embarrassed and suffered much by colonization, which has drained her of too many useful citizens; that it would be better to improve every spot of waste land to the utmost degree at Home, because every subject reared and attached to Great Britain is an actual addition of strength and benefit thereto, whereas every one that goes to spend his life in any other country is a real loss; and, lastly, that Great Britain, as an island breeding her own stock of inhabitants, cannot, without consuming her vitals, afford to people other islands or continents.

These, it must be confessed, are all specious objections, and many of them solid ones; but if greater inconveniences can be avoided by embracing less, the ballance will be an advantage—for instance, if many British subjects disposed to emigration (and many such there are) should be tempted to go to America, and carry their property, arts, and sciences with them, would it not be good policy in point of consequences to encourage them to go to a greater distance ? Again, suppose it to be at present difficult to provide for the Loyalists and other exiled natives from North America, and that they should, as they certainly will, prefer a new country without taxes or burthens to be received as denizens here, were the land and establishments even to be given them gratis, would it not be gratifying them at an easy expence to furnish them with some large frigates and store- page 64 ships and send them with proper necessaries to make one or more settlements in the islands just described ? And would not such a plan be more likely to be brought to perfection by those people who have been accustomed to a similar life than by any others? Most certainly it would, and Great Britain cannot dispose of them better, or place them in a situation from whence a better return of commercial advantages might in a few years be expected; for it must be admitted as incontrovertible that the more nations or countries there are to whom commerce is familiar, and the greater the intercourse with foreign and even distant parts, the more frequent exchange of commodities there must be, and the most industrious people will engross the greatest share of the benefits resulting therefrom.

To these considerations may be added another, in which the peace, good government, and, I may add, the morals of the people of this country are materially concerned. I mean the disposal of convicts, which of late have not only been expensive, but have been confined in a manner disgraceful to the humanity of our character. Instead of being removed for ever from the society whose laws they had violated, and thereby forfeited all the privileges as citizens, they have been formed into and kept in distinct societies for the more compleat information and instruction of every new comer, and after the expiration of a certain time have been permitted to return to the community not reformed in their noxious principles, but confirmed in them. A few moments of reflection will carry proof to every man’s mind of the certain tendency of strengthening vicious habits by association, and it must follow of consequence that having served out their time and being discharged into the world they must starve or return to their old trade and be hanged, for however desirous some of them might be to become good subjects, what person will receive one of them into his family or employ him in any service about his house, or where will he find a village, town, or parish to receive him without reproach ? Thus repelled from society, these unhappy creatures are driven to avail themselves of their former experience, and perhaps three or four years’ theoretical information, to a renewal of their crimes, and the public are like to suffer more in second practice than they did in their first outsett.

For these obvious reasons, both on the score of sound policy as well as humanity, and because convicts can no longer be sent to America, nor to any other of our remaining colonies or islands, without a great probability of their returning, or being otherwise detrimental to the manufactures of this country, it is proposed to transport them to some more distant situation page 65 and to place them where all temptation to a renewal of their crimes is wanting, and where necessity will indicate a different conduct, which will ultimately produce more essential benefits to themselves, and restore them perhaps to a future intercourse with their mother country.

If it were necessary it might easily be proved in many ways that the greatest temptation to all thefts and robberies (except for ready money and food) is the facility of disposing of stolen goods without discovery. Could that inducement be removed, the temptation to such actions would be annihilated, and men remain honest for want of a temptation to be otherwise. But in great towns and populous places that is impracticable; it becomes, therefore, absolutely necessary rigorously to execute every offender, or to remove him as soon as discovered. The latter mode seems most consistent with humanity as well as reason, because all punishments are inflicted to prevent repetition, seeing that they cannot prevent the perpetration of what is past.

Under this idea of the propriety of removal from temptation, in preference to temporary or occasional punishment, it may be urged that the Navy, the Army abroad, and particularly the service of the East India Company, have received many atrocious offenders and converted them to useful subjects, because they have been placed in a situation where a contrary inclination was not reducible to practice.

The same idea might be extended farther by supposing that fifty men and as many women, or any given number of convicts of both sexes, were sent to any part of New Zealand or New South Wales, or any part of the new discoveries proper for the experiment, and there landed with animals, seeds, implements, and other necessaries of life proper for the climate and country. It is easy to foresee that tho’ they might at first quarrel and commit outrages on each other, yet in a short time mutual convenience and security would unite them into social bonds, and some form of government would take place even tho’ none should be given them. America is greatly obliged to similar circumstances for part of her population; and it would be some consolation to this country for the expence of transportation that the imputation of cruelty would be removed with the offending part of the community.

After combating so many objections, it is possible the utility of the general diea of this plan will be admitted; but then it will be urged the distance is too great, and that an infant colony or colonies cannot be supported without a great expence, which must be repeated yearly in some degree without any return. page 66 Should that be the case, the circumstance is not unprecedented, for North America, tho’ so much nearer to Europe, did not for many years make any return worth notice for the expence of property and lives sunk in the several establishm’ts made thereon; and its proximity to Great Britain operated rather disadvantageously than the reverse, because there was a continual claim of protection and support, till the connection was lately broken by an entire separation of interests.

The countries now in contemplation will not be so near as to be constantly asking and drawing the same supplies, nor will the same fatal effects by a renunciation of dependence ever be experienced from them. This distance will promote the practice of navigation more than adjacent countries, and the voyage will not be longer than it usually is to either coast of India. The Discovery and Resolution left Plymouth the 1st August, 1776, arrived at the Cape of Good Hope the 31st October, staid there a month, sailed from thence the 1st December, and after going out of the direct tract in quest of Desolation Island, where they staid a week, made New South Wales the 23rd January, being no more than four months and seventeen days in the actual run from England to the east side of New Holland. From hence it seems practicable to go thither, unload, take in another cargo, and return in twelve months.

Should other inducements be wanting to give a serious consideration to some enterprize of the kind pointed out, and to derive some immediate, or lay the foundation for some future, advantages to be drawn from the discoveries of Captain Cook and other circumnavigators, many objects not undeserving notice might be enumerated. But surely enough has been said to merit a discussion. When that is entered on it will be time enough to be more minute, and to point out how easily a supply of quadrupeds and other animal provisions, as well as grain, pulse, vegetable plants, shrubs, trees, and seeds of all kinds, may be had in a fortnight from the Island of Sava or from Java, or in three weeks from the coast of Sumatra. It might also be shewn how easy it would be to draw useful inhabitants thither from the Malay Islands, and even from China, and, of course, to introduce the natural productions as well as arts and manufactures of these countries. In short, if the whole sea-coast and interior parts of New Holland were peopled in any comparative degree with Europe, Asia, or America, it would receive and return objects of commerce equal to any quarter of the Globe.