1796.] OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 325 



On the firfl view of this fcheme it appeared very plaufible ; and it 

 was imagined that tlie execution of it would be attended with good to 

 the fettlement, by ridding it of many of thofe wretches whom there 

 w r as too much reafon to deem the greateft nuifances : but when it was 

 found that the recruiting officer was inftru&ed to be nice as to the 

 characters of thofe whom he fliould enlift, and to entertain none that 

 were of known bad morals, the governor perceived that the fettlement 

 would derive lefs benefit from it than had been at firfl expected ; 

 particularly as there was reafon to fuppofe, that feveral fettlers would 

 abandon their farms, and, leaving their families a burden to the More* 

 embrace the change which was offered. It was far better for the fet- 

 tlement, if any were capable of bearing arms and becoming foldiers 

 in defence of their own lives and poffeffions; and, by embodying them 

 from time to time as a militia, they would fave to the public the expence 

 of a regiment or corps raifed for the mere purpofe of protecting the 

 public ftores and the civil eftablifhment of the colony. 



Recruiting, therefore, from that colony for the Bengal army, being 

 a meafure that required confideration, and which the governor thought 

 fhould firfl: have obtained the fanction of adminiftration, he deter- 

 mined to wait the refult of a communication on the fubject with the 

 fecretary of ftate, before he gave it his countenance. At the fame 

 time he meant to recommend it in a certain degree ; as it was evident 

 that many good recruits might be taken, without any injury to the in- 

 terefts of the fettlement. 



Mr. Raven, the mafter of the Britannia, on his return from this his 

 fecond voyage to India, gave it as his opinion, " that the paflage to be 

 purfued from New South Wales to India, depended wholly upon the 

 feafon in which the fhip might leave Port Jackfon. From the month 

 of November to April, or rather from October to the beginning of 

 March, which ought to be the lateft period that any fhip mould attempt 

 a northern paffage,he recommended making Norfolk Ifland;and thence 

 pairing between the Loyalty Iflands and New Caledonia, to keep a3 

 nearly as circumftances would allow in the longitude of 165 0 eaft, 



2 until 



