PROPOSAL FOR A SETTLEMENT. 431 be at for their support, they may be established more comfortably, 1786 and with a greater prospect of success, than in any other place hitherto pointed out for them. The very heavy expense Government is annually put to for transporting and otherwise punishing the felons, together with the Felons, facility of their return, are evils long and much lamented. Here is an asylum open that will considerably reduce the first, and for ever prevent the latter. Upon the most liberal calculation, the expense of this plan cannot exceed <£3,000,. for it must be allowed that ships-of-war are as Expense, cheaply fed and paid in the South Seas as in the British Channel. Had I the command of this expedition. I should require a ship- of-war — say the old Eainbow, now at Woolwich, formerly a ship of forty guns — as the best constructed for the purpose of any in the ships navy, with only half her lower-deck guns, and two hundred and '^"*"^- fifty men, one hundred of which should be marines ; a store-ship, likewise, of about six hundred tons burthen, with forty seamen and ten marines ; and a small vessel of about one hundred tons, of the brig or schooner kind, with twenty men, both fitted as ships-of-war, and commanded by proper officers. The large ship is necessary for receiving fifty of the felons, pro- visions, and stores, with a variety of live stock and plants from England and the Cape of Good Hope. She is more particiilarly wanted as a guard-ship to remain in the country at least two years Guard^ip. after her arrival, or longer, as may be found necessary, to protect the settlers, <kc. The store-ship is required for taking an addi- store-ship, tional quantity of provisions to serve until we are about to raise some for ourselves ; the brig or schooner is principally wanted to exploi-e the coast on our anival : for, notwithstanding a convenient Exploring place is already mentioned for the purpose, nature and experience "^P* inform me a navigable river maybe found on such an extensive coast, which, when discovered, she maybe then despatched to England with an account of our proceedings. In the meantime the store-ship may be sent to the Friendly Islands for inhabitants and useful plants. The settlement being thus established, any difficulties that may arise from the great distance of New South Wales are obviated in the manner following : — The China ships belonging to the East ^"^J^ India Company, after leaving the Cape of Good Hope, and keeping ships. more to the southward than usual, may land the felons on the coast, and then proceed to the northward round New Ireland, &c. ; or through Saint George's Channel, and so on to the Island For- mosa for Canton. With a little geographical and nautical investi- gation, this passage will be found more short, easy, and a safer navigation than the general route of the China ships from Madras through the Straits of Malacca. Perhaps the number of the felons after the present are disposed of may not require more than two ships in the course of a year. Digitized by Google
