272 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [Seftember, 



wards of eleven thoufand bufhels of maize ; and bills for the amount 

 were drawn by him in favour of the refpecYive fettlers ; but, requiring 

 the fan&ion of the Lieutenant-Governor ofSydney, they were now.fent 

 thither. Mr. King had been partly induced to make this provisional 

 kind of purchafe, under an idea that the corn would be acceptable at 

 Port Jackfon, and alfo in compliance with the conditions on which 

 the fettlers had received their refpeclive allotments under the regula- 

 tions of Governor Phillip ; that is to fay, that their overplus grain and 

 flock mould be purchafed from them at a fair market price. Being, 

 however, well flocked with that article, the Lieutenant-Governor did 

 not think himfelf juftifiable in putting the crown to fo great an ex- 

 pence, and declined accepting the bills. Mr. King could, had it been 

 wanted, have furnifhed twenty thoufand bufhels of maize, much of 

 which muft now inevitably perifh, unlefs the fettlers would, agree- 

 ably to a notification which the Governor intended to fend them, re- 

 ceive their corn again from the public (lores, which did not appear 

 very likely, as feveral of them had already given up their farms on 

 the Lieutenant-Governor of Norfolk Ifland refufing to purchafe their 

 fecond crops ; and it was reported, that, moil of the marine fettlers in- 

 tended to follow their example. 



This circumflance naturally gave rife to an inquiry, what would be 

 the confequence if ever Government fhould, from farming on their 

 own account, raife a quantity of wheat and maize fufEcient for the 

 confumption of thofe in the different fettlements who were victualled 

 by the Crown ? If fuch a fyflem mould be adopted, the fettler would 

 be deprived of a market for his overplus grain, would find himfelf cut 

 off from the means of purchafing any of thofe comforts which his fa- 

 mily muft inevitably require, and would certainly quit a country that 

 merely held out to him a daily fubfiflence ; as he would look, if he 

 was ordinarily wife, for fomething beyond that. It might be faijd* 

 that the fettler would raife flock for the public ; but Government 

 1 would do the fame, and fo prevent him from every chance of pro- 

 viding for a family be yond the prefent day. 



As- 



