BT aROBB. 291 otherwise disposed of, and ^ib best land now in cnltivation is the 1708^ property of individuals. I have already, said what were the p^^^^n advantages derived to the colony by the aid aflforded from the "JJiJiJi^g public servants to officers upon their farms ; the labourers were better looked after, and the live stock was preserved. But there were at the same time considerable numbers of convicts dispers'd about in various ways, so as to have been completely lost to the public. Had those who had been so improperly disposed of been employ'd on Government's land already cleared, and in clearing at the more for the benefit of the public, I do not hesitate to say there the Ctovern- would not now have been the occasion to purchase so much grain ^^^ as we find at this time unavoidable ; but had that been the case, it wou'd have ruin'd the expectation of officers and settlers, whose interest appears to have been more considered." This statement mnst be read in connection with Grose's congratulatory report on the progress made during his term of office. It shows that while there were grounds for satisfaction at the development which had taken place in A^cniture
- -T under OroBe
agriculture, the results, to which the Lieutenant-Governor and Phiiiip pointed with so much pride^ had been obtained by a sacrifice of the public interest. Having at his disposal a larger number of workers than Phillip possessed, not men who were fainting with hunger and little capable of labour, but welU fed convicts, with strength to handle the hoe and spade, he disposed of them, according to Hunter's account, in such a way that the advantage which should have accrued to the Government was reaped by the officers. It is also to be noted that the best of the land then discovered had, according to The pick of Hunter's report, passed into the hands of the individuals. If no Crown reservations were made, this was the inevitable result of the system adopted, for those who took up land with a view to cultivating it would naturally select the spots that were considered best adapted for the purpose. according to whom the area of land cleared since the departure of Governor Phillip was as follows : — By ciyil and military officers, 9b2 acres ; by Govem- ment and yarions settlers, l,980i acres. CoUins states (toI. i, p. 865) that in the month of April, 1794, nearly 400 acres were sown with wheat on GoYemment account.
