vernor's despatches above-quoted, will evince the intentions of government in a still clearer light:—
"Downing Street, 10th Feb., 1790.
"Such settlers as have determined to go will embark in about six weeks with a master-miller and a carpenter. What the number of settlers may amount to, I cannot at present ascertain, but I think it will fall short of that stated in my last letter (No. 2) as having made proposals to government."
It appears from this extract, that previous to the date of the second letter, which was written by the Secretary of State to the first governor of New South Wales, and probably before any other intelligence had reached England respecting Captain Phillip than that of his arrival in Port Jackson, the government were taking steps for sending out a considerable detachment of free settlers to the colony: and means having been used at the same time to make known to the public the encouragement which the government would afford to those settlers of this description who should emigrate to the new colony, it appears, that so early as the year 1791, fifteen Quaker families had actually made proposals to government on the subject; from which, however, they were
