every variety of Button was used, that could be collected in the Ship—"thereby (Maude said)" to represent every department of the State. The man was so delighted, when he found it was to be given to him on his return, that his gestures were quite ridiculous.
I should mention that on Break sea Island, there are a vast number of European Dogs, evidently the produce of animals left there, by Ships passing. How they manage to subsist themselves, it is difficult to conceive; but there, they certainly are, and if a Ship in coasting along the shore, fires a shotted Gun at the rocks, she will be speedily answered by the loudest barking.
Every material for building is most abundant, at King George's Sound—the lime Stone is excellent, but the sea shells are piled up, in such enormous heaps upon the Beach, between the two harbours, that I should infinitely prefer them to any other lime. The shell are precisely the same, as those with which we make our far famed Chunam at Madras.
There cannot be the slightest doubt in my opinion, but that King George's Sound possesses local advantages far, far superior, either to New Holland or Van Diemen's land. After it attains any thing like comparative respectability as a settlement, it will, I am confident, supercede the whole of the Australian countries East of it.
Let any Man of common sense, examine a Map of Australia, he will see at once the Geographical superiority of its position, either as respects India or Europe. It is so completely within reach of Cape Lewin, that a breeze of a few hours will secure a passage round this only difficulty, and a ship may then go away with a flowing sheet, to any part of our possessions in the East Indies. It is worthy of remark also, that King George's Sound, is the most Southern land on that part of the Continent—nearly a degree more South than Cape Lewin, and consequently that distance to windward of it, if a ship should start in the first instance, with a fair wind and it should afterwards become scant from the southward—compare this I say with the struggle we are now making, in as fine a Merchant ship as ever swam, to beat in the very height of summer, 1500 miles to the westward! We left Hobart Town fifteen days ago, and we have not yet advanced one third of our voyage. I may further say, that during the whole of that period, we have been plunging about in Westerly Gales, and some days have made a distance of only five miles.
On the contrary, at King Georges Sound, during the whole of the last winter, the communication was never interrupted with Swan River—a ship has only to watch her opportunity for putting to sea, and in twenty-four hours she may be sailing North, with a fair wind to any part of the Eastern or Western world. The S. E. trade will secure her passage to the latter.
If you want a harbour, where can you obtain one more complete as to safety than that in King Georges Sound—it is in many respects superior to the Derwent at Hobart Town, for the entrance being narrow, the shores might be fortified to resist any invading Maritime force, and these fortifications, would be again commanded, by heights in their immediate vicinity. If you want climate, I maintain that the climate of King George's Sound, is equal to any climate in the world. As a Sanatarium for India, it would be invaluable—the weather is neither so bleak, so boisterous, or so trying to the constitution as that of Van Diemen's land, and yet it is far cooler than the climate of Sydney, particularly during the summer months, the hottest period of which never raises the Thermometer above 74°. The range whilst I was there during the month of November was from 70° to 73°.
Further I may ask, does not every ship on her outward bound voyage to Australia, pass the very threshhold of the harbour? and who will deny that a Merchant must find it much more profitable to dispose of a Cargo at the nearest Port than to proceed 1500 miles farther to the Eastward in search of a market, and remaining there probably six months longer before he can attempt to return.
It is surely quite impossible to deny these stubborn facts—in short I cannot help suspecting, that our friends to the Eastward, are fully aware of the truth and the prejudice at Van Diemen's land, which I must say, obtained against Swan River, was only proof to me of what I now assert.
I shall most probably again discuss with you the merits of this S. W. harbour. Mean time I may state, that we sailed from thence early in December, and reached Tasmania as it is now called, in about ten days, having enjoyed the delightful treat of a gale of wind, nearly the whole of the passage.
(The writer here describes his reception at Hobart Town, and the nature of the Society, but as we have already occupied so much of our space with this pamphlet, we must draw to a close; speaking of the climate, he states you may assure yourself of one of the finest in the world—perpetual spring, and perpetual verdure.) But if ever Swan River, or King Georges Sound, shall arrive at one fourth of the internal prosperity now enjoyed at Van Diemen's land, I think any Man would be mad to go further to the Eastward, in search either of health or property. The climate particularly at King George's Sound, is even superior I think, to that of Van Diemen's land; and it is absurd to say, that in a vast continent like that of Australia, the soil shall not be found as fine, and the advantages as great, as in any other part of the Eastern world.
One of the objections to Swan River, and King George's Sound is, the poorness of the earth, in the immediate vicinity of those places. This fact I grant to a certain extent at Swan River, though I have proved that it is capable of producing every sort of esculent vegetable for a Family, as fine in any part of the world; but this I altogether deny at King George's Sound, as in the immediate neighbourhood of the Town, there is the richest soil imaginable,—soil that has given the most abundant crops, wherever its richness has been tried.
In short they may say what they please, of the relative value of these different Australian settlements, but there is one fact, which I wish from my heart it was in my power to deny, rather than assert, and that was, the illiberal prejudice, that obtained against my friends at the Swan River, whenever I heard them spoken of at Van Diemen's land. One man told me that the whole country was a desert of sand,—another man with affected commiseration, lamented the fate of the unfortunate wretches, who were doomed to starvation there, and a third, assured me, that he spoke of the poorness of the soil, from personal observation, though I found upon enquiry that he had never quitted the shore about Fremantle. You might just as well judge the richness of an inland country in England, by the bleak downs on the Sea Coast near Brighton.
I have now endeavoured to give you as briefly and as fairly as I possibly can, the impressions I received during my late visit to the Southern Hemisphere. You will say they are far different from what I had expected after the gilded anticipations we received from—like all pleasurable anticipations I suppose they fall short of the reality, I therefore conclude this letter, by summing up the substance of my advice in a few words, as regards settling in either of these colonies.
A Man with a large family, and small means, should go to Swan River or King Georges Sound—to King George's Sound preferably if the place improves, as I hope it will do, when its capabilities are known—if a man has a large family and competent means, though not sufficiently affluent to permit him to reside in England, he should in my opinion proceed in the first instance to Van Diemen's land and there judge for himself. But if a man be affluent, compelled to leave India, on account of health, and anxious for employment to protect him from ennui, he cannot possibly have a finer field for his abilities, than by freighting a Vessel of 200 Tons and proceeding direct to King George's Sound—he should take with him a good establishment of Artificers, to commence Building a house immediately, and he should be supplied with a store of every thing he may require, for his family and servants during the space of one year; as I have no doubt that stock of every kind is at the present moment increasing to abundance at the Swan River, and that between this settlement and King George's Sound, there will be speedily a constant and uninterrupted communication.
Before I conclude this long letter, I should mention a circumstance, which certainly appears to me most extraordinary. The Island of Java, from whence the most abundant supplies could be drawn for Swan River, is within three weeks sail of that settlement, and there are numerous merchants who would gladly send vessels with provisions and stock of all kinds, if they dare do so without the certainty of being captured—but as it appears that any foreign flag would immediately become a Prize to the Sulphur Sloop of War, they are of course unable to render that succour to the Inhabitants, which would be a source of comfit to the one, and great profit to the other. Such however are the navigation laws, and to this hour a Dutch flag has never been seen there. I could write a great deal more upon this very interesting subject, but as I intend to write a letter, and not a volume, I shall now subscribe myself.
Your sincere and attached friend,
J. Hanson.
Perth January 6th 1833.
Sir,
The reappearance of a Colonial Paper is a circumstance to be hailed with feelings of satisfaction, by all who are interested in the well being of this (at present) small community. Nothing I am certain is more calculated to work out an effectual benefit to us, than a well regulated press, since it has ever been considered one of the most wholesome and powerful checks on immorality and vice; for when the press joins with the public in condemning and exposing vice, it not only gives weight to opinion, for the present; but perpetuates it to the punishment of the delinquent, and to the warning of the Public generally. Much benefit however as we have reason to expect in the points above mentioned, the advantages are trifling when compared with those to be derived from sending forth to the world a plain unvarnished tale, and correcting that opinion of our country which has been formed from the misrepresentation of interested parties who with unblushing effrontery, have neglected no opportunity of doing injury to this place; so far indeed have these false and shameless Heralds prevailed in poisoning the public mind, that Swan River is become another name for misery, and we who are now here are esteemed the most unhappy of the sons of men; but thank God, evil wishes affect not the course of nature, and although we may at present feel the injuries of slander, we can contemplate with a feeling of certainty that the future will give the lie to those who have done their worst to effect what they so much desired, namely, our ruin. It would be no slight punishment to those detractors, if they were compelled to witness the present state of the Colony, and the happy feelings which generally I may say universally prevail at the result of the late harvests home which realized all that the most sanguine could expect, and placed the Colony in a state of almost independence.
The absence of Governor Stirling from the Colony, has no doubt been made the occasion of renewing those representations of its condition which have hitherto prevailed, but it will be a part of your exertion to place the matter in its proper light by publishing to the world what is certainly felt here: that the Governors mission to England is undertaken for the purpose of correcting by a personal representation the erroneous views entertained of the settlement, and to obtain if possible a more liberal system from the mother Country towards us, it being unparalleled in the History of Colonization that any Settlement should be expected to maintain by Taxation, its Civil Establishment during its years of Infancy. This period of its existence must necessarily be a season of struggle and exertion, and calls forth all the means and strength of the Settler in establishing himself; all his outlay and expenditure, without chance of any immediate return, capital becomes transferred from the pocket to investments in buildings, stock, and labour, and every support and indulgence is necessary to enable the most skilful and industrious to stand against the heavy demands, until the time comes when he ought reasonably to expect a reaction from the fruits of his labour; should his strength fail before this time arrives, all his past exertions are negatived from the circumstance that his property is not convertible on account of the lack of funds among neighbours whose property like his own is confined to prospective returns from labour. In reviewing the state of the Colony it is pleasing to contemplate how much has been effected in the limited time since its formation, and how few failures have occurred. The knowledge of the capabilities of the Colony, and a feeling of dissatisfaction at the system adopted towards it has been I have little doubt, the occasion of the Governor's visit to England, and I think I may venture to say he has the strongest wishes of all here for his success, and also that, no evil may result to himself from the bold step he has taken.
I commenced this letter to you merely intending to add my meed of thanks for the recommencement of an undertaking so likely to be of benefit to the Colony, but I have wandered insensibly; trusting to your kindness for excuse.
I remain with respect
Yours truly
Amicus.
Edited, Printed, and Published by CHARLES MACFAULL, at the Gazette Office, Perth
Terms of Subscription.
10s. 6d. per Quarter, if paid, in advance, or l2s. if paid at the end of the Quarter.
Single number, One Shilling.
Terms of Advertisements:—For 8 lines, 3s. 6d. and 3d. per line above this number.
