256 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [June, 



gentleman, who had before fpeculated in that country, had in his re- 

 turn from thence flopped at the Ifland of Tinian, which place he now 

 reprefented as well calculated to furriifh a freight of cattle for the 

 colony. Of the conduct of feveral convicts whom he had taken home 

 with him he gave no favourable account, nor any hope that they were 

 reformed by having paid the penalty oT their former crimes. 



Captain Page at fir ft thought he had come to a bad market with his 

 provifions at leaft ; for the day was at laft arrived when the colonifts 

 found themfelves enabled to fay that they were not in want of any 

 cafual fupplies; but by the end of the month he declared himfeif fa- 

 tisfied with the voyage that he had made. 



It may fafely be pronounced, that the colony had never before 

 worn fo favourable an appearance as at this period : the public ftores 

 filled with wholefome provifions ; five fhips on the feas with additional 

 fupplies; and wheat enough in the ground to promife the realizing 

 of many a golden dream ; a rapidly increasing flock ; a country gra- 

 dually opening, and improving every where upon the beholders as it 

 opened ; with a fpirit univerfally prevalent of cultivating it. 



The fhips which had lately arrived from England were fraught 

 with the difmal and ill-founded accounts, which, through fome evil 

 defign, continued to be infidioufly propagated, of the wretched un- 

 profitable foil of New South Wales. It was hoped, however, that 

 when the prefent appearance and flate of the colony fhould reach 

 England, every attempt to miflead the public would ceafe, and fuch 

 encouragement be held out as would induce individuals to fettle in 

 the country. 



In the Halcyon had arrived an American gentleman (Mr. W. 

 Megee) in character of fupercargo. This perfon, on feeing the Toon- 

 gabbe hills covered with a mofl promifing crop of wheat, declared that 

 he had never feen better in America, even at Rhode Ifland, the garden 

 of that part of the world ; and, on being fhewn fome Indian corn 

 of the laft year's growth, gave it as his opinion, that they wanted 

 nothing but large herds of grazing cattle, to be a thriving, profperous, 



and 



