An account of the English colony in New South Wales/I
AN ACCOUNT
OF THE
ENGLISH COLONY
IN
NEW SOUTH WALES.
CHAP. I.
THE Commissioners of His Majesty’s navy, toward the end of the year 1786, advertised for a certain number of vessels to be taken up for the purpose of conveying between seven and eight hundred male and female felons to Botany Bay, in New South Wales, on the Eastern Coast of New Holland; whither it had been determined by government to transport them, after having sought in vain upon the African coast for a situation possessing the requisites for the establishment of a colony.
Six transports and three store-ships*[1] were accordingly engaged to convey the persons designed to form the new settlement, with the stores and provisions necessary for their use and consumption. Of the latter, sufficient for two years were put on board; and among the former, were tools, implements of agriculture, and such other articles as were considered necessary to a colonial establishment.
The government of the colony was intrusted by His Majesty to Arthur Phillip, Esq. a post-captain in the service, who hoisted his pendant on board the Sirius, a ship which mounted only twenty guns, but which from the strength of her construction (having been built for the East-India Company’s service) was judged to be well calculated for such an expedition.
Associated with her in the service of the colony, was the Supply brig, the command of which was given to Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball; and it being thought necessary to appoint another captain to the Sirius, who should command her on any service in which she might be employed for the colony, while Captain Phillip should be engaged in his government, an order was signed by His Majesty in council, directing the Admiralty Board to appoint John Hunter, Esq. then a commander in the navy, to be second captain of the Sirius, with the rank of post.
Distributed among the transports, and in the Sirius, was a body of 160 marines, with such a number of commissioned and non-commissioned officers as the service for which this corps was selected required †[2]. The convicts, for whose disposal this speculation was undertaken, consisted of 565 men and 192 women; and every necessary arrangement having been made by the naval and military commanders, which seemed best calculated to ensure a fortunate termination to the voyage, on Sunday, the 13th of May 1787, the little fleet, which had previously collected at the Mother Bank, sailed with a leading wind through the Needle Passage, accompanied by the honourable Captain De Courcy, in the Hyæna frigate.
As this ship was to proceed with the fleet only to a certain latitude, she soon quitted it, and this band of adventurers were left to pursue their way to the Island of Teneriffe, which port they shortly after reached. The ships were immediately moored, the masters taking the precaution of buoying their cables with empty casks, to prevent their being injured by rocks or foul ground; an inconvenience which had been frequently experienced by navigators in this road.
His Excellency the Marquis de Branceforte, the governor of the island, politely offering Captain Phillip whatever assistance he might need, and that was in his power to furnish, the provisioning and watering of the fleet was soon completed, and at the end of a week it again put to sea.
Nothing remarkable occurred during their stay here, except the desertion of John Powers, one of the convicts, who was however, by the activity of the master of the transport in which he had embarked (a penalty of forty pounds being the forfeiture on his entire escape) and a party of marines, soon recovered, and sent on board his ship, with directions for his being heavily ironed.
While light airs detained the fleet between the Islands of Teneriffe and the Grand Canary, they had a fine view of the celebrated Peak of Teneriffe, lifting its venerable and majestic head above the neighbouring hills, many of which were of considerable height, and perhaps rather diminished the grandeur of the Peak itself, the altitude of which was understood to be 15,396 feet, only 148 yards short of three miles.
The passage of the fleet to Rio de Janeiro was performed without any material accident in eight weeks, and had fortunately been unattended with any disease, the Surgeon-reporting that they had brought in only 95 sick, comprehending every description of persons in the fleet. Many, however, of this number were bending only under the pressure of age and attendant infirmities, having no other complaints among them.
During their stay in this port, which was about a month, the convicts were each served daily with a pound of rice, and a pound and an half of fresh meat (beef), together with a suitable proportion of vegetables. Great numbers of oranges (a fruit with which the place abounded) were at different times distributed among them; and every possible care was taken to refresh and put them into a state of health and condition to resist the attacks of the scurvy, should it make its appearance in the long passage over the ocean which was yet between them and New South Wales. Their morals had been also attended to by the reverend Mr. Johnson, the chaplain of the colony, who performed divine service on board of two of the transports every Sunday while they remained here.
The next and last port of refreshment at which the fleet was to stop, was the Cape of Good Hope. Thither it bent its course, on quitting Rio de Janeiro; and in the short space of five weeks and four days crossed over from one continent to the other, a distance of upwards of eleven hundred leagues, fortunately without separation, or any accident having happened.
Here it was intended to lay in such articles of stores and provisions as had not been purchased in England; under the idea that, from their being a less time at sea, they would arrive in higher preservation than they would have done had they been put on board in the river.
With a requisition made by Captain Phillip, of a certain quantity of flour and corn, the governor, M. Van de Graaf, expressed his apprehensions of being unable to comply, as the Cape had been lately visited by that worst of scourges, a famine, which had been most severely felt by every family in the town, his own not excepted. Captain Phillip’s request was, however, laid before the council, without whose concurrence in such a business the governor could not act; and in a few days he was informed, that every article which he had demanded was ordered to be furnished.
So soon as the transports were properly prepared for their reception, the stock intended for the colony was embarked; viz. 1 bull, 1 bull-calf, 7 cows, 1 stallion, 3 mares, and 3 colts; together with as great a number of rams, ewes, goats, boars, and breeding sows, as room could be provided for.
As it was earnestly wished to introduce the fruits of the Cape into the new settlement, Captain Phillip was ably assisted in his endeavours to procure the rarest and the best of every species, both in plant and seed, by Mr. Mason, the King’s Botanist, as well as by Colonel Gordon, at that time the commander in chief of the troops at the Cape; a gentleman whose thirst for knowledge amply qualified him to be of service to the colonists, not only in procuring a great variety of the best seeds and plants, but in pointing out the culture, the soil, and the proper time of introducing them into the ground*[3].
The following plants and seeds were procured at the Cape and at Rio de Janeiro.
At Rio de Janeiro.
- Coffee,—both seed and plant.
- Cocoa,—in the nut.
- Cotton,—seed.
- Banana,—plant.
- Oranges,—various sorts, both seed and plant.
- Lemon,—seed and plants.
- Guava,—seed.
- Tamarind.
- Prickly pear,—plant with the cochineal on it.
- Eugenia, or pomme-rose,—a plant bearing a fruit in shape like an apple, and having the flavour and odour of a rose.
- Ipecacuanha,—three sorts.
- Jalap.
At the Cape of Good Hope.
- The fig tree.
- Bamboo.
- Spanish reed.
- Sugar cane.
- Vines, of various sorts.
- Quince.
- Apple.
- Pear.
- Strawberry.
- Oak.
- Myrtle.
During the stay of the fleet at the Cape, Captain Hunter determined the longitude of the Cape-Town in Table-Bay to be, by the mean of several sets of lunar observations taken on board the Sirius, 18° 23’ 55” East from Greenwich.
Having remained in this last port of refreshment just four weeks, and every thing being arranged for its departure, the fleet proceeded with a fair wind towards New South Wales, the place of its final destination.
It was natural for the thinking part of the colonists to indulge at this moment a melancholy reflection which obtruded itself upon the mind. The land behind them was the abode of a civilized people; that before them was the residence of savages: when, if ever, they might again enjoy the commerce of the world, was very uncertain. The refreshments and pleasures of which they had so liberally partaken at the Cape, were to be exchanged for coarse fare and hard labour at New South Wales. All communication with families and friends now cut off, they were leaving the world behind them, to enter on a state unknown; and, as if it had been necessary to imprint this idea more strongly on their minds, at the close of the evening of the day on which they sailed, they spoke a ship from London*[4]. The metropolis of their native country, its pleasures, its wealth and its consequence, thus accidentally presented to the mind, failed not to afford a most striking contrast with the object then principally in their view.
For several days after they had sailed, the wind was unfavourable, and blowing fresh with much sea, some time elapsed before they had reached to the Eastward of the Cape of Good Hope. This having at length accomplished, Captain Phillip, embarking in the Supply, proceeded forward, accompanied by the Scarborough, Alexander, and Friendship transports. On board of these three ships was the greater part of the male convicts, whom Captain Phillip had sanguine hopes of employing to much advantage, before the Sirius, with that part of the fleet which was to remain under Captain Hunter’s direction, should arrive upon the coast. He was also attended by Major Ross, the commandant of the marine detachment (and lieutenant-governor of the settlement), together with the adjutant and quarter-master, in order to co-operate with him in his intention of preparing, as far as time might allow, for the reception of the rest of the convoy. But when the Sirius anchored in Botany-Bay, Captain Hunter was informed that the Supply had preceded him in his arrival only two days; and the three transports, under the agent, Lieutenant Shortland, had gained but one day of the Sirius and her convoy, most of which began to grow foul long before their arrival, not one of them being coppered.
Thus, under the blessing of God, was happily completed in eight months and one week (the whole fleet being safe at anchor on the 20th of January 1788) a voyage which, before it was undertaken, the mind hardly dared venture to contemplate, and on which it was impossible to reflect without some apprehension as to its termination. In the course of that time they had sailed five thousand and twenty-one leagues; had touched at the American and African continents; and had at last rested within a few days sail of the Antipodes of their native country, without meeting any accident in a fleet of eleven sail, nine of which were merchantmen that had never before sailed in that distant and imperfectly explored ocean; and when it was considered that there was on board a large body of convicts, many of whom were embarked in a very sickly state, they might be deemed peculiarly fortunate, that of the whole number of all descriptions of persons coming to form the new settlement, only thirty-two had died since their leaving England, among whom were to be included one or two deaths by accident; although previous to their departure, it had been conjectured, that before they should have been a month at sea, one of the transports would have been converted into an hospital ship. Fortunately, however, it happened otherwise. Their provisions were excellent, and they had all partaken liberally of refreshments at the Cape of Good Hope and Rio de Janeiro.
The governor had employed the short time which he had gained, in examining the bay; but on their arrival he had not seen any spot to which some strong objection did not apply. If in one place he met with a promising soil, it was deficient in that grand essential, fresh water, and was besides too confined for their numbers. He therefore determined on examining the adjacent harbours of Port Jackson and Broken Bay; and for that purpose set off the day following the arrival of the Sirius and her convoy, in three open boats accompanied by some of the officers of the settlement.
The coast as he drew near Port Jackson wore a most unpromising appearance, and the natives every where greeted the little fleet with shouts of defiance and prohibition, the words “Warra warra,” Go away, go away, resounding wherever they appeared. The governor’s utmost expectation, as he drew near the harbour, being to find what Captain Cook, as he passed it by, thought might be found, shelter for a boat; he was most agreeably surprised at discovering, on his entrance, a harbour capable of affording security for a much larger fleet than would probably ever seek shelter or security within its limits.
In one of the coves of this noble and capacious harbour, he determined to fix the future feat of his government, it having been found to possess a sufficiency of water and soil. Having completed his research in three days, he returned to Botany Bay, and gave directions for an immediate removal thence; a circumstance which gave general satisfaction, as nothing had been discovered in that place which could excite a wish to pass another day in it. This removal would have taken place the morning following his return; but at day-light they were surprised by the appearance of two strange sail in the offing. Various were the conjectures of what nation these could be, and whence they had arrived. It was soon known, however, that they were two French ships, Le Boussole and L’Astrolabe, under the command of M. de la Pérouse, then on a voyage of discovery.
As Captain Hunter, with whom the Governor had left the charge of bringing the Sirius and transports round to Port Jackson (whither he had preceded them in the Supply), was working out when M. de la Pérouse entered Botany Bay, the two commanders had barely time to exchange civilities; and it must naturally have created some surprize in the French to find the English fleet abandoning the harbour at the very time when they were preparing to anchor in it: indeed, M. de la Pérouse afterwards said, that “until he had looked round him in Botany Bay, he could not divine the cause of their quitting it; having expected, from the intelligence given him at Kamschatka, to have found a town built and a market established; but by what he had already seen of the country he was convinced of the propriety and absolute necessity of the measure.” The countrymen of Captain Cook had the gratification of hearing this gentleman pay more than one tribute of applause to the accuracy of his nautical observations.
Governor Phillip, with a party of marines and some artificers, arrived in Port Jackson, and anchored off the mouth of the Cove intended for the settlement, on the evening of the 25th; and in the course of the following day, sufficient ground was cleared for encamping the officer’s guard, and the convicts who had landed in the morning. The spot chosen for this purpose was at the head of the Cove near a run of fresh water, which stole silently through a very thick wood, the stillness of which had then, for the first time since the creation, been interrupted by the rude sound of the labourer’s axe, and the downfall of its ancient inhabitants:—a stillness and tranquillity which, from that day, were to give place to the noise of labour, the confusion of camps and towns, and the busy hum of its new possessors. That the greater part of these did not bring with them
“Minds not to be changed by time or place,”
was servently to have been wished; and, if it were possible, that on taking possession of Nature, as they had thus done, in her simplest, purest garb, they might not sully that purity by the introduction of vice. But this, though most desirable, was little to be expected;—the habits of youth are not easily laid aside; and the utmost that they could hope in their present situation was, to oppose the soft harmonising arts of peace and civilisation to the baneful influence of vice and immorality.
In the evening of this day, the whole of the party then present were assembled at the point where they had first landed in the morning, and on which a flag-staff had been purposely erected, and an union jack displayed; when the marines fired several vollies; between which the healths of His Majesty and the Royal Family, with success to the new colony, were most cordially drunk. The day, which had been extremely fine, concluded with the safe arrival of the Sirius and the convoy from Botany Bay,—thus terminating the voyage with the same good fortune which had from its commencement been so conspicuously their friend and companion.
The disembarkation of the troops and convicts took place from the following day, until the whole were landed. The confusion that ensued will not be wondered at, when it is considered, that every man stepped from the boat literally into a wood. Parties of people were every where heard and seen variously employed; some in clearing ground for the different encampments; others in pitching tents, or bringing up such stores as were more immediately wanted; and the spot which had so lately been the abode of silence and tranquillity was now changed to that of noise, clamour, and confusion: but after a time, order gradually prevailed. As the woods were opened and the ground cleared, the various encampments were extended, and all wore the appearance of regularity and decorum.
A portable canvas-house, brought over for the Governor, was erected on the East side of the Cove (which was named Sydney), where a small body of convicts were put under tents. The detachment of marines was encamped at the head of the Cove near the stream; and on the West side was placed the main body of the convicts. Every person belonging to the settlement being landed, the numbers amounted to 1030 persons. The tents for the sick were placed on the West side; and it was observed, with concern, that their numbers were fast increasing. The scurvy, that had not appeared during the passage, now broke out; which, aided by a dysentery, began to fill the hospital, and several died. In addition to the medicines that were administered, every species of esculent plants that could be found in the country were procured for them: wild celery, spinach, and parsley, fortunately grew in great abundance: those who were in health, as well as the sick, were very glad to introduce them into their messes, and found them a pleasant as well as wholesome addition to the ration of salt provisions.
The public stock, consisting of one bull, four cows, one bull-calf, one stallion, three mares, and three colts, was removed to a spot at the head of the adjoining Cove, which was cleared for a small farm, intended to be placed under the direction of a person brought out by the Governor.
Some ground having been prepared near His Excellency′s house on the East side, the plants from Rio-de-Janeiro and the Cape of Good Hope were safely brought on shore; and the new settlers soon had the satisfaction of seeing the grape, the fig, the orange, the pear, and the apple, those delicious fruits of the Old, taking root and establishing themselves in their New World.
As soon as the hurry and tumult necessarily attending the disembarkation had a little subsided, the Governor caused His Majesty’s commission, appointing him to be his captain-general and governor in chief in and over the territory of New South Wales and its dependencies, to be publicly read, together with the letters-patent for establishing the courts of civil and criminal judicature in the territory. The ceremony of reading these public instruments having been performed by the judge-advocate, the Governor, addressing the convicts, assured them, among other things, that “he should ever be ready to shew approbation and encouragement to those who proved themselves worthy of them by good conduct; while, on the other hand, such as were determined to act in opposition to propriety, would inevitably meet with the punishment that they deserved.” He remarked how much it was their interest to forget the habits of vice and indolence in which too many of them had hitherto lived; and exhorted them to be honest among themselves, obedient to their overseers, and attentive to the several works in which they were about to be employed.
The convicts had been mustered early in the morning, when nine were reported to be absent. From the situation which had been unavoidably adopted, it was impossible to prevent these people from straggling. Fearless of the danger which must attend them, many had visited the French ships in Botany Bay, soliciting to be taken on board. It was soon found, that they had secreted at least one-third of their working-tools, and that any sort of labour was with difficulty procured from them.
The want of proper overseers principally contributed to this misconduct; those who were placed over them as such having been selected from among themselves for their good behaviour during the voyage, and few of them choosing to exert the authority requisite to keep the gangs at their labour. Petty thefts among themselves began to be complained of; and the sailors from the transports, although repeatedly forbidden, and frequently punished, still persisted in bringing spirits on shore by night, of which drunkenness was often the consequence.
To check these enormities, the court of criminal judicature was assembled on the 11th of February; when three prisoners were tried, one of whom received one hundred and fifty lashes, and a second was confined for a week upon a small rocky island on bread and water.
The mildness of these punishments seemed rather to have encouraged than deterred others; for before the month was ended, the criminal court was again assembled for the trial of four offenders, who had conceived and executed a plan for robbing the public store. This crime, in its tendency so pregnant with evil to the little community, was rendered still more atrocious by being perpetrated at the very time when the difference in the ration of provisions which had till then existed was taken off, and the convict saw the same proportion issued to himself that was served to the officer and the soldier, spirits only excepted: but it was seen with concern, that there were among them minds so habitually vicious that no consideration was of any weight with them, nor could they be induced to do right by any prospect of future benefit, or fear of certain or immediate punishment. The charge being fully proved, one man, James Barrell, suffered death. His Excellency (in whom the power of pardoning was vested by His Majesty’s commission), having caused one example to be made, extended lenity to some others who were tried the following day.
It appeared by the letters patent under the great seal of Great Britain, that His Majesty had authorised, by his commission under the great seal, “the Governor, or in his absence the lieutenant-governor, to convene from time to time, as occasion might require, a court of criminal jurisdiction; which court was to be a court of record, and to consist of the judge-advocate and such six officers of the sea and land service as the Governor shall, by precept issued under his hand and seal, require to assemble for that purpose.” This court has power to inquire of, hear, determine, and punish all treasons, misprisions of treason, murders, felonies, forgeries, perjuries, trespasses, and other crimes whatsoever, that may be committed in the colony; the punishment for such offences to be inflicted according to the laws of England as nearly as may be, considering and allowing for the circumstances and situation of the settlement and its inhabitants. The charge against any offender to be reduced into writing, and exhibited by the judge-advocate: witnesses to be examined upon oath, and the major part of the court to adjudge whether or not the prisoner be guilty. If guilty, and the offence be capital, they are to pronounce judgment of death, in like manner as if the prisoner had been convicted by the verdict of a jury in England, or of such corporal punishment as the major part of the court shall deem meet. And in cases not capital, they are to adjudge such corporal punishment as the majority of the court shall determine. But no offender is to suffer death, unless five members of the court shall concur in adjudging him to be guilty, or until the King’s pleasure be signified thereupon. The provost-marshal to cause the judgment of the court to be executed according to the Governor’s warrant under his hand and seal.
Beside this court for the trial of criminal offenders, there is a civil court, consisting of the judge-advocate and two inhabitants of the settlement, who are to be appointed by the Governor; which court has full power to hear and determine in a summary way all pleas of lands, houses, debts, contracts, and all personal pleas whatsoever. From this court, on either party, plaintiff or defendant, finding himself aggrieved by the judgment or decree, an appeal lies to the Governor, and from him, where the debt or thing in demand shall exceed the value of 300 l. to the King in council; but these appeals must be put in, if from the civil court, within eight days, and if from the Governor or superior court, within fourteen days after pronouncing the said judgments.
To this court is likewise given authority to grant probates of wills and administration of the personal estates of intestates dying within the settlement.
In addition to these courts for the trial of crimes, the Governor, the lieutenant-governor, and the judge-advocate for the time being, are by His Majesty’s letters-patent constituted justices for the preservation of the peace of the settlement, with the same power that justices of the peace have in England within their respective jurisdictions.
There is also a vice-admiralty court for the trial of offences committed upon the high seas, of which the lieutenant-governor is constituted. The Governor has, beside that of captain-general, a commission constituting him vice-admiral of the territory; and another vesting him with authority to hold general courts-martial, and to confirm or set aside the sentence. The major-commandant of the detachment had the usual power of assembling regimental or battalion courts-martial for the trial of offences committed by the soldiers under his command.
By this account of the different modes of administering and obtaining justice which the legislature had provided for this settlement, it is evident that great care had been taken, on their setting out, to furnish them with a liable foundation whereon to erect their little colony; a foundation which was established in the punishment of vice, the security of property, and the preservation of peace and good order in the community.
The Governor having also received instructions to establish a settlement at Norfolk Island, the Supply sailed for that place about the middle of February, having on board Lieutenant King of the Sirius, named by Captain Phillip superintendant and commandant of the settlement to be formed there. Lieutenant King took with him one surgeon, one petty officer, two private soldiers, two persons who pretended to some knowledge in flax-dressing, and nine male and six female convicts, mostly volunteers. This little party was to be landed with tents, clothing for the convicts, implements of husbandry, tools for dressing flax, &c. and provisions for six months; before the expiration of which time it was designed to send them a fresh supply.
Norfolk Island is situated in the latitude of 29° South, and in longitude 168° 10' East of Greenwich, and was settled with a view to the cultivation of the flax plant, which at the time when the island was discovered by Captain Cook was found growing most luxuriantly where he landed; and from the specimens taken to England of the New Zealand flax (of which sort is that growing at Norfolk Island), it was hoped that some advantage to the mother-country might be derived from cultivating and manufacturing it.
Houses for the reception of the stores were begun as soon as sufficient ground was cleared for that purpose; and it was found most to the advantage of the public service to employ the convicts in taskwork, allotting a certain quantity of ground to be cleared by a certain number of persons in a given time, and allowing them to employ what time they might gain, till called on again for public service, in bringing in materials and erecting huts for themselves. But these unfortunate people for the most part preferred passing in idleness the hours that might have been so profitably spent, straggling into the woods, or visiting the French ships in Botany Bay. M. de Clonard, the captain of the Astrolabe, (who brought round some dispatches from M. de la Pérouse, which that officer requested might be forwarded to the French ambassador at the court of London by the first of our transports that might sail from thence for Europe,) informed the Governor, that they had been daily visited by the convicts, many of whom solicited to be received on board before their departure, promising (as an inducement) to be accompanied by a number of females. M. de Clonard at the same time assured him, that the general (as he was termed by his officers and people) had given their solicitations no kind of countenance, but had threatened to drive them away by force.
Among the buildings that were early erected was an observatory on the western point of the Cove, to receive the astronomical instruments which had been sent out by the Board of Longitude, for the purpose of observing the comet which was expected to be seen about the end of this year. The construction of this building was placed under the direction of Lieutenant Dawes of the marines, who, having made this branch of science his particular study, was appointed by that Board to make astronomical observations in this country.
Governor Phillip, having been pressed for time when he first visited this harbour, had not thoroughly examined it. The completion of that necessary business was left to Captain Hunter, who, with the first lieutenant of the Sirius, early in the month of February made an accurate survey. It was found to be far more extensive to the westward than had been imagined; and Captain Hunter described the country as wearing a much more favourable aspect toward the head, or upper part, than it did immediately about the settlement. He saw several parties of the natives, and, treating them constantly with good humour, they always left him with friendly impressions.
It was natural to suppose, that the curiosity of these people would be attracted by observing, that, instead of quitting, their visitors were occupied in works that indicated an intention of remaining in their country; but during the first six weeks, only two came near them. These men strolled into the camp one evening, and remained in it for about half an hour. They appeared to admire whatever they saw, and, after receiving each a hatchet (of the use of which the eldest instantly and curiously shewed his knowledge, by turning up his foot and sharpening a piece of wood on the sole with the hatchet), took their leave, apparently well pleased with their reception. The fishing-boats also frequently reported their having been visited by many of these people when hauling the seine; at which labour they often assisted with cheerfulness, and in return were generally rewarded with part of the fish taken.
Every precaution was used to guard against a breach of this friendly and desirable intercourse, by strictly prohibiting every person from depriving them of their spears, fizgigs, gum, or other articles, which it was soon perceived they were accustomed to leave under the rocks, or loose and scattered about upon the beaches.
There was, however, great reason to believe, that these precautions were first rendered fruitless by the ill conduct of a boat's crew belonging to one of the transports, who had attempted to land in one of the coves at the lower part of the harbour, but were prevented, and driven off with stones by the natives. A party of them, consisting of sixteen or eighteen persons, some time after landed on the island, where the people of the Sirius were preparing a garden, and, with much artifice watching their opportunity, carried off a shovel, a spade, and a pick-axe. On their being fired at, and hit on the legs by one of the people with small shot, the pick-axe was dropped, but they carried off the other tools.
To such circumstances as these must be attributed the termination of that good understanding which had hitherto subsisted, and which Governor Phillip laboured to improve whenever he had an opportunity. But it might have been foreseen that this would unavoidably happen: the convicts were every where straggling about, collecting animals and gum to sell to the people of the transports, who at the same time were procuring spears, shields, swords, fishing-lines, and other articles from the natives, to carry to Europe; the loss of which must have been attended with many inconveniences to the owners, as it was soon evident that they were the only means whereby they obtained or could procure their daily subsistence; and although some of these people had been punished for purchasing articles of the convicts, the practice was carried on secretly, and attended with all the bad effects that were to be expected from it. The Governor had also the mortification to learn, that M. de la Perouse had been compelled to fire upon the natives at Botany Bay, where they frequently annoyed his people who were employed on shore. This circumstance materially affected the new inhabitants, as those who had rendered this violence necessary could not discriminate between the two nations. The English were, however, perfectly convinced that nothing short of the greatest necessity could have induced M. de la Perouse to take such a step; as he had been heard to declare, that it was among the particular instructions which he received from his sovereign, to endeavour by every possible means to acquire and cultivate the friendship of the natives of such places as he might discover or visit, and to avoid exercising any act of hostility upon them. In obedience to this humane command, there was no doubt but he forbore using force until forbearance would have been dangerous; and he had been taught a lesson at Maouna, one of the Isles des Navigateurs, that the tempers of savages were not to be trusted too far; having, on the very day and hour of their departure from that island, had the boats of the two ships, which were sent on shore for a last load of water, attacked by the natives with stones and clubs, and M. de l’Angle, the captain of the Astrolabe, with eleven officers and men, put to death; those who were so fortunate as to get off in the small boats that attended on the watering launches (which were destroyed) escaped, but not without many wounds and contusions. It was conjectured, that some one of the seamen by ill conduct must have provoked this outrage, as the natives during the time when the ships were at the island had lived with the officers and people on terms of the greatest harmony. This was not the first misfortune that those ships had met with during their voyage; for on the north-west coast of America they lost two boats, with their crews and several young men of family, in the surf.
Notwithstanding the pressure of important business at Sidney, the discharge of religious duties was never omitted; divine service being performed every Sunday that the weather would permit; at which time the detachment of marines paraded with their arms, the whole body of convicts attended, and were observed to conduct themselves in general with the respect and attention due to the occasion on which they were assembled.
It was observed with satisfaction, that many couples were announced for marriage; but on strictly scrutinizing into the motive, it was found in several instances to have originated in an idea, that the married people would meet with various little comforts and privileges that were denied to those in a single state; and some, on not finding those expectations realised, repented, wished, and actually applied to be restored to their former situation; so ignorant and thoughtless were they in general. It was, however, to be wished that matrimonial connexions should be promoted among them; and none who applied for that purpose were ever rejected; except when it was clearly understood that either of the parties had a wife or husband living at the time of their leaving England.
The weather during the latter end of January and the month of February was very close, with rain, at times very heavy, and attended with much thunder and lightning, by which some sheep, lambs, and pigs were destroyed.
- ↑ * The Alexander, Scarborough, Charlotte, Lady Penthyn, Prince of Wales, and Friendship, transports: the Fishburn, Borrowdale, and Golden Grove, store-ships.
- ↑ † One major commandant, 4 captains, 12 lieutenants, 12 serjeants, 12 corporals, 8 drummers, and 160 privates, with an adjutant and quarter-master.
- ↑ * It is with regret the author is obliged to close this mention of such a valuable man, by stating that he fell a sacrifice to the party which prevailed at the time when the English forces took possession of the Cape.
- ↑ * The Kent, Southern Whaler.