1807 16 Oct. Deeds of Bligh's farm. Arrival of and his brother Gregory. Blaxland's family. in the upper lands is now in ear, which, with the general crops in AND'W THOMPSON. 17th October, 9 o'clock p.m. P.S.-I open this on the receipt of your Excellency's to inform you, if you please, that I delivered you the transfer of Simpson's estate, and that your Excellency put it, with other papers, I think, into a desk on the bedroom table upstairs, and has no other papers of consequence relative to estates up here except the inclosed agreement of the overseer's, which I had kept with a design of settling with him myself, if pleased. He is a very serviceable, attentive, active man at present on these estates. I will take the liberty of waiting on your Excellency in a week's time with the little curiosities, &c. I have taken the liberty of sending a few, just caught, live fresh-water fish, hearing Captain Putland had a desire for such, and would be glad to send more at any time if acceptable. Sir, New South Wales, Sydney, 16th October, 1807. I arrived at this place the 3rd of April last, soon after which I deliver'd my papers to Governor Bligh, who has, I am sorry to say, totally perverted what you so kindly solicited and what, when I left England, I understood Mr. Windham had comply'd with, to whose letter-No. 1‡--I refer you. My brother, who arrived here about twelve months before me, and engaged with Government to employ a capital of £3,000, had granted him 4,000 acres of land, 40 convicts, and was allowed by Governor King 78 cows by paying for them by bills on England at £28 p'r head. He was provided with a passage to this colony for himself, family, and servants, and was permitted to be on the store eighteen months. I came here with a large family at my own expence, consisting of Mrs. Blaxland, four daughters, a governess, two female servants, a bailiff, a carpenter, a man for agricultural purposes, and a boy ; and as a remuneration Mr. Windham directed the stock I should * See also ante pp. 262, 267, 270, and post, pp. 389, 410, and 450. There is nothing to show to whom this letter was sent, beyond the opening paragraph, from which it is evident it was intended for some gentleman in England who had interested himself in Blaxland's behalf, most likely Sir George Shee, who succeeded Cooke at the Colonial and War Department. On the 16th October, 1807, Gregory Blaxland addressed letter to Windham complaining of similar treatment at the hands of Governor Bligh. Doubtless that of 31st July, 1806, ante, p. 117. obtain was to be paid for in produce of the land, either wheat or corn, and not young female calves, which is the only thing the Governor chuses to take-see agreement No. 2.* 1807 16 Oct. capital. allowed him ment of I must state to you, sir, that I left England with a disposable Blaxland's capital of £7,000,† and that I shew'd to the Governor's satisfaction that I was possessed of the property I agreed with the Government at Home to employ in this colony; notwithstanding which he will let me have only 60 cows, and the mode he has pointed out for payment tends to injure me very much-by taking the female calves, restricting me to so many generations, and not permitting me to make a return under four years. The Governor gives as a Cattle reason that he has not cattle sufficient to spare me more, but from by Governwhat I have seen of the different Government herds (in the whole ment. amounting to 3,554) the increase would be more certain were they more generally distributed among the settlers, as there were at the Seven Hills, at the time I drew my cows, two yards, not more than a quarter of a mile apart, in one of which was a herd containing 506, and the other 450. The consequence is that the feed about them is not sufficient for so large a number, and in the winter season, when the rains set in, being pent so close together, they poach the yards all over and stand up to their knees in mud. MismanageThere is not a spot for them to lie down on, and when a calf drops Government in that state it is very liable to be lost. The people about them herds. having no interest in the concern, the same attention will not be shewn as if they were in the hands of the settlers; and should a murrain break out amongst them it must prove of the most fatal consequences. The manure is likewise lost, which is much wanted for cultivation in the gardens and cornfields; so that a settler would get great support for his family from his garden, and with two or three cows would have milk and consequently be enabled to make a return by the produce of his dairy. But how great is the difference at a late sale of some of Mr. McArthur's stock, his A contrast. cows on an average fetch'd £70 p'r head, which puts it out of the power of the lower class of settlers to get them, and they are now compel'd to use as a substitute for milk, tea at twenty shillings a pound, and sugar of the most ordinary kind at five shillings a pound. The colony is drained of specie in payment of the enormous prices of tea and sugar; but if the cattle were more generally distributed those drains and expences would be considerably lessen'd, and the poor starving settlers would be gradually bettering their conditions, by which means they would have an interest in supporting the good order of the colony. * The terms of the agreement were that Government should furnish Blaxland with CO cows, 1 bull, 30 sheep, 1 ram, and 4 oxen. The returns were to be made at the rate of 20 young cows at the end of every two years until the whole was paid off. The oxen and buil were to be returned at the end of two years, or paid for; but nothing was said about the sheep. On the question of the amount of capital invested by Blaxland, see his evidence--Trial of Lieutenant-Colonel Johnston; Bartrum: London, 1811, pp. 288 and 303. 1807 16 Oct. A distressing scene. Bligh and The country now exhibits one scene of distress-a large portion of the farms deserted, the buildings down or tumbling down, the poor creatures almost naked, and many of them nothing but maize to eat. I have remonstrated with the Governor and told him he had not fulfil'd the engagements entered into by the Government, and observed that, from different conversations I had had with Mr. Chapman respecting the cattle, I was assured there would be no difficulty in obtaining them. At this he only laugh'd, and said, "What did a Secretary of State know about cattle; he should act as he pleas'd." In the situation I am now placed I shall be little more than a stock breeder for the colony; and at the expiration of the four years I shall have been at all the expence and labour of rearing the female calves and shall have only the male calves left for my reward. Allowing for accidents and what I gather'd from Mr. Jamieson, the principal stock-keeper, I have no reason to expect more than 50 calves the first twelve months, as some of the cows he put out are old and had but just had their calves taken from agreement them. The next eighteen months I may expect 50 more, and the concerning same number at the period of my agreement. Supposing them to be half males and half females, after paying back 60 I shall have left only fifteen female calves, which will not more than keep them at the original value at which I received them. But not being able to make a return untill after four years, and then restricting me to so many generations, instead of Mr. Windham's compliance being beneficial to my family it will prove the greatest injury— according to the mode of payment required by the Governor. I must, therefore, solicit your interferance to get the original agree ment fulfill'd. The cattle. Blaxland's land grant. The Governor has granted me 1,200 acres of land between Sydney and Parramatta* which was before considered of no value, at which place I have made an embankment and inclosed about 100 acres. It was subject to the overflowing of the river, but I Making salt. have erected a dwelling and a boiling house for the making of salt, and have appropriated about eight acres of land for the works. One of the men I brought here with me was many years engaged in that line of business in England. He says the reason the salt that is made in this colony will not keep meat is that the bitter is not extracted from it. The remaining inclosure promises to be very productive, as it resembles the marshes on the banks of the Thames, and should I find it succeed I have more of the same kind *Under date the 12th June, 1807, John Blaxland advertised in the Sydney Gazette as follows:-"Whereas His Excellency the Governor having granted to John Blaxland a certain track of land, known by the name of Newington Farm, bounded by the road leading to Parramatta, Duck River, Hacking's Creek, and the river leading to Parramatta. All persons are hereby required not to trespass, as they will be prosecuted as the law directs. -Jonx BLAXLAND, Parramatta, 12th June, 1807." Hacking Creek is now more generally known by the name of Haslem's Creek. which I propose taking in. It will be more certain than the Hawkesbury in consequence of the floods it is subject to-and appears to be equally valuable. 1807 16 Oct. vendors butchers. Finding my property likely to be soon swallow'd up, and things Milk taking so unexpected a turn, I thought it prudent to join my capital with my brother's, and have purchased a house and shop at Sydney, where I now reside. We milk twenty-nine cows, and sell the milk to the inhabitants, which is very eagerly sought after, particularly by the poorer class; and to secure the whole of the return from our stock, we have opened a butcher's shop, and sell and meat 3d. p'r lb. lower than any other person's. In consequence of the vast number of pigs destroy'd at the late flood at the Hawkesbury, it will be two years before they become plentiful. The wheat looks very promising, and if no accident happens the growing crop will produce enough for two years. I have mention'd the above circumstances to prove to you that I have not been inactive since my arrival in this country, and that you will favor me with your interest in getting a further supply of cows, Paying for as they give but little milk, and it requires a great number to keep the yard supplied, and that the first intention of paying for them in wheat or corn by equal instalments in seven years may be confirmed; for was the mode of payment just that has been proposed by the Governor, he should take the males as well as the females. the cows. lease. I am sorry to be compel'd to state so many disappointments Blaxlands and, consequently, unpleasant circumstances; but when the purchase Governor heard that Mr. Fleming had sold us the premises in which I now reside, he rode up and was very angry, and several times repeated we should never hold them after the lease expired, which has only eleven years to run, for which we gave £900. From the way we are carrying on the business we are compel'd to lay out a considerable sum of money in enlarging the milk-houses, sheds, and slaughter-houses; and as the premises are at the upper part of the town, and not near any Government buildings, I hope and trust we may be allowed to have that security in them that you think our expences and exertions merit. hemp. The hemp and flax grow very well. We have now sowed of Flax and the former two acres-as much as we could get seed for; and if proper attention is paid to its cultivation a large quantity might be sent to England. England. I am fearful I shall tire your patience with so long a detail; Accounts but knowing how anxious you are to learn the real state of the sent to colony, I have given a letter to a Mr. Williams, who has been here some time, and from what I have seen of him you may rely on the *On the plan of the Town of Sydney by Meehan (31st October, 1807, post, p. 366), two blocks appear as being leased by John Fleming. They were situated on opposite sides of High-street (George-street of to-day), at the spot where Market-street now intersects it. a The 1807 16 Oct. Governor's alleged severity. Robert information he gives you; and I have likewise given a letter to Mr. Fleming, of whom I bought the premises I now reside in, and who was serjeant-major in the New South Wales Corps some years, and has been sixteen years in the colony. He has saved money, and returned to England with a large family. He was originally a convict, but my motive for wishing you to see him was that he might repeat to you the conversation that passed between him and the Governor, when he declared we should not hold the premises again after the lease was expired; and as we gave £900 for it, and only eleven years for it to run, and as it is situated at the upper end of the town, and we are obliged to lay out a considerable sum of money to enlarge the milk-house, sheds, and slaughter-house, I hope and beg you will assist us in getting a further term in them. Indeed, I am so at a loss how to act that I shall feel myself particularly obliged by your advice. The Governor is behaving so very arbitrary that I do not consider either my person or property safe a single hour; indeed, I think it will not be long before I am sent to gaol. He has appointed Mr. Campbell Naval Officer, by which means he has, from the local Campbell. regulations of this port, those advantages as the principal merchant which the laws of England have very wisely ordered not to be. There have been reasons to suppose they have opened the letters of individuals; in fact, every species of injustice and oppression is exercised in its full force. He openly laughs at the laws of England, and has been heard to say, "What does he care for them; he will make laws for N.S. Wales which every son of a bitch shall obey." He has become proprietor of a considerable number of farms by purchase, &c.,* and has drawn stock from the Government herds to a great extent, which, with the handsome salary Government has allowed him, with other advantages, gives him a great superiority over every other person in the colony; and he appears most decidedly to attend to his private interest, having selected fifteen of the best men from the Government settlement at Castle Hill for his own farm, and giving me, after having ransack'd all the hospitals to make up my number of twenty-one, which is all the men I have been able to obtain out of eighty allowed by Government. Some of these are invalids, and the others the most atrocious characters. Bligh's farm. Useless labourers. King's claim on the wild cattle. Relying on your assistance in getting my original agreement fulfill'd, I beg to subscribe myself, &c., JOHN BLAXLAND. N.B.—I have been more surprised since I found out that the late Governor had taken from Government herd an immense *This is an exaggeration. Bligh certainly had a farm at the Hawkesbury (ante, p. 262, note); and it would seem, from evidence which came out at the trial of Johnston, and at the examinations of officers which took place immediately after Bligh's arrest, that some of the labour and stock of Government were diverted to it. |