The private alluded to in the letter is permitted to wear plain clothes, in consequence of being Messman to the Officers; and this is an indulgence granted to Messmen elsewhere. He is allowed, like the other married Soldiers, to reside in his own house in which his wife keeps her shop. The Messmen elsewhere are exempted from Regimental duty; this man (owing to the small force here,) is not. It is a natural and unavoidable consequence that he is frequently seen in the shop, as well as in other parts of his house; and that, at leisure times, he may be occasionally seen to assist his wife. This same individual, is alluded to have sold his ration flour at the rate of six shillings for four pounds. He declares this statement to be an utter falsehood. As to a Soldier's wife selling the rations of herself and children, should it prove advantageous to them, no commanding Officer would prevent it, and with him the decision of such points solely rests.
The quantity of flour, or other articles bought from the "Cornwallis" by the wife of this individual (for the assertion that it was bought for him or her, as they state, is a wanton falsehood,) is a point with which the public have no right to meddle. His Officers certainly have no such right. The supposition, that it is impossible for his wife to carry on any trade or business, because she can neither read or write; is contradicted by the actual experience of cases occuring within the Colony; cases so notorious, that only wilful forgetfulness can have overlooked them.
The writer of the letter referred to, evidently wishes to deceive his readers with the idea that he is advocating the cause of the Colonists at large; and that the practice which he censures is adverse to the interests of the Settlers generally. But unluckily, he defines "the Settlers" to be persons, who have come to this Colony to establish themselves in some trade or business; a definition which is strongly indicative of his own particular interests and motives, and will satisfy most of his readers, that he has really in view the interests of only a very small portion of the Settlers, of whom the great majority, it is confidently believed, will readily admit themselves to have received a decided benefit from the petty traffic carried on by the Soldiers wives at Perth; a direct benefit in point of convenience, and an indirect advantage from competition. The very few Soldiers wives who have engaged in trade in this Colony, have been distinguished for their good conduct and punctuality in matters of business, they, as well as others, have left "their friends and dear native Country," and have families to support. It is unjust, cruel and unmanly to attempt the ruin of a few industrious females, because they have prospered, (to the displeasure of interested envy and illnature,) in the pursuit of a lawful occupation, not prohibited by any law Civil or Military.
I am Sir,
Your obedient Servant
An Officer of His Majesty's 63rd Regt.
To the Editor of the Perth Gazette,
Sir,
In consequence of what appeared in your paper of Saturday last respecting a Meeting which took place not far from Perth, I consider it my duty to refute a statement that might prove injuriously erronious in its consequences, I beg leave to inform you Mr. L. did not send a Challenge consequently could not retract, and I take the liberty of adding whatever Mr. L's conduct might have been the proceeding evening, his behaviour on the ground was most honourable and Gentlemanly.
Mr. L's note is yet in existance, and I defy any person to construe it a challenge, or in any way animadvert, Mr. L's conduct on the morning in question, which was Wednesday and not Monday as was stated in your paper.
By given publicity to this you will greatly oblige
A Witness.
(Extract from the Launceston Advertiser.
The extraordinary panic that exists in our commercial world, and consequently affects every interest of our little body, is truly distressing. We do not pretend to foretell where it will end. Specie seems entirely to be withdrawn from circulation: nothing but notes being obtainable. It is with the greates difficulty exchange of a note can be made, except at the Bank; and unless some prompt measures are adopted, the cashiers, we foresee, will be drained by the Assistant Treasurer's drafts, and every fraction of our gold and silver will be locked up in the Commissariat chests. We shall be bankrupts; with effects to pay 40s. in the pound, if required. The county of Cornwall is still wealthy; but our wealth lies in flocks and herds, and land. One measure that will aid us will be, the people exercising confidence in each other, and giving time for re-action. The present dilemma is the effect of too great an indulgence in bill trading—and the sudden check given by the Banks limiting their discounts. Time will work a cure: but not until much distress has been felt, individually and generally. When the system has become thoroughly purged, we may look forward to a more healthy state of being than has been before known. But during the process of purification, many of the members of the community w11 be lopped off: they will not be able to stand so severe a shaking. Disease, which has long lain at the core, will break out, and the sufferer will not be able to recover before it is too late to rescue himself from the torrent of distress which hurries all before it to misery. Another method which would relieve us for a period, would be the non-payment of duties; by ceasing for a time to drink spirits. For this is one great, yea, the principal draw-back at present. The merchant draws his hogsheads of rum from the bonding warehouse, and hands over payment of the duties by cheques on the bank; these go into the hands of the Treasurer, who demands and receives payment, not in notes, but in specie—gold and silver; which he pays into the Commissariat - and there it lies, under lock and key. Unless some prompt steps be taken, we can scarcely bear to reflect on the consequence to our commercial world. When once we are extricated from our present maze, may we become more thoughtful and provident for the future. Let us endeavour to shut out foreign productions; and seek supplies of our own providing. If we must drink spirits let local breweries and distilleries be encouraged: that we may reap the double advantage of saving the enormous sums paid in duties upon foreign spirits; and of consuming the produce of our own lands—barley, and so forth. The experience of the past will be dearly purchased; and we should hope, would at least, be productive of good results in future days.
IMPORTED per "Thistle" 12 kegs Butter, 86 bars Iron, 1 bale Slops, 2 cases Stationery, 3 Hardware, 1 crate Tinware, 1 bundle—1 case Haberdashery, 1 cask Crockery, 3 cases and 2 bags Shoes, 1 cask Saddles, 1 case Bridles, 2 cases Starch, 2 bundles Chairs, 79 bags Wheat, 10 tons Flour, 1¼ Pollard, 43 bushels, Bran, 63 Oats, 800 split weather Boards, 5000 Laths, 21000 Shingles, 3 bags Hams and Bacon, 6 casks Harness, 1 chest Hardware, 1 bundle Wheels, 10 bags Wheat, 1 cask Beef, 1 bag Oats, 6 hbds. Rum, 2 puncheons, 1 case Hats, 1 chain Cable, 2 bundles Leather, 6 cases Brandy, 48 casks Flour, ¼ ton cheese.
THE
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN
JOURNAL.
The two Natives who arrived in the Thistle from King Georges Sound, are named Manyat, and Gyallipert. Their taking, to them, so distant and dangerous a voyage, shews in a most marked manner the beneficial confidence, which an uniformly humane, and kind treatment pursued since the earliest settlement of King Georges Sound, by every rank of inhabitant towards the Natives, has instilled, not only into the minds of these individuals, but into the whole of their tribe, with whose full consent they embarked.
Yesterday morning they were taken by two gentlemen Mr. Collie, Colonial Surgeon, and Mr. Mc B. Brown, to obtain an interview with their fellow Aborigines of Swan River, who were understood to be in considerable numbers at Monger's Lake, (at the back of Perth,) in order to ascertain the feeling and understanding that would ensue between them. Mr. Monger being met near his house readily joined the party; and to his former friendship and acquaintance with the tribe (w:Yellagonga's) the speedy and amicable interview which succeeded was principally owing, as the Swan river Natives betrayed considerable diffidence to the strangers; yet they eagerly entered into conversation with Manyat and Gyallipert. The two dialects are so different as to be understood by the two parties sufficiently only, for the interchange of the names of their respective districts, and those of some of the adjoining tribes.
The scene which was highly interesting was enhanced by Gyallipert and a man named Mundee exchanging skin cloaks, and the former receiving to boot, a most hearty salutation on both sides of the face from an aged lady, as a seal of this testimony of friendship.
The arrival of these natives will lead in every probability to the ultimate establishment of an amicable intercourse with the original possessors of the country, throughout the Colony, a result most sincerely to be desired.
We have received Launceston Advertiser's up to the 29th. of November 1832 but they contain nothing of importance. The opinions formed of this Colony upon the representations of individuals, either interested in condemning us, or incapable of forming a proper estimate of our merits, seem to have undergone a favourable change, the Journals contain many interesting letters from this place which being written by parties of character and respectability, cannot fail to restore to us that meed of Justice to which our exertions and various advantages have long entitled us Amongst the rest, we notice a letter from His Honour the Lieutenant Governor to a friend at Graham's Town, which originally appeared in the Journal of that place, and was subsequently copied in several other periodical publications. The correctness of the statements, as well as the authority from which it emanates, will be productive we have no doubt of considerable advantage to the Colony.
A new weekly Publication under the title of the "Hobart Town Chronicle" was to be published, by Mr. Ross the Editor of the Courier, at the commencement of this year. His ability and strictly honorable principles, will not fail to gain him extensive and liberal support.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
We perceive the difficiency in weights and measures is as sensibly felt in the sister Colonies, as in our own. In most instances we are disposed to believe the error arises from ignorance, and not design, we think therefore, it is high time our Shopkeepers were better informed. The Launceston Advertiser observes "It is a pity amongst the bakers, some individual cannot be found to adopt the system of weighing each loaf at the counter—in presence of the customer. This open display of honest dealing would soon amply compensate, the dealer, by the increase of trade which would in consequence take place.
The fine may be instructive here!! In the mean time it is to be hoped the attention of the Legislative Council, at an early period, will be directed to the establishment of some regular Standard. In the absence of proper weights we believe dumps and half-pence are frequently used.
SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.
Arrival.—The Thistle, Capt. Liddle from Launceston.—Supercargo Mr. S. G, Henty. Passengers Mr. John Henty, and two Natives from King George sound.
Sailed 17th. the Sir Francis Mc Naughten, Captain Alley, for Timor,—Passenger Mr. Edwards
