known, and it was understood that the British Government
would encourage immigration of free settlers. The charter
enabled the company to cultivate, to depasture stock, to
lend money on mortgage, and promote fisheries, but not to
become bankers or merchants. Their grant of land was to
be 500,000 acres on the North-West Coast. Works of mag-
nitude were to be undertaken. For each convict employed
there was to be a remission of quit-rent to the amount of
£16. The total quit-rent was £468 16s. per annum.
Another company of smaller dimensions, the New South
Wales and Van Diemen's Land Establishment," was founded
about the same time. Both companies expended large sums
in importing live stock. Colonel Sorell, in 1820, had taken
the first step to improve the wool grown in the colony, by
importation of Merino sheep, which John Macarthur supplied from Camden, under an arrangement by which the
Crown exchanged land at the Cow-pastures for sheep delivered. Sorell allotted the sheep to "those whom he considered most capable of giving attention to the improvement of their flocks.[1] From Sorell's judicious importation
the trade of Van Diemen's Land in wool may be said to
date. When the island was separated from the government
of New South Wales its population was about 12,000. It was
able, nevertheless, to export wheat to Sydney, and to prosecute whaling with vigour. The revenue derived from the
custom-house was the principal local contribution (upwards
of £20,000) to the expenses of government. But the Imperial exchequer bore the brunt of maintaining the establishments.
After the arrival of Colonel Arthur in 1824 the fortunes of Van Diemen's Land were greatly dependent upon his sagacity and strength of will, even before the separation of the local government from that of New South Wales was effected. The community which Arthur found was peculiar. There were more than twelve thousand souls in 1824. Of these, 266 were military guards. There were 9250 male civil inhabitants, of whom no less than 5470 were convicts. There were 2250 free women, and 470 convict women. There were many freed persons amongst those styled free. In 1831 the numbers had been augmented to 8392 free
- ↑ Bigge's Report.
