February 1788
Description of Port Jackson and the adjacent country--The Governor's
commission read--his Speech--his humane resolutions respecting the
Natives--difficulties in erecting huts and other buildings--departure of
Lieutenant King to Norfolk Island.
A View in Port Jackson.
Port Jackson was not visited or explored by Captain Cook; it was seen
only at the distance of between two or three miles from the coast: had
any good fortune conducted him into that harbour, he would have found it
much more worthy of his attention as a seaman, than that in which he
passed a week. Governor Phillip himself pronounces it to be a harbour, in
extent and security, superior to any he has ever seen: and the most
experienced navigators who were with him fully concur in that opinion.
From an entrance not more than two miles across, Port Jackson gradually
extends into a noble and capacious bason; having soundings sufficient for
the largest vessels, and space to accommodate, in perfect security, any
number that could be assembled. It runs chiefly in a western direction,
about thirteen miles into the country, and contains not less than an
hundred small coves, formed by narrow necks of land, whose projections
afford admirable shelter from all winds. Sydney Cove lies on the South
side of the harbour, between five and six miles from the entrance. The
necks of land that form the coves are mostly covered with timber, yet so
rocky that it is not easy to comprehend how the trees could have found
sufficient nourishment to bring them to so considerable a magnitude; but
the soil between the rocks is very good, and into those spaces the
principal roots have found their way. The soil in other parts of the
coast immediately about Port Jackson is of various qualities. That neck
of land which divides the south end of the harbour from the sea is
chiefly sand. Between Sydney Cove and Botany Bay the first space is
occupied by a wood, in some parts a mile and a half, in others three
miles across; beyond that, is a kind of heath, poor, sandy, and full of
swamps. As far as the eye can reach to the westward, the country is one
continued wood. The head of the bay in Port Jackson, seemed at first to
offer some advantages of ground, but as it is partly left dry at low
water, and as the winds are much obstructed there by the woods and by the
windings of the channel, it was deemed that it must probably be
unhealthful, till the country can be cleared.
There are several parts of the harbour in which the trees stand at a
greater distance from each other than in Sydney Cove; some of these which
have small runs of water, and a promising soil, Governor Phillip purposed
to cultivate as soon as hands could be spared; but the advantage of being
able to land the stores and provisions with so much ease, unavoidably
determined his choice of a place for the principal settlement. Had it
been attempted to remove those necessaries only one mile from the spot
where they were landed, the undertaking probably would have been
fruitless; so many were the obstacles to land carriage. At the head of
Sydney Cove, therefore, Governor Phillip had fixed the seat of his
government; but intent upon providing the best and earliest accommodation
for those who were to be encamped with him; and wholly occupied by the
continual necessity of giving directions, he had not yet found leisure
for assuming regularly his powers and title of Governor. At length the
hurry of the first preparations gave way to this more tranquil business.
7 February 1788
The 7th of February, 1788, was the memorable day which established a
regular form of Government on the coast of New South Wales. For obvious
reasons, all possible solemnity was given to the proceedings necessary on
this occasion. On a space previously cleared, the whole colony was
assembled; the military drawn up, and under arms; the convicts stationed
apart; and near the person of the Governor, those who were to hold the
principal offices under him. The Royal Commission was then read by Mr. D.
Collins, the Judge Advocate. By this instrument Arthur Phillip was
constituted and appointed Captain General and Governor in Chief in and
over the territory, called New South Wales; extending from the northern
cape, or extremity of the coast, called Cape York, in the latitude of ten
degrees, thirty-seven minutes south, to the southern extremity of the
said territory of New South Wales, or South Cape, in the latitude of
forty-three degrees, thirty-nine minutes south, and of all the country
inland to the westward, as far as the one hundred and thirty-fifth degree
of east longitude, reckoning from the meridian of Greenwich, including
all the islands adjacent in the Pacific Ocean, within the latitudes
aforesaid of 10°. 37'. south, and 43°. 39'. south, and of all towns,
garrisons, castles, forts, and all other fortifications, or other
military works which may be hereafter erected upon the said territory, or
any of the said islands. The act of Parliament establishing the courts of
judicature was next read; and lastly, the patents under the great seal,
empowering the proper persons to convene and hold those courts whenever
the exigency should require. The Office of Lieutenant Governor was
conferred on Major Ross, of the Marines. A triple discharge of musquetry
concluded this part of the ceremony; after which Governor Phillip
advanced, and addressing first the private soldiers, thanked them for
their steady good conduct on every occasion: an honour which was repeated
to them in the next general orders. He then turned to the convicts, and
distinctly explained to them the nature of their present situation. The
greater part, he bade them recollect, had already forfeited their lives
to the justice of their country: yet, by the lenity of its laws, they
were now so placed that, by industry and good behaviour, they might in
time regain the advantages and estimation in society of which they had
deprived themselves. They not only had every encouragement to make that
effort, but were removed almost entirely from every temptation to guilt.
There was little in this infant community which one man could plunder
from another, and any dishonest attempts in so small a society would
almost infallibly be discovered. To persons detected in such crimes, he
could not promise any mercy; nor indeed to any whom, under their
circumstances, should presume to offend against the peace and good order
of the settlement. What mercy could do for them they had already
experienced; nor could any good be now expected from those whom neither
past warnings, nor the peculiarities of their present situation could
preserve from guilt. Against offenders, therefore, the rigour of the law
would certainly be put in force: while they whose behaviour should in any
degree promise reformation, might always depend upon encouragement fully
proportioned to their deserts. He particularly noticed the illegal
intercourse between the sexes as an offence which encouraged a general
profligacy of manners, and was in several ways injurious to society. To
prevent this, he strongly recommended marriage, and promised every kind
of countenance and assistance to those who, by entering into that state,
should manifest their willingness to conform to the laws of morality and
religion. Governor Phillip concluded his address, by declaring his
earnest desire to promote the happiness of all who were under his
government, and to render the settlement in New South Wales advantageous
and honourabe to his country.
This speech, which was received with universal acclamations, terminated
the ceremonial peculiar to the day. Nor was it altogether without its
proper effect: For we are informed, that in the course of the ensuing
week fourteen marriages took place among the convicts. The assembly was
now dispersed, and the Governor proceeded to review the troops on the
ground cleared for a parade: after which, he gave a dinner to the
officers, and the first evening of his government was concluded
propitiously, in good order and innocent festivity, amidst the repetition
of wishes for its prosperity.
A rising government could not easily be committed to better hands.
Governor Phillip appears to have every requisite to ensure the success of
the undertaking intrusted to him, as far as the qualities of one man can
ensure it. Intelligent, active, persevering with firmness to make his
authority respected, and mildness to render it pleasing, he was
determined, if possible, to bring even the native inhabitants of New
South Wales into a voluntary subjection; or at least to establish with
them a strict amity and alliance. Induced also by motives of humanity, it
was his determination from his first landing, to treat them with the
utmost kindness: and he was firmly resolved, that, whatever differences
might arise, nothing less than the most absolute necessity should ever
compel him to fire upon them. In this resolution, by good fortune, and by
his own great address, he has happily been enabled to persevere. But
notwithstanding this, his intentions of establishing a friendly
intercourse have hitherto been frustrated. M. De la Peyrouse,* while he
remained in Botany Bay, had some quarrel with the inhabitants, which
unfortunately obliged him to use his fire-arms against them: this affair,
joined to the ill behaviour of some of the convicts, who in spite of all
prohibitions, and at the risque of all consequences, have wandered out
among them, has produced a shyness on their parts which it has not yet
been possible to remove, though the properest means have been taken to
regain their confidence. Their dislike to the Europeans is probably
increased by discovering that they intend to remain among them, and that
they interfere with them in some of their best fishing places, which
doubtless are, in their circumstances, objects of very great importance.
Some of the convicts who have straggled into the woods have been killed,
and others dangerously wounded by the natives, but there is great reason
to suppose that in these cases the convicts have usually been the
aggressors.
[* This is the right form of that officer's name; it was printed otherwise
in a former passage by mistake.]
As the month of February advanced heavy rains began to fall, which
pointed out the necessity of procuring shelter for the people as soon as
possible. To have expedited this work in the degree which was desirable a
great number of artificers would have been required. But this advantage
could not be had. Only sixteen carpenters could be hired from all the
ships; among the convicts no more than twelve were of this profession,
and of them several were sick. These therefore together formed but a
small party, in proportion to the work which was to be done. One hundred
convicts were added as labourers; but with every effort, it was found
impossible to complete either the barracks for the men, or the huts for
the officers, as soon as was desired. As late as the middle of May these
were yet unfinished, as well as the hospital, and the storehouse for
those provisions which were not landed at first. The Governor himself at
that time was still lodged in his temporary house of canvas, which was
not perfectly impervious either to wind or weather.
14 February 1788.
On the 14th of February a party was sent out in the Supply, to settle on
a small island to the north-west of New Zealand, in latitude 29° south,
and longitude 168°. 10'. east from London, which was discovered and much
commended by Captain Cook, and by him named Norfolk Island, in honour of
the noble family to which that title belongs. To the office of
superintendant and commandant of this island, and the settlement to be
made upon it, Governor Phillip appointed Philip Gidley King, second
lieutenant of his Majesty's ship Sirius, an officer much esteemed by him
as of great merit in his profession; and highly spoken of in his letters
as a man, whose perseverance in that or any other service might fully be
depended on. As it was known that there were no inhabitants on Norfolk
Island, there was sent with Lieut. King only a small detachment,
consisting of one subaltern officer, and six marines, a very promising
young man who was a midshipman, a surgeon,* two men who understood the
cultivation and dressing of flax, with nine men and six women convicts.
That the nature of this settlement may be fully understood, a copy of the
instructions delivered to Mr. King at his departure is subjoined to this
chapter.
[* The surgeon's name is Jamison, whose intelligent letters to Lewis
Wolfe, Esq; were kindly lent to the publisher, and have afforded much
useful information.]
INSTRUCTIONS for PHILIP GIDLEY KING, Esq; Superintendant and Commandant
of the Settlement of NORFOLK ISLAND.
With these instructions you will receive my Commission, appointing you to
superintend and command the settlement to be formed in Norfolk Island,
and to obey all such orders as you shall from time to time receive from
me, his Majesty's Governor in Chief, and Captain General of the territory
of New South Wales and its dependencies, or from the Lieutenant-Governor
in my absence.
You are therefore to proceed in his Majesty's armed tender Supply, whose
commander has my orders to receive you, with the men and women, stores
and provisions necessary for forming the intended settlement; and on your
landing on Norfolk Island you are to take upon you the execution of the
trust reposed in you, causing my commission, appointing you
superintendant over the said settlement, to be publicly read.
After having taken the necessary measures for securing yourself and
people, and for the preservation of the stores and provisions, you are
immediately to proceed to the cultivation of the Flax Plant, which you
will find growing spontaneously on the island: as likewise to the
cultivation of cotton, corn, and other plants, with the seeds of which
you are furnished, and which you are to regard as public stock, and of
the increase of which you are to send me an account, that I may know what
quantity may be drawn from the island for public use, or what supplies it
may be necessary to send hereafter. It is left to your discretion to use
such part of the corn that is raised as may be found necessary; but this
you are to do with the greatest oeconomy; and as the corn, flax, cotton,
and other grains are the property of the Crown, and as such are to be
accounted for, you are to keep an exact account of the increase, and you
will in future receive directions for the disposal thereof.
You are to inform yourself of the nature of the soil, what proportion of
land you find proper for the cultivation of corn, flax, and cotton, as
likewise what quantity of cattle may be bred on the island, and the
number of people you judge necessary for the above purpose. You will
likewise observe what are the prevailing winds in the different seasons
of the year, the best anchorage according to the season, the rise and
fall of the tides, likewise when the dry and rainy seasons begin and end.
You will be furnished with a four oared boat, and you are not on any
consideration to build, or to permit the building of any vessel or boat
whatever that is decked; or of any boat or vessel that is not decked,
whose length of keel exceeds twenty feet: and if by any accident any
vessel or boat that exceeds twenty feet keel should be driven on the
island, you are immediately to cause such boat or vessel to be scuttled,
or otherwise rendered unserviceable, letting her remain in that situation
until you receive further directions from me.
You will be furnished with six months provisions, within which time you
will receive an additional supply, but as you will be able to procure
fish and vegetables, you are to endeavour to make the provisions you
receive serve as long as possible.
The convicts being the servants of the Crown, till the time for which
they are sentenced is expired, their labour is to be for the public; and
you are to take particular notice of their general good or bad behaviour,
that they may hereafter be employed or rewarded according to their
different merits.
You are to cause the Prayers of the Church of England to be read with all
due solemnity every Sunday, and you are to inforce a due observance of
religion and good order, transmitting to me, as often as opportunity
offers, a full account of your particular situation and transactions.
You are not to permit any intercourse or trade with any ships or vessels
that may stop at the island, whether English or of any other nation,
unless such ships or vessels should be in distress, in which case you are
to afford them such assistance as may be in your power.
Given under my hand, at Head Quarters in Port Jackson, New South Wales,
this 12th day of February, 1788.
(Signed)
ARTHUR PHILLIP.