The soil and aspect of the country seems well suited for the vine, which, from the little experience we have had, does exceedingly well.  There are no esculent productions worth mentioning indigenous, but there is some fine timber, which will no doubt become a valuable article of exportation:  it is between the mahogany and the elder, and may be applied to all the purposes of the former.  Its greatest recommendation is, that the white ant will not touch it, and it will consequently be a great desideratum where that insect abounds.  We have likewise the red and blue gum, but in no great quantity, in the immediate vicinity of Perth.  The animal productions are the same as on the other side of the island, as also the birds.  The rivers swarm with fish, every one of which is good eating; but it is only lately that we have been well supplied with them.  There is abundance of limestone ready at hand in most parts of the river, as well as the finest and strongest clay, plenty of which runs along the shore that bounds Perth, for a mile and a half, as you will see by the map.  Of the mineral resources of the country nothing is as yet known; for every one has been too much occupied in locating himself to give that subject any attention.  By the reports from England, it appears that from the misfortunes which happened to the first ships that came out, a very unfavourable opinion is formed of the safety of the port.  Gage’s roads afford a very good anchorage during the summer months; but, being exposed to the north-west winds, it is a very insecure station during the winter, the ground being rocky and a loose sand; but this evil, I am happy to say, is in a great measure obviated by the discovery of a good anchorage about four miles to the southward of the mouth of the river, and marked in the map as the Britannia Roads.  The bottom is firm holding ground, and has been proved to be a very secure anchorage during the late gales, when all the ships in Gage’s Roads went on shore, while those on the Britannia Roads rode it out, with the exception of one ship, which broke her anchor.  Besides, a passage has lately been found out from Gage’s Roads to Cockburn, into which ships may run, if they are too much leeward of the Britannia Roads; so that you see we may always have a refuge from the storm.  I hope you will take care to give publicity to this circumstance, because it is one upon which the success of the colony mainly depends.  The bar at the mouth of the river, and the flats in various parts of its course, are a great drawback to our communications; but these evil will no doubt be remedied in the course of time, and that without much expense.  There is a clear channel all the way up the river for vessels of 500 tons, commencing about a mile and a half above Freemantle to Perth; then there are a succession of flats until you pass the islands, where the navigation continues clear for many miles up the river.