isure to devote themselves to a
species of dealing which never failed to turn to good account.
Many who had also served their terms of transportation, instead
of remaining to aid the public service, withdrew themselves from
the stores, and turned their thoughts to trade. The consequence
of this universal inclination to one object, and that of such an
evil nature, being chiefly confined to the sale of spirits, soon
became obvious in the desertion of those farms which had been
previously tilled with so much advantage, and in the neglect of
all duties, whether of a public or private nature. The immense
profits made by this pursuit served as a new stimulus to its
continuance: One dealer was known to have cleared twelve hundred
pounds sterling in four weeks, and chiefly by the sale of
spirits; and an inhabitant of the lowest order, who commenced
dealing with five pounds, has been known to realize five hundred
pounds in the course of six months. It must naturally be
inferred, that the most base imposition must have been practised
to render this business so extremely lucrative, and the article
itself must have been diluted away to excessive weakness; but
while the temptation remained so strong, it is not to be wondered
at that such numbers of persons, in a colony of this or any other
description, should be found to quit every other object for a
free and full pursuit of one so full of attraction. Many of the
convicts soon acquired property in this way, and some of those
who had been in that unfortunate situation, by their good conduct
are now considered as respectable characters, and are in
possession of horses, carriages, and servants, with a sufficiency
to secure their independence during the remainder of their lives.
The military have also made considerable wealth by the same
course, and the consequence was the instilment into every bosom
of a consciousness of independence, which was fatal to that
strict subordination which ought to be maintained and enforced.
Non-commissioned officers were the principal actors in this
department, and being connected by the ties of common interest,
they formed a combination which interfered with the middle class
of inhabitants, since they could get on board any vessels on
account of their rank, which gave them the privilege of doing so,
without being under the necessity of obtaining a written pass for
that purpose. The principle of allowing a servant to enter into
traffic, is fraught with