FL14425263

22

Parramatta. October 8th. 1814

Dear Sir,

I received your letter & we were glad to hear that
you & your family were all pretty well. By this conveyance
I have sent you the first pair of stockings made in this colony
from my Spanish wool. I have also sent you samples of wool
from some of my sheep – Five samples from five Rams & 2 from
2 ewes. From these you will see the quality of our wool. I have
made great progress since my return in the improvement of my
Flock. I have for years been convinced that the wool would be the
Goldmines of this country, & of vast national importance, & I trust
a spirit of improvement will be excited thro' the Farmers of this
Colony to grow fine wool: we must have an export or the Settle-
ment will never prosper –, & this promises to be the first. I have
also sent you a sample of cotton wool grown in the South Sea
Islands. With a little encouragement the natives of Otaheite &
the other islands would grow great quantities. You will also
find one Skein of thread made from the flax which I had
lately brought from New Zealand. This a natural production
of that Island & may turn to great national account. You
will learn from other accounts that it is my intention to visit
that Island in a little time. No doubt but many natural
productions will be found there advantageous for commerce,
when that country is once examined. We greatly want a person
here in authority who has a turn for examining the Islands
in these seas. I am fully convinced that there will be found
in them many valuable articles. With respect to this Colony
it improves fast & must be in time a great country. The
mountains have lately been crossed which hitherto had