Query 1. In what time do you think the island will be able to support the people you have with you, independent of supplies from this settlement?
Answer. From the excellence of the soil, and the present appearances, the island will produce more than a sufficiency of grain in two years: animal food depends on the supply and breeding of stock; and cloathing on the flax-plant being brought to work.
Q. 2. Do you wish to have more people sent you, and what number of men and women do you wish to have in addition to those you have already.
Ans. With twenty more men, and women in proportion exclusive, I should be able to make a little progress in clearing and cultivating the ground.
Q. 3. In what time do you think the island will be able to maintain the additional number of people you wish to have sent you?
Ans. I think in two years, but in three at most, as answered by the first question.
Q. 4. What ground have you in cultivation?
Ans. Two acres and an half in barley, and one acre in garden ground: in September I shall have an acre in Indian corn and rice.
Q. 5. Have you discovered the flax-plant?
Ans. Yes: some bundles of the flax-plant which I put into water on the 17th of March were taken up the 27th of July, when we found that the thick vegetable of the fibres had rotted away, but still they were covered with an hard woody substance, from which we have ineffectually tried to separate the flaxy part, which I have no doubt would make good cordage, canvas, and linen, as it appears to be of a fine and strong texture. Some lines were made of it, which were tolerably strong and good; but the want of a method to separate the woody part from the flax, will be a great hindrance to its being made useful.