Independent Journal, Or, The General Advertiser

The pitiful fiction or, as some would call it lie, respecting the failure of Botany-Bay expedition, is still kept up in a certain print. Wed-
On Thursday the writers of it congratulated themselves that the measure had come to an end, as the expenses, on account of ships, stores, &c. would cost the nation not less than 200,000l. Now the truth is, that the expedition is so far from being dropt, that it goes on very rapidly; and not a day passes but numbers of persons offer themselves as volunteers. As to expense, there is every reason to believe, that instead of 300,000l. this never will amount in any one year (the first excepted) to 1500l. and even in the first year, a very few thousands will do the business. In fact, nothing extraordinary will be required, but the expense of maintaining the colony till they can have fairly commenced in cultivating the earth. For whatever quarter of the world the convicts had been sent, there must have been an expense on the score of shipping. The troops that will be sent, were in pay before Botany-Bay was thought of as an island that was inviting to any colony.