July 1st.—This has been an unpleasant day (wet), and I have felt lonely. There was a severe frost yesterday morning, such as I did not expect to experience—the ice being half an inch thick in a wooden dish which was outside the house. I fear that it has injured my potatoes.
2nd.—A very lovely day. Walked to Perth, where we had a meeting of the settlers, and great speechifying and discussion; the result of which was, a resolution to request that the Governor would proceed to England as our representative, to state and explain to the home Government many points which could best be represented in a vivâ voce communication. His Excellency obligingly met the general wishes of the assembled settlers.
4th.—Sessions have been held and three persons sentenced to transportation.
5th.—I have this day read part of Mr. Dale's[1] journal of an excursion in the neighbourhood of King George's Sound, and will copy and send it to you if I have time; but it fills upwards of two hundred pages of a journal book. My opinion on reading it is, that the tract of country from this to King George's Sound, may be advantageously located when the time shall arrive (and arrive it will) that this colony becomes the fashion; that is, when people shall have ceased
- ↑ Subsequently published.—Ed.
