Cattle and live stock rapidly increased, land became more and more cultivated, houses were built, farms enclosed, free emigrants began to arrive, Hobart Town became a place of some trade and importance, and at last, in 1821, or thereabouts, _only seventeen years_ after the first establishment of the colony, St. David's Church, at Hobart Town, was, we read, "completed and opened."[116] What attention was paid to the spiritual welfare of the poor creatures in this new penal colony during the long interval that elapsed before the occurrence of that great event, it seems hard to say; but, judging from what we have already seen, we may be quite certain of this, that _no less care_ was taken of them, than had formerly been bestowed upon those of a similar character in Norfolk Island. [116] See Montgomery Martin's New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, p. 257. While Captain King held the government of New South Wales, a subject began to attract the notice of the colonial authorities, which afterwards proved to be one of the highest importance, both to the settlement and likewise to the mother country, namely, the introduction and increase of free settlers. According to Dr. Lang, the first free settlers who emigrated to New South Wales arrived there during Governor Hunter's administration, which began in August, 1795; but by other writers it is stated that five settlers and their families arrived by the _Bellona_, in January 1798, so that these may justly be considered the first free emigrants that removed from Europe to Australia.[117] The conditions under which they engaged to settle were, that their passage out should be provided by government, that an assortment of tools and implements should be furnished them, that they should be supplied for two years with provisions, that their lands should be granted free of expense, and that convicts should be assigned for their service, and provided with provisions for two years, and clothing for one. Besides these few emigrants, many of the soldiers and officers, and some of the released convicts, had grants of land given to them; but, generally speaking, their agricultural efforts were not very successful, and _military men_ seemed as little capable of becoming good farmers as _pickpockets_ were. Yet, as if to show what _might_ have been done by prudence and thrift, in many cases, a few instances of proper carefulness and attendant success are recorded; and one man, to whom, in common with many others, Governor Phillip had given an ewe for breeding, in 1792, having withstood all temptations to part with this treasure, found himself, in 1799, possessed of a flock of 116 sheep, and in a fair way of becoming a man of property. [117] Compare Lang's History of New South Wales, vol. i. p. 71, and Collins' Account of New South Wales, p. 197 and 201. See also Barrington's History of New South Wales, p. 115.