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A manufactory has been established for coarse woolen blanketing or
rugs, and coarse linen called drugget; a linen of a very good
quality has also been produced, which has been disposed of to
settlers, &c. and issued from the stores to those who labor for the
crown. The spinning has been done by the female convicts, and the
weaving, &c. by the male. The person who superintended this
department, for some time, was George Mealmaker, a well-known
political character in North Britain; but he has been dead some
years, and the manufactory, which adjoins the goal at Parramatta,
has been almost entirely destroyed by fire; consequently, the
progress which would have been made in this manufacture has been
greatly retarded. When I left the colony, however, a very deserving,
respectable, and persevering settler, at Hawkesbury, was about to
commence in that way on a very extensive scale; for which laudable
purpose he had sown several acres with flax and hemp, and I am
hopeful his exertions will tend to benefit the colony, to which the
establishment of a manufactory of this description has been long an
object ardently to be desired; and it is to be hoped, that the
effort of this new speculator will be crowned with that success
which it so eminently deserves.
The leather made from the skins of cattle, kangaroo, seal, &c. are
extremely good, and are tanned by a bark which grows in the
settlement, much sooner than a similar operation is performed in
England. The sole leather, in my opinion, cannot be surpassed in
point of goodness; and every improvement which can arise from
competition may be naturally expected, since there are several
persons who follow this line of business both at Sydney and
Parramatta.
Several potteries have been established; but the most celebrated
manufacturer of this description, named Skinner, lately died. His
dishes, plates, basins, covers, cups and saucers, teapots, and
chimney ornaments, were in a very superior style of workmanship; and
other useful articles equally handsome.
Tobacco-pipes, which, some years ago, at the cheapest periods cost
sixpence each, are now manufactured in the settlement, of a very
good quality, and are retailed for one penny each. The great
propensity to smoking which prevails throughout the colony, causes
an astonishing consumption of this article, and has well repaid the
original speculator.
Salt is made in great abundance from salt water; and large salt-pans
have been erected at Rose Bay, whence, and at Newcastle, great
quantities are made and sent to Sydney. A plan, however, had been
proposed to the governor, for making it by evaporation, which it was
supposed would be carried into effect; it was in agitation, and was
nearly brought to perfection when this statement was made.
Some very palatable beer is brewed in the settlement, at four
extensive breweries; one at Sydney, one at Kissing Point, one at
Parramatta, and the other at Hawkesbury; and a number of persons
brew their own beer. Some improvements here may yet be looked for,
since at present the grain is malted very badly in the colony, which
I attribute more to the want of proper utensils than any deficiency
of ability. In a short time also they will be enabled to grow a
sufficiency of hops in the settlement for every purpose, without
being compelled, as at present, to have recourse to the mother
country for this necessary article.
Eight wind-mills have been erected for the purpose of grinding corn;
and a water-mill, which had been erected at Parramatta, has, most
unfortunately, been destroyed by a flood, which came on some time
previous to my leaving the colony.
There are four auctioneers, or vendue masters, in the settlements;
two at Sydney, one at Parramatta, and one at Hawkesbury: They
usually charge five per cent. on sales.
The shops are particularly respectable, and decorated with much
taste. Articles of female apparel and ornament are greedily
purchased; for the European women in the settlement spare no expense
in ornamenting their persons, and in dress, each seems to vie with
the other in extravagance. The costliness of the exterior there, as
well as in most other parts of the world, is meant as the mark of
superiority; but confers very little grace, and much less virtue, on
its wearer, when speaking of the dashing belles who generally
frequent the Rocks, who may often be seen of an evening attired in
the greatest splendor, and on the following morning are hid from
public view with extremely mean attire.
Spirits are also bought up with astonishing rapidity; and, when
prohibited, will ever be obtained by some means or other, and I have
known it to sell as high as thirty shillings per bottle; the general
price by the retailer, however, is from ten to sixteen shillings per
bottle. Most of the people in the colony, male and female, give way
to excessive drinking. Wines are not so eagerly sought after, and
are therefore more reasonable than might be expected; but if the
rage for luxuries continues to increase in the same proportion as it
has done for the last few years, it must soon obtain an enhanced
price, and a more rapid sale. The evils consequent upon the
unrestrained use of these articles, are such as to justify the most
poignant regrets that they should be held in such estimation by all
descriptions of persons, since they have proved from their first
introduction into the colony, and still continue to be, the fertile
sources of social disorder, of domestic misery, of disorders, and of
death. It is to no purpose that the higher orders set examples of
sobriety and temperance; it is of no avail that the governor uses
every prudent exertion to restrain the immoderate traffic in these
pernicious liquors; threats, entreaties, and punishments, are
equally useless; and while spirits are to be procured, the
inhabitants will possess them at the price of every other comfort of
life.
While on this subject, I shall just take occasion to advert to a
singular circumstance respecting the specie of the settlement. The
copper coin which was sent out by government, and was originally
issued at the close of the year 1800, has most surprisingly
decreased, as very little indeed is now used currently. This
occurrence is so strange in itself, that I am totally at a loss to
account for it, on any principles whatever. Considering its rapid
diminution, I cannot conjecture by what means the circulation is
still kept up; nor, on the other hand, can I suppose that the coin
is caught up for the purposes of exportation, as it was issued in
the colony, in the first instance, at one hundred per cent. above
its real value. The scarcity of this specie, at all events, operates
as an obstruction to trade; and I think that some steps ought to be
taken to remove the cause of complaint, by filling up the deficiency
which has so unaccountably taken place.
The Present Picture Of New South Wales, 1811 |
