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tS ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [1788. 



for drefling flax, &c. and provifions for fix months; before the expi-v 

 ration of which time it was defigned to fend them a frefh fupply. 



Norfolk Ifland is fituated in the latitude of 29 0 South, and in lon- 

 gitude 168 0 10' Eaft of Greenwich, and was fettled with a view to 

 the cultivation of the flax plant, which at the time when the ifland 

 was difcovered by Captain Cook was found growing moft luxuriantly 

 where he landed; and from the fpecimens taken to England of the 

 New Zealand flax (of which fort is that growing at Norfolk Ifland), 

 it was hoped that fome advantage to the mother-country might be 

 derived from cultivating and manufacturing it. 



Houfes for the reception of the ftores were begun as foon as fuffi- 

 cient ground was cleared for that purpofe ; and it was found moft to 

 the advantage of the public fervice to employ the convi&s in talk- 

 work, allotting a certain quantity of ground to be cleared by a cer- 

 tain number of perfons in a given time, and allowing them to employ 

 what time they might gain, till called on again for public fervice, 

 in bringing in materials and ere&ing huts for themfelves. But thefe 

 unfortunate people for the mod part preferred pafling in idlenefs the 

 hours that might have been fo profitably fpent, ftraggling into the 

 woods, or vifiting the French ihips in Botany Bay. M. de Clonard, 

 the captain of the Aftrolabe, (who brought round fome difpatches from 

 M. de la Peroufe, which that officer requefted might be forwarded to 

 the French ambaffador at the court of London by the flrft of our 

 \ tranfports that might fail from thence for Europe,) informed the Go- 

 vernor, that they had been daily vifited by the convicts, many of 

 whom foliated to be received on board before their departure, pro- 

 mifmg (as an inducement) to be accompanied by a number of fe- 

 males. M. de Clonard at the fame time allured him, that the general 

 (as he was termed by his officers and people) had given their folici- 

 tations no kind of countenance, but had threatened to drive them away 

 by force. 



Among the buildings that were early erected was an obfervatory on 

 the weftern point of the Cove, to receive the aftronomical inftru- 



ments 



