So much for the general features. Now for the working
of the plan : and, looking at the volume as a demi-official publication, the Spectator is perhaps to a certain extent implicated in its dis- cussion,—premising, that it is entered upon with no other view than to elicit truth, and, by well skaking opinions, to prove the sound ones. In the closing paragraph of our late notice on Miss ROBERTS'S Two Years at Sea, some remarks were made as to the propriety of having a complete survey of a country intended to be colonized, and of trying experiments in agriculture so as to find what productions were likely to succeed best, and to take the bene- fits of experience. In allusion to this it is observed— No one, of course, would assert that the survey of the country has been as complete as is desirable ; nor, we imagine, will it be denied, that the evidence in this case is more full than that which on most other occasions of planting a desert country was held to be satisfactory. A perfect survey would have been better ; but if we are always to wait for a perfect survey before we colonize, we must wait for a Government disposed to make surveys of unknown countries with a view to colonization. Besides, no mere survey would prove absolutely that a wilderness was fit to be colonized. In order to prove so much, you must . actually colonize, and if you colonize by driblets, beginning with a small "ex- perimental farm," the chances are, that so wretched a niode of colonizing will bestow a wretched character on the soil, however fertile it may he by nature. What has happened at the Swan River proves nothing against the soil of that set- tlement: the very same, or rather much greater distress, occurred in every one of our American colonies (except that of William Penn, who colonized on a large scale at the outset), where the land was by nature eminently fertile. Not nature, but the colonists, have generally been to blame for the unproductiveness of infant settlements. Half measures, bit-by-bit proceedings, are nowhere more dangerous than in colonization.
When Robinson Crnsoe was building his great boat, some mis- givings rose in his mind as to his power of launching it when done. These, however, were smothered by the remark, Let me finish it, and I warrant I'll get it to the water. The reasoning of the foregoing passage is something like that of Crusoe's. That the evidence of capability is as complete in the present case as in that of any former ones, may be true enough, and yet not say much; for most colonies have been founded hand over head—the very best upon insufficient examination ; and the result has been, much privation as regards the settlers, slow growth as regards the Settlement. Perfect surveys on the part of Government, with a view to colonization, are not to be reasonably looked for, unless • As lately recommended by an ingenious writer in the Spectator. Government itself founds the colony. All that the State can be expected to do, is to make a prima facie examination. In the present case, this has already been done both by the Government and by individuals : the report is favourable; and we hold that, on the part of the founders,a minute examination with specific objects should follow. A "mere survey might (not) prove absolutely that n wilderness was fit to be colonized." It would, however, afford better grounds for action, than an imperfect survey, or rather a superficial view, which is what the Society are now prepared to act upon. No craftsman is infallible even in his own trade; but his skilled opinion, directed to specific objects, is better worth having than that of uninformed and preoccupied minds. The re- ports of a surveyor on the qualities of soils, from their spontaneous natural productions and from their component properties —facts on which he might reason wrongly, but which he would hardly state untruly—would, we still think, prove pretty. well whether a " wil(lerness" was fit to be colonized or not. But a " wilderness" may be fit to be colonized, yet the colony may fail, or endure great privations, or waste much capital, from going forth without duo preparation, into an unknown territory, where they may have to seek that good land which they are not altogether skilled to find, or which cannot be found at all in the direction they may happen to travel. In these things, a "mere surveyor" can certainly be of use, and that beyond "fixing upon the site of the first town, and mea- suring some land there,"—for we learn, from a subsequent passage, that the suggestion of a survey may be adopted, though in a bit- by-bit manner. He can determine the qualities of the land, and the respective quantities of each sort. He can tell which site and which soil appear best adapted to tillage, which to pasture. He can, from the nature of the ground, form a better notion than sea-captains, as to whether it would be advisable to commence clearing wood, or to cut a road through it, and travel on to a richer soil at a greater distance. And he can present these matters so completely and so exactly to the eye upon paper, that persons competent to undertake the management of a farm can tell at O. glance what district seems best adapted to their purposes, and to what part they would first direct their attention. By the adoption of these means, the emigrants would be able to acquire distinct ideas on their first landing, proceed at once to examination, and then to action. The plan would precede the execution; the hand would not be over the head ; and all bustle, burry-skurry, and vain, anxious, and wasteful wanderings, would be lessened if not avoided. After all, surveys must be made, according to Act of Parliament, before land can be sold. To make them bit by bit, looks more like half-measures than a comprehensive survey at the beginning. In suggesting " an experimental farm," we did not consider it as a mode of colonization, but as a preparation for colonists—to prove by actual experiment whether a general knowledge of agriculture would suffice; or whether local experience must be superadded, as to what must be followed, what most be avoided ; and whether success was likely be to attained at all. The reports of the different voyagers have not shaken this opinion ; for they sometimes differ in their accounts of the same place. Even Kan- garoo Island, of which the best and most complete reports have been made, seems to require the test of residence. SUTHERLAND, it is true, lived there, on and off, for nine months, and describes it in captivating colours; but BAUDIN and FaevenseT represent it as parched and barren. This may be (as the work suggests) from their arriving in the height of summer. It would surely, however, be desirable to ascertain, whether this apparent barrenness is an annual matter; and if so, whether it resembles the present dryness in England, the droughts of New South Wales, or the still fiercer droughts of South Africa.
It will be seen, that these remarks do not affect the principles of colonization recommended, or the propriety of' carrying them into effect. Neither is there any well-grounded doubt in our minds as to the capability of the territory in question. Our arguments
merely relate to the working plan, or rather to the no-plan. In the words of BACON'S wise man, we would " stay a little, that we
may make an end the sooner." The experiment, we repeat it, is one of the most important economical projects that has )et been tried. It would be a national loss if it failed through any false economy, or through a childish eagerness to begin.
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