and enterprise cannot accomplish all that remains to be done to render the settlement prosperous, it will not owe its failure to any want of attention to its interests on the part of Government."
The people were greatly pleased with the possibilities thus opened up to them, and important development work was done in consequence. New institutions were inaugurated, more stock was introduced, and an increased area of land was brought into use both for agriculture and stock. Over twenty vessels arrived at the colony in 1833, landing under a hundred persons, and cargo valued at nearly fifty thousand pounds. The population of the colony at the beginning of the year was estimated to be 1,511, exclusive of the military. The first sales of Crown lands took place in 1835, but as the community and outside persons evidently expected that radical alterations would be made in the government of the settlement, they seem to have preferred to wait before making extensive purchases. No sales took place at Perth, but at King George's Sound settlers paid £166 13s. for land, from which they obtained a remission of £40 as provided for under the new regulations.
The interest taken in the Swan River Settlement by Anglo-Indians was practically demonstrated in 1833. Colonel Hanson had been much pleased with his visit to Perth and to King George's Sound, and he proved a very zealous and influential advocate of the suitability of the place as a field for emigration. In 1833 a company was formed at Calcutta to initiate trade relations with Western Australia, and to take up land for settlement purposes. King George's Sound was designed to be the chief centre of the enterprise. The principal promoters of the company were Mr. J. Pattle, of the Civil Service, and Colonel Becher. The barque Mercury was procured to convey the first lead of passengers and stock, and prepared for the pioneer voyage. Among her passengers were Captain C. Cowles, H.C.M., J. Calder (late of the firm of Macintosh and Co.), W. Raynoe, G. Pattle, S. Beadle, jun., T. Nisbitt, S. Austen, and two European officers, one carpenter, and seventy natives of India. These gentlemen were preceding others interested in the adventure, to prepare the way and choose eligible sites for future operations. There were ten overseers and five mechanics connected with each, who, it is said, were sailing under engagement for five years, for the purpose of erecting buildings on the allotments of members of the company. While these improvements were being made, the vessel was to return to India for the families of the settlers. The families intended to permanently reside in the colony, but the gentlemen were to remain during the summer months only. It appears to have been the intention of the company to engage two or three vessels in the trade, so as to have regular communication, and also a vessel for whaling operations.
The Mercury left India in October, and was never again heard of, and as she was an old vessel she was supposed to have foundered at sea. Messrs. J. Pattle and Becher petitioned Sir John Gore, the Admiral of the Indian naval station, for a vessel to search for the Mercury, explaining that she was "provided with an extensive establishment of men and means for the purpose of obtaining land, and of ultimately effecting colonisation at that interesting settlement." They feared that she had been wrecked on the Keeling or Cocos Islands. The Admiral despatched H.M.S. Hyacinth in 1834, but she found no trace of the missing vessel. This loss was a blow to Western Australia, for at that period the presence of so well organised a company would have proved valuable. Subsequent efforts were made by Messrs. Pattle, Becher, and others to establish trade relations between India and Western Australia, and also to form a colonising settlement.
The Legislative Council, during its brief history, had been exceedingly busy, and by this time about a score of Acts were placed on the Statute Book, which generally received the ready assent of His Majesty's Government. They mostly provided for the appointment of officers, or were small measures suitable to the special emergencies of the settlement. Thus every person desiring to leave the colony was required to make application to the Colonial Secretary for permission to do so. This application was then published in the newspaper. The end sought to be obtained was to prevent fraudulent surprises upon creditors, and to enable masters of vessels to know whom they would be safe in receiving. Among the measures placed on the Statute Book in 1833 was a Quarantine Act, and an Act for the Regulation of Weights and Measures.
It was determined by the Government to appoint over each settlement a Government resident, who should supervise the ramifications of his particular district, and act in the capacity of magistrate. On 19th March, 1833, a distinguished officer, in the person of Sir Richard Spencer, R.N., was appointed by the Under Secretary of State, Mr. Hay, Government Resident at King George's Sound, at a salary of £100 per annum. Sir Richard had quite a notable naval career, and being on the retired list was desirous of emigrating with his family to Australia. Trustworthy sources state that as early as 1829 he went to London to purchase a small vessel to convey his family, settlers, and stock to Australia, but a serious illness changed his plans.
On the 13th September, 1833, he landed at Albany from the Buffalo, storeship, to take up his duties, and to branch out in productive efforts. He brought with him some fine merino sheep from the flock of Lord Western, one bull and two heifers of the South Devon breed, one Guernsey cow, two polled Suffolk cows, and one polled Cumberland cow, one horse, several mules and asses, a variety of choice fruit trees, pigs, poultry, and other colonists' complements. His family and those who accompanied him numbered twenty-one persons. Mr. Hillman, the surveyor, Mr. Morley, the Government Storekeeper, and Lieutenant Macleod were the chief officials at Albany at this time. Sir Richard has written that on his arrival at Albany there were only three houses standing besides those in occupation by the military and civil authorities. One house was occupied by Mr. George Cheyne, another by Mr. J. Geake, and the other was tenantless. The population, exclusive of the military, is variously given as seventeen persons and six respectively. One acre of land was under cultivation, and the only stock represented were three horses, three cows, and a few poultry. Sir Richard Spencer is looked upon as the founder of Albany; he took up his residence in the old house on Strawberry Hill, where he soon instituted several improvements, and which he made a centre of attraction for many years. So badly was Albany supplied with provisions that the people often went for months without fresh meat, and the food supplies were even more limited than they had been at Swan River in 1832. Spirits were exceedingly cheap, but famines occurred in food stuffs at Albany for some years. Immediately on his arrival Sir Richard wrote to the Colonial Office on the state of destitution in which he found Albany, but the reply he received was short and unsatisfactory. Sir Richard proceeded to apply his energies not only to improve the condition of those under him, but to lay the foundations of a new system of cultivation. Whalers continued to make spasmodic visits to the Sound. The road from Albany towards Perth was cut for several more miles during this year; the only other item of interest was a visit, on the schooner Ellen, of
