96
The remainder was met by the revenue derived from the sale of Crown property in the colony, namely, 3580 l. 1 s. 11¼ d.; and by the proceeds of the internal revenue, amounting to the sum of 2304 s. 12 s. 4¾ d.
When it is considered that the first land was given in September 1829, too late for growing crops till 1830, and that only FIVE harvests have been reaped; and when—and it is the only way to arrive at a just conclusion—“we look,” to use the words of the Report, “at the same period of any other colony on record,” the settlers may justly be proud of the position in which they stand. How premature and rash have been the opinions to which some writers stand committed! Where are the proofs of that “failure,” of which the author of the work entitled “England and America” speaks? And what can be said of the still more extravagant statements introduced into a very recent work from the pen of Colonel Napier, that the colony had existed for TEN years! and that the Governor had made a requisition for 600 soldiers![1] It is much to be regretted that the Colonel should have been so easily misled, and have taken apparently so little trouble to be correctly informed on the points to which he referred. The military force of the colony has lately been completed to 150 men; and the writer does not believe that any further increase has been contemplated or applied for by the Local Government, though that amount is certainly as small as is compatible with the wants of the colony.
- ↑ “I have heard, but cannot vouch for the truth of this assertion, that the Governor of Swan River Settlement wants more soldiers, and has applied for his force to be increased to 600 men!” From a work, entitled “Colonization; particularly in Southern Australia:” &c., &c, by Colonel Charles James Napier, C. B.” p. xxvi. In a note in the succeeding page, the Colonel quotes, on the Authority of the Hobart Town papers, the following passage:—“‘The Swan River Settlement CONTINUES to be affected with a scarcity of provisions,’ after being planted about ten years. Pray mark that, reader!”
