426 JAMES MARIA MATRA'S 1783 'nrith Japan and Korea. New Zealand timber for shipping^. The trade in spices. Spices may be culti* vated. Emigration policy. smuggled to Japan by the Russians, which, as it is taken hy land carriage from St. Petersburgh to Kamschatka, and then to the islands by a very precarious navigation in boats, must be ex- tremely dear. The Japanese, however, go in their junks to the islands and purchase great quantities of it. The peninsala of Korea, a kingdom tributary to the Chinese, and unvisited by Europeans, has its supply at second-hand from the Japanese. No ship has ever attempted this commerce, except* ing once or twice that the Spaniards ventured thither from their American dominions, but as the inhabitants of New Spain are but indifferent navigators for the high, cold latitudes, they could not oftener repeat the enterprize. It may be seen by Captain Cook's Voyage that New Zea]and is covered with timber of size and every quality that indicates dura- tion ; it grows close to the water's edge, and may be easily ob- tained ; would it not be worth while, for such as may be despatched to New South Wales, to take in some of this timber on their return for the use of the King's yards 1 As the two countries are within a fortnight's run of each other, and as we might be of the utmost service to the New Zealanders, I think it highly probable that this plan might become eminently useful to us, as a naval power especially, as we might thus procure masts, a single tree of which would be large enough for a first-rate ship, and planks superior to any that Europe possesses. By the Preliminary Articles of Peace with Holland we are en- titled to a free navigation of the Molucca Seas. Without a settle- ment in the neighbourhood the concession is useless, for the Dutch have an agent almost on every island in those seas. If we have a settlement it is unnecessary ; for as spices are the only articles we could expect by it, it is probable we should stand in no need of their indulgence ; for as pai-t of New South Wales lies in the same latitude with the Moluccas, and is even very close to them, there is every reason to suppose that what nature has so bountifully bestowed on the small islands may also be found on the larger. But if, contrary to analogy, it should not be so, the object is easily supplied, for as the seeds are procured without difficulty, any quan- tity may speedily be cultivated. To those who are alarmed at the idea of weakening the Mother Country by opening a channel for emigration, T must answer that it is more profitable that a part of our countrymen should go to a new abode where they may be useful to us, than to the American States. If we cannot keep our subjects at home, it is sound policy to point out a road by following of which they may add to the national strength. The place which New South Wales holds on our globe might give it a very commanding influence in the policy of Europe. If a colony from Britain was established in that large tract of country. Digitized by Google
