think his Volume p ro o f againft the rigid cenfo r : but to liberal criticiTm-
he fubmits, with the confidence o f a man confcious o f having neither
negligence nor prefumption to impute to himfelfi. He.wrote to beguile-
the tedium o f many a heavy h o u r ; and" when he wrote looked not
beyond the fatisfadtion which at fome future period might be afforded-
to a few friends, as well as to his own mind, b y a review o f thole hard-
fhips which in common with his colleagues he had endured and overcome
; hardlhips which in fome degree he fuppofes to be infeparable
from the firft efiablilhment of an y c o lo n y ; hut to which, from the
peculiar circumftances and- defcription o f the fettlers in this inftanee;
were attached additional difficulties.
In the progrefe o f his not unpleafrng talk, the A u th o r Began to
think that his labours might prove interefting beyond the fmall circle o f
his private-friends; that fome account o f the gradual reformation o f
fuch flagitious charadters as had b y many (and thofe not illiberal) per-
fons in this country been confidered as paft the probability o f amendment,
might be not unacceptable to the benevolent part o f mankind^
but might even tend to cherifh the feeds o f virtue, and to open new
ftreams from the pure fountain o f mercy * .
No r was he without hope, that through the humble medium o f this
H ifto ry , the untutored favage, emerging from darknefs and barbarifm,
might find additional friends among the better-informed members o f
civilized fociety.
W ith thefe impreffions, therefore, he felt it a fort o f duty to offer his
Bo o k to the world ; and fhould the objedts alluded to be in any degree
promoted b y it, he fhall confider its publication as the moft fortunate
circumftance o f his life;
* « It often happens,” fays Dr. Johnfon,. « that in the loofe and t-houghtlefs and diffi-
“ pated, there is a fecret radical worth, which may fhoot out .by proper cultivation ;
“ that the fpark of heaven, though dimmed and obftruAed, is.yet not extinguilhed, but
ft may, by the breath of counfel and exhortation, be kindled into flame.
* # * * # # * * * - * # # * * * # #.
' “ Let none too hafti-ly conclude that all goodnefs is loft,, though. it may for a time bo
“ clouded and overwhelmed; for molt minds are the Haves.of external circumftances;
“ and conform to any hand that undertakes to mould them; roll down apy torrent of
“ cuftom in which they happen to be caught; or bend to any importunity that bears hard
againft them.” . " R ambler, No. 70..
Occurrences
Occurrences fuch as he has had to relate are not often prefented to
the. P u b lic ; they do not, indeed, often happen. It is not, perhaps,
once in- a. century that colonies are eftablifhed in the moft remote parts
o f the habitable g lo b e ; and it is feldom that men are found exifting
perfectly in a ftate o f nature-; When fuch circumftances do occur,
curiofity, and ftill more laudable fentim'ents, muft be excited. T h e
gratification even o f curiofity alone might have formed a fufficient
apology fo r the A u th o r ; but he has feen too much o f virtue even
among the vicious to be indifferent to the fufferings, or backward, in
prompting, the felicities o f human nature.
A few words, he hopes, may be allowed him refpedting the Colony
kfelf, for .which he acknowledges what, he trulls, will be confidered
as at lead an excufable partiality. H e bore his fhare o f the diftrefies
and calamities which it fuffered ; and at his departure, in the ninth
year o f its growth, with pleafure faw it wear an afpedt o f eafe and'
comfort that feemed to bid defiance to future difficulties. T h e hard-
fhips which it fuftained were certainly attributable to mifchance, not
to mifcondudt. - T h e Crown was fortunate in the feledtion- o f its
Governors, not lefs with refpedt to the gentlemen who were fent o u r
exprefsly in that capacity, than in thofe on whom the temporary admi-
niftration oceafionally devolved.
Under G o v e r n o r H u n t e r , who at prefent prefides there, the-
refources o f the Country and the energies o f the Colonifts will affuredly1
be called forth. T h e intelligence, difcretion, and perfeverance o f th a t
officer will be zealoufly applied to difcover and fix every local advantage.
His well-known humanity will not fail to fecure the favage
lflander from injury or mortification ; reconcile him to the reftraints,
and induce. h im to participate in the enjoyments, o f civilized fo c ie ty ;
and inftrudt him to appreciate ju ft ly the bleffings o f rational freedom,
whofe falutary reftridtions are not lefs conducive to individual benefit:
than to the general weal.
W ith refpedt to the refources o f the Settlement, there can be little
doubt, that at this moment it is able to fupport itfelf in the article o f
grain ; and the wild ftock o f cattle to the weftward o f the Nepean will
foon render it independent on this country in the article o f animal
food. A s to its utility, befide the circumftance o f its freeing the mother
country