arrival of Governor Hunter, a regulation was made by that gentleman,
which showed that the infant colony was now making rapid strides
towards that point of advancement and independence, from which
ignorant and designing men are at present labouring to thrust down the
mother country. New South Wales was, in 1795, just beginning to supply
its inhabitants with corn, and Governor Hunter wisely thought that the
increasing abundance of the produce would now bear some little decrease
in the high prices hitherto paid for new grain at the public store.
England, in 1843, is able to supply its inhabitants with food, (except
in scarce years, when corn is let in at prices varying with the degree
of scarcity,) and many Englishmen unwisely think that this advantage and
independence may be safely bartered away--for what?--for _very low
prices_, and, their constant companions, _very low wages_, and _very
great and universal distress_![108]

[107] The crops of the first settlers were paid for by the Government
in spirits, but Captain Hunter endeavoured to put an end to this
practice, for it was not possible that a farmer who should be idle
enough to throw away the labour of twelve months, for the purchase of a
few gallons of injurious liquors, could expect to thrive, or enjoy those
comforts which sobriety and industry can alone procure.

[108] It may not be out of place to quote in support of this opinion the
sensible words of an Australian writer. "I confess I like to hear of
high wages, and of good prices of provisions--of the productions of the
country,--for where they prevail for any length of time, the country
must be prosperous. Paradoxical as it may seem, it is no less true, that
the poorest country is always that where provisions are sold at the
cheapest rate. To the same purpose is the testimony of Sir G. Gipps, the
present Governor of New South Wales, appointed by Lord Melbourne in 1837,
who says:--'The total amount of the grain' (imported) 'even at these
prices, amounted to the fearful sum of 246,000_l._; but that, it must be
remembered, was only the prime cost in the countries where the wheat was
grown, and to that must be added the charges for freight, insurance, and
commission, probably as much more, so that in two years the colony would
expend upwards of half a million of money for foreign bread. _The
distress of the colony was owing to these immense importations._"--See
Speech