is not yet too late to apply the
remedy; the malady which threatens the existence of the colony
has not yet attained to an incurable height, and if the proper
measures are adopted, prosperity and happiness may yet be seen,
where adversity and apprehension are at present discovered; and
the seeds of a new and powerful nation may not be doomed to
perish, before they have scarcely broken the ground which was
intended for the scene of their growth and expansion. I shall,
however, without farther digression, endeavour to point out other
means of improving the settlement than such as relate to its
agriculture.

The establishment of a post-office for the receipt of all
letters and parcels for private individuals, and for the dispatch
of those which are transmitted from the colony, would be
productive of essential service to the general interests, and
could be entrusted to some person of respectability, whose
remuneration might arise from a certain tax or postage: Such an
institution would prevent a number of letters from being lost,
delivered to wrong persons, or illegally obtained by such for the
purpose of sending to the friends of the person for whom they
were intended, with a view to obtain money or other property. It
has frequently occurred that boxes, etc. have been gained
under false pretensions, from on board ships which had arrived in
the port, and the contents of which have been worth a very
considerable value: The persons guilty of this crime, by some
means obtain the information as to the packages which are on
board, and then personate, or cause some of their connexions to
personate, those to whom the packages are addressed, on which
they obtain the property by only signing a receipt to the officer
on board. An office of this description would effectually prevent
the recurrence of such fraudulent practices, and would give a
security for the regular delivery or transmission, as well as the
security, of the letters, etc. which were entrusted to its
care. An oath might be administered to the superintendent.

The unfit clothing sent out for the convicts has been a
subject of sincere complaint, as being dispatched without any
regard to quality or comfort. I am therefore of opinion, that it
would be highly expedient to send out a considerable portion of
wearing apparel unmade, so that there would be an absolute saving
of the cost of making; for the wearers would feel much greater
satisfaction from being allowed to r