Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Thursday 11 March 1824, page 4


To the Editor of the Sydney Gazette.

SIR, In your number of the 22d January, is

inserted a long article relative to " the Australian Company ;" part of the subject matter of which,

being of some importance, perhaps you will afford insertion to a few cursory remarks

thereupon.

This writer, signing, himself " Monitor" sets out with giving two causes, for the formation of the Australian Company ;— first, in the super-

abundance of Scots capital ; and, secondly, in " a noble spirit of philanthropy." Now, Sir, it is my misfortune to differ with this writer on both of these points. I am of opinion that the formation of the Australian Company (if indeed such a Company exists beyond the mere partnership of a few individuals), originated on no such grounds, but in the usual, desire of gain, common to all traders of all countries. Let us examine, how-ever fairly the avowed views of the Australian Company, and see whether these fustian compliments about "patriotism," " religion," and " philanthropy" are borne out, even by their own operations.

It appears that the lading of the two ships, the Greenock and the Triton, differs very little from that of all other merchant ships, which have, from time to time, arrived here. They bring out, like all others, as many passengers and as much private trade as can he obtained ; and the Gentlemen, calling themselves Agents of the Company, have probably, each of them, investments to about the extent of a Settler of the first class arriving from England ; certainly not more than has been pos-sessed by many of that description, who have lately arrived amongst us. Monitor says much as to what we owe to the Company, and as to how we are to serve its interests—to receive and en-entertain the Commanders of the ships, and the trading Agents of the Company ; and this good-natured and credulous writer wishes that we should receive them into our houses with " more than ordinary esteem ;" and, inasmuch as private hospitality is not sufficiently expressive of public opinion, we must further bestow a public enter-tainment upon these northern shopkeepers ! Let us enquire for what all this display is to be made, it is coolly said, for " the philanthropy and patriotism" exhibited by this Company, in sinking a million of money for our service—in taking " our food" for " their money"—our raw produce for their merchandize—our labour for their capital. It is this, then, for which we are publicly and privately to feast our benefactors : but let us first see whether they really do all this—whether the practice of the Company bears out these high-sounding professions. The Australian Com-pany is a foreign body, dependant for its existence (as an Australian Company) upon the profits to be made from us ;—that is to say, in plain Eng-lish, upon the difference, in money, between the value of what they bring us, and of what they take away from us ; to say nothing of whatever part of our capital they may abstract from, us in cash remittances. Let us not be bamboozled, by fine words and flourishing periods, by what are technically called by persons connected with the Press in England " trap claps" Does the Australian Company offer to invest amongst us one shilling of its boasted million, in

any way so as to assist us with its capital in this our hour of trial and embarrassment ; when, as an infant, just weaned, we have most occasion for tenderness and support ? On the contrary, do not these Gentlemen, Agents, and Captains, look as anxiously after our dollars, and would they not dun us for them as assiduously if we were in debt to them ; and will they not send them as quickly away from us, as would do any other traders ? In what then consists our great obligations to this Company ? For what is it to be thus eulogized ? I can discover nothing ; and I defy the most zealous northern panegyrist to state one single act done yet, by the Australian Company, Skippers, or Supercargoes, or Agents, which all other Skippers, Supercargos, or Agents, have not exactly done before them ; what a burlesque then is this million of money hoax ! for such it palpably must be. Scots economy is too proverbial for it to be possible to put any other construction upon all these flourishes ! For to what purpose could this boasted million capital be applied ? A million of money invested in trading to an infant Colony, not yet enabled to go alone ! And what is the first essay made by this Company with this gigantic sum ? Why, I may venture to state, that the whole of the capital employed in the two ships, is much under ten thousand pounds ! For, as to the vessels, the common operation of freight and passengers places them in the same situation with any other merchant ship similarly employed, and of course they cannot be taken into the calculation of capital brought here. What dividend, then, will be made to this Company, upon their million of money, from this, their first operation, even supposing their capital brought here to be twice the above amount ; and the money they may take away from our capital, and our industry to be also doubled ? Let any Scots economist answer this ! Depend upon it, Sir, this Northern Company, these scions (to borrow one of Moni-tor's phrases) of Scots growth, differ in no respect from any other of the trading adventurers, who bring their goods to our market : and as to the million of money, the very story brings with it its own refutation ;—for no set of men could be found who would commit the palpable absurdity of sinking so immense a sum in a trade where a fiftieth part of it could not be possibly employed, and where the dividend must be therefore wholly

inadequate to the capital.

I am really at a loss to believe that the writer of the article in question, was in serious earnest; and was it not for the sensible and truly Australian spirit displayed in some of his observations on other points, I should consider that his panegyric upon the Australian Company was a piece of most ingenious satire, calculated to display this

pompous humbug in its true colours, and to create a laugh at the expense of the credulous gapers,

who have been, even for a moment, duped by its

Bartholemew fair trumpetings ; and I am the more inclined to believe that I am right, in this my last suggestion, when I look at the context of the letter of Monitor, He says, the Australian Company are to take our food in exchange for

their money. Let us peruse their advertisement ; it will speak for itself. I refer to your Numer,

in which Monitor's letter is inserted ; and, in the same page, the Australian Company's advertise-

ment appears. Let us see what is says ; instread of

offering us "their money" for "our food," on the

very contrary, they offer us "their food" for "our

money!" I will quote the advertisement ; it com-

mences with offering for sale, not in exchange for our "labour or raw produce," but for our dollars, the following articles :—" Smoked hams, prime mess beef and pork, butter, Claret, Madeira, and Port wine, Scots whiskey, and Edinburgh ale !" and it ends with " Frontignac Madeira again,

and Sir Waller Scott's Works ! ! !—And these to a people who are to be clothed (according to Mo-nitor) in blanketing and leather; and to whom the "yellow buttons" and glossy cloth of an English blue jacket, is to be the extreme of dan-dyism! Let us indulge in the personification of this picture. Let us fancy the Australian youth clothed in his blanket jacket and leathern inex-pressibles; sealed at his log table in his bark hut, "barbarizing" over one of the Company's "smoked hams," with a bottle of their best Bell's ale, a cup of their real Glenlivet whiskey, a cool megrim of claret, and a bottle of true London particular Madeira, and reciting to his blanket backed and leather-bottomed companions (be it

remembered where there are to be no schoolmas-

ters) an impassioned stanza of "The Lay of the Last Minstrel !"—Indeed, Mr. Editor, I perceive, upon reflection that Monitor is a wag!—He is turning the hoax upon the Australian Company. I see it now quite plainly ; and I trust he will for-give me for not having before discovered my

error!

I have troubled you so much at length, that I must forbear, on this occasion, to enter upon the other subject matter of your Correspondent's let-ter; much of it is of importance, and displays discretion and judgment. I shall very, shortly beg your permission to offer, a few remarks thereupon. I remain, Sir, yours, &c.

A SETTLER.