WHEN it is recollected how much has been written to describe the settlement of New South Wales, it seems necessary, if not to offer an apology, yet to assign a reason for an additional publication.
The author embarked in the fleet which sailed to found the establishment at Botany Bay. He shortly after published a narrative of the proceedings and state of the colony, brought up to the beginning of July 1788, which was well received and passed through three editions. This could not but inspire both confidence and gratitude; but gratitude would be badly manifested were he, on the presumption of former favour, to lay claim to present indulgence. He resumes the subject in the humble hope of communicating information and increasing knowledge of the country which he describes.
He resided at Port Jackson nearly four years, from the 20th of January 1788 until the 18th of December 1791. To an active and contemplative mind a new country is an inexhaustible source of curiosity and speculation. It was the author’s custom not only to note daily occurrences and to inspect and record the progression of improvement; but also, when not prevented by military duties, to penetrate the surrounding country in different directions in order to examine its nature and ascertain its relative geographical situations.
The greatest part of the work is inevitably composed of those materials which a journal supplies; but wherever reflections could be introduced without fastidiousness and parade he has not scrupled to indulge them, in common with every other deviation which the strictness of narrative would allow.
When this publication was nearly ready for the press, and when many of the opinions which it records had been declared, fresh accounts from Port Jackson were received. To the state of a country where so many anxious trying hours of his life have passed the author cannot feel indifferent. If by any sudden revolution of the laws of nature, or by any fortunate discovery of those on the spot, it has really become that fertile and prosperous land which some represent it to be, he begs permission to add his voice to the general congratulation. He rejoices at its success; but it is only justice to himself and those with whom he acted to declare that they feel no cause of reproach that so complete and happy an alteration did not take place at an earlier period.