History of New South Wales From the Records
VOLUME 1 - GOVERNOR PHILLIP 1783-1789

G. B. Barton - 1889

PART III

Sir George Young's Proposal

 

The following is a rough outline of the many advantages that may result to this nation from a settlement made on the coast of New South Wales:-

ITS great extent and relative situation with respect to the eastern and southern parts of the globe is a material consideration. Botany Bay, or its vicinity, the part that is proposed to be first settled, is not more than one thousand six hundred leagues from Lima or Baldivia, with a fair open navigation, and there is no doubt but that a lucrative trade would soon be opened with the Creole Spaniards for English manufactures. Or suppose we were again involved with a war with Spain; here are ports of shelter and refreshment for our ships, should it be necessary to send any into the South Sea.

From the coast of China it lies not more than about one thousand leagues, and nearly the same distance from the East Indies, from the Spice Islands about seven hundred leagues, and near a month's run £rom the Cape of Good Hope.

The variety of climates included between the 44th and the 10th degrees of latitude gives us an opportunity for uniting in one territory almost all the productions of the known world. To explain this more fully, I will point out some of the countries which are situated within the same extent of latitude, on either side of the Equator: they are China, Japan, Siam, India, Persia, Arabia Felix, Egypt, Greece, all Turkey, the Mediterranean Sea, Italy, Spain, South of France and Portugal, with Mexico, Lima, Baldivia, and the greatest part of the Pacific Ocean, to which may be added the Cape of Good Hope, &c.

From this review it will, I think, be acknowledged that a territory so happily situated must be superior to all others for establishing a very extensive commerce, and of consequence greatly increase our shipping and number of seamen. Nor is it mere presumption to say the country is everywhere capable of producing all kinds of spice, likewise the fine Oriental cotton, indigo, coffee, tobacco, with every species of the sugar-cane; also tea, silk, and madder. That very remarkable plant known by the name of the New Zealand flax plant may be cultivated in every part, and in any quantity our demands may require. Its uses are more extensive than any vegetable hitherto known, for in its gross state it far exceeds anything of the kind for cordage and canvas, and may be obtained at a so much cheaper rate than those materials we at present get from Russia, who may, perhaps, at some future period, think it her interest to prohibit our trade for such articles, and the difficulties that must arise in such a case are too obvious to mention, but are everywhere provided against in this proposal.

With but a trifling expense and a little industry we may, in the course of a few years, establish a commercial mart on one island comprehending all the articles of trade in itself, and every necessary for shipping, not to mention the great probability of finding in such an immense country metals of every kind.

At a time when men are alarmed at every idea of emigration, I wish not to add to their fears by any attempt to depopulate the parent State; the settlers of New South Wales are principally to be collected from the Friendly Islands and China; all the people required from England are only a few that are possessed of the useful arts, and those comprised among the crews of the ships sent out on that service.

The American loyalists would here find a fertile, healthy soil, far preferable to their own, and well worthy their industry, where, with a very small part of the expense the Crown must necessarily be at for their support, they may be established more comfortably, and with a greater prospect of success, than in any other place hitherto pointed out for them.

The very heavy expense Government is annually put to for transporting and otherwise punishing the felons, together with the facility of their return, are evils long and much lamented. Here is an asylum open that will considerably reduce the first, and for ever prevent the latter.

Upon the most liberal calculation, the expense of this plan cannot exceed £3,000, for it must be allowed that ships-of-war are as cheaply fed and paid in the South Seas as in the British Channel.

Had I the command of this expedition, I should require a ship-of-war - say the old  Rainbow, now at Woolwich, formerly a ship of forty guns - as the best constructed for the purpose of any in the ships navy, with only half her lower-deck guns, and two hundred and fifty men, one hundred of which should be marines; a store-ship, likewise, of about six hundred tons burthen, with forty seamen and ten marines; and a small vessel of about one hundred tons, of the brig or schooner kind, with twenty men, both fitted as ships-of-war, and commanded by proper officers.

The large ship is necessary for receiving fifty of the felons, provisions, and stores, with a variety of live stock and plants from England and the Cape of Good Hope. She is more particularly wanted as a guard-ship to remain in the country at least two years after her arrival, or longer, as may be found necessary, to protect the settlers, &c. The store-ship is required for taking an additional quantity of provisions to serve until we are about to raise some for ourselves; the brig or schooner is principally wanted to explore the coast on our arrival: for, notwithstanding a convenient place is already mentioned for the purpose, nature and experience inform me a navigable river may be found on such an extensive coast, which, when discovered, she may be then despatched to England with an account of our proceedings. In the meantime the store-ship may be sent to the Friendly Islands for inhabitants and useful plants.

The settlement being thus established, any difficulties that may arise from the great distance of New South Wales are obviated in the manner following:- The China ships belonging to the East Route for India Company, after leaving the Cape of Good Hope, and keeping more to the southward than usual, may land the felons on the coast, and then proceed to the northward round New Ireland, &c.; or through Saint George's Channel, and so on to the Island Formosa for Canton. With a little geographical and nautical investigation, this passage will be found more short, easy, and a safer navigation than the general route of the China ships from Madras through the Straits of Malacca.

Perhaps the number of the felons after the present are disposed of may not require more than two ships in the course of a year. The expense, therefore, attending the transporting of them by this method must certainly be much less than by any others whatever, without even the most distant probability of their return. Every ship may take any number of felons not exceeding seventy.

Necessary Implements
 

Iron in bars Forges and anvils Spades and shovels Spikes and nails Mattocks Pitchforks Axes of sorts Iron crows and wedges Saws of sorts Large hammers Mills Grindstones Cutlery Window glass Grain of sorts Fishing tackle Gardening tools Carpenter's tools Smith's tools Shoemaker's tools

Bricklayer's tools Mason's tools Cooking utensils Iron pots of sorts Shoes and leather Linen and woollen cloth Tinware Thread, needles, &c. Stockings Soap Hats and caps Wheels of barrows Seeds and plants Articles of trade with natives of the Islands Coals as ballast Some leaden pumps Scythes Pewter and earthenware.

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13/08/2005

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