n what security we slept, and the precautions we used in the
night. When the bells of the ships in the harbour struck the hour of the
night, and the centinels called out on their posts "All's well," they
observed a dead silence, and continued it for some minutes, though
talking with the greatest earnestness and vociferation but the moment
before. After having remained a considerable time they departed without
interchanging a syllable with our people.

CHAPTER XVII.

Some Thoughts on the Advantages which may arise to the Mother Country
from forming the Colony.

The author of these sheets would subject himself to the charge of
presumption, were he to aim at developing the intentions of Government
in forming this settlement. 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. And admitting the position,
the parent country will still have to supply us for a much longer time
with every other necessary of life. For after what we have seen, the
idea of being soon able to breed cattle su