TRANSACTIONS AT PORT JACKSON
June 1790 to July 1790
-The Lady Juliana Transport arrives at Port
Jackson.--Loss of the Guardian.--A settlement made at
Sydney-Cove.--A state of the settlements at Sydney-Cove and
Rose-Hill.--A general return of male convicts, with their
employments.-
The Lady Juliana transport, which sailed from England in
September, 1789, arrived at Port Jackson on the 3d of June, 1790,
bringing supplies from England, and also dispatches from the
Guardian at the Cape of Good Hope; which having sailed from
England in August, struck unhappily on the 23d day of December,
1789, in 44° south latitude, and 41° 30' east longitude,
on an island of ice.
By the unfortunate loss of the Guardian the colony was
deprived of those liberal supplies, which had been sent from
England, the want of which threw the settlement back so much,
that it will require a length of time to put it in the situation
it would have been in, had the Guardian arrived before Governor
Phillip was obliged to send away the Sirius, to give up labour,
and to destroy the greatest part of the live stock.
Nevertheless, the settlers had little to apprehend from the
natives; against whom, no one ever thought any defence necessary,
more than what out-houses and barracks afforded: indeed, at the
first landing, a barrier would have been very desirable; but at
that time, and for months afterwards, the slighest defence could
not have been made, without neglecting what was so absolutely and
immediately necessary, for securing the stores and provisions.
There is, however, little reason to think that the natives will
ever attack any building, and still less to suppose they will
attack a number of armed men: not that they want innate bravery,
but they are perfectly sensible of the great superiority of
fire-arms. Setting fire to the corn was what was most feared, but
this they had never attempted; and, as they avoided those places,
which were frequented by the colonists, it was seldom that any of
them were now seen near the settlement.
If the natives should find any cattle in the woods, they
undoubtedly would destroy them, which mischief is all that the
settler would have to apprehend. They naturally attack the
strangers, who go out to rob them of their spears, and of the few
articles they possess; and who do this too frequently; since the
punishments that the delinquents sometimes meet with are not
attended with the desired effect.
The situation of Port Jackson, between two harbours, so that
if a ship fall in with the coast in bad weather, a few miles
either to the northward or to the southward, she can find
immediate shelter, is a great advantage; and it perhaps will be
found hereafter, that the seat of government has not been
improperly placed. Governor Phillip observes, that they, as first
settlers, laboured under some inconvenience from not being able
to employ the convicts in agriculture on the spot where the
provisions and stores were landed; but this was the only
inconvenience, as having the convicts at some distance from the
military was attended with many advantages.
When the governor first arrived, he had little time to look
round him, as his instructions particularly pointed out, that he
was not to delay the disembarking of the people, with a view of
searching for a better situation than what Botany-Bay might
afford. He was obliged to look farther, but did not think himself
at liberty to continue his searches after he had been
Sydney-Cove.
Had he seen the country near the head of the harbour, he might
have been induced to have made the settlement there, but nothing
was known of that part of the country, until the creek which runs
up to Rose-hill was discovered, in a journey that the governor
made to the westward, three months after they landed; and
although he was then fully satisfied of the goodness of the soil,
and saw the advantages of that situation, most of the stores and
provisions were landed, and it required some little time to do
away the general opinion, that such a situation could not be
healthy, and that he was inclined to think himself, until he had
examined the country for some miles round, and was satisfied that
there was a free circulation of air, in the goodness of which,
few places equal it. The numbers of people, who had been settled
at Rose-Hill, on an average for eighteen months, exceeded one
hundred; and during that time they had only two deaths: a woman,
who had been subject to a dropsy, and a marine, who had been
there but a very short time before he died.
It is in that part of the country, that the governor proposed
employing the convicts in agriculture, and in the neighbourhood
of which, he proposed fixing the first settlers who might be sent
out.
The impossibility of conveying stores and provisions for any
distance inland obliged the governor to mark out the first
township near Rose-Hill, where there is a considerable extent of
good land: the sea-coast does not offer any situation within
their reach at present, which is calculated for a town, whose
inhabitants are to be employed in agriculture.
In order to know in what time a man might be able to cultivate
a sufficient quantity of ground to support himself, the governor,
in November, 1789, ordered a hut to be built in a good situation,
an acre of ground to be cleared, and once turned up: it was then
put into the possession of a very industrious convict, who was
told, if he behaved well, he should have thirty acres. This man
had said, that the time for which he had been sentenced was
expired, and he wished to settle: he has been industrious, has
received some little assistance, and in June, 1790, informed the
governor, that if one acre more were cleared for him, he would be
able to support himself after next January: this was much
doubted, but it was thought he would do tolerably well, after
being supported for eighteen months. Others may prove more
intelligent, though they cannot well be more industrious.
The river Hawkesbury will, no doubt, offer some desirable
situations, and the great advantages of a navigable river are
obvious; but before a settlement can be made there, proper people
to conduct it must be found, and they must be better acquainted
with the country.
The Lady Juliana being the only vessel, which was at that time
in the country, Governor Phillip was obliged to send her to
Norfolk-Island with a part of the provisions; and had not that
ship been chartered for China, he proposed sending the Sirius's
officers and men to England in her; but this intention was laid
aside, as the master of her informed him, that it would be
attended with a loss of more than six thousand pounds to the
owners, and consequently might occasion an expence to government,
which would exceed what attended their remaining a few months
longer in the country: besides, he was not willing to break
through the charter-party, as other ships were coming out. As the
Lady Juliana was to touch at Norfolk-Island with provisions, and
one of the superintendants professed himself to understand the
cultivation and dressing of the flax-plant, the governor sent
thither most of the women who came out in that ship, and he
intended to send an equal number of male convicts, when other
ships should arrive.
Of the superintendants sent out in the Guardian, for the
purpose of instructing the convicts in agriculture, five only
arrived in the Lady Juliana, and of the five superintendants who
arrived, one only was a farmer; two said that they were used to
the farming business when seventeen and nineteen years of age,
but they were then unable, from the knowledge they formerly
obtained, to instruct the convicts, or direct a farm. The two
gardeners were said to be lost, having left the Guardian in a
small boat after the unfortunate accident, which deprived the
colony of her invaluable cargo.
The Neptune, Surprize, and Scarborough transports arrived at
Port Jackson the latter end of June, 1790, with about six hundred
casks of beef and pork, which were sent round from the Guardian,
and nineteen convicts, who had been transported in that ship.
In order to ascertain the time in which it is probable the
colony will be able to support itself, it will be necessary to
point out those circumstances, that may advance or retard the
settlement. It will depend on the numbers who are employed in
agriculture, and who, by their labour, are to provide for those
that make no provision for themselves.
Governor Phillip did not reckon on the little labour which may
be got from the women, though some were employed in the fields;
as the greatest part would always find employment in making their
own, and the men's cloathing, and in the necessary attention to
their children. The ground, which the military may cultivate,
will be for their own convenience. The providing of houses and
barracks for the additional number of officers and soldiers, the
rebuilding of those temporary ones, which were erected on their
first arrival, and which must be done in the course of another
year, as well as the building of more store-houses and huts for
the convicts as they arrive, employed a considerable number of
hands, and works of this kind will always be carrying on.
Temporary buildings on their first landing were absolutely
necessary; but they should be avoided in future; as, after three
or four years, the whole work is to be begun again; and the want
of lime greatly increases the labour of building with bricks, as
the builders are obliged to increase the thickness of the walls,
which cannot be carried to any height; at the same time, if very
heavy rains fall before the houses are covered in, they are
considerably damaged.
The annexed return will show in what manner the convicts are
employed at present; and the governor had increased the number of
those employed in clearing the land for cultivation, as far as it
would be possible to do it before January, 1791, except by
convalescents, from whom little labour could be expected. He
hoped next year, that a very considerable quantity of ground
would be sown with wheat and barley: but the settlement has never
had more than one person to superintend the clearing and
cultivating of ground for the public benefit, or who has ever
been the means of bringing a single bushel of grain into the
public granary. One or two others had been so employed for a
short time, but were removed, as wanting either industry or
probity; and if the person who has at present the entire
management of all the convicts, who are employed in clearing and
cultivating the land, should be lost, there would be no one in
the settlement to replace him.
It was originally supposed that a sufficient number of good
farmers might have been found amongst the convicts to have
superintended the labours of the rest; and men have been employed
who answer the purpose of preventing their straggling from their
work; but none of them were equal to the charge of directing the
labour of a number of convicts, with whom most of them were
connected by crimes, which they would not wish to have brought
forward. From their former habits of life, it may easily be
supposed, that few of the convicts would be good farmers.
From what has been said, it may be seen how impossible it was
to detach a body of convicts to any distance, if there had been
any necessity for it. The land at Rose-Hill is very good, and in
every respect well calculated for arable and pasture ground,
though it be loaded with timber, the removal of which requires
great labour and time; but this is the case with the whole
country, as far as had been seen, particular spots excepted. As
the good land could not at present be cultivated by the
colonists, it was reserved for the first settlers that should
come out.
The consequence of a failure of a crop, when the colony can no
longer expect supplies from Great-Britain, is obvious; and to
guard against such consequences, it would be of great use to have
a few settlers, to whom great encouragement should be given. The
fixing the first settlers in townships would, indeed, tend to
prevent that increase of live stock, which might be raised in
farms at a distance from villages, where the stock would be less
liable to suffer from the depredations, which may be expected
from the soldier and the convict, and against which there is no
effectual security.
The many untoward circumstances which the colony had hitherto
met with were done away; and at length there was reason to hope,
that after two years from July, 1790, they would want no farther
supply of flour, though various accidents might render a supply
necessary after that period. How long a regular supply of beef
and pork would be necessary depended on the quantity of live
stock which might be introduced into the settlement, and on its
increase, of which no judgment could be formed.
A town was now laid out at Rose-Hill, of which the principal
street was to be occupied by the convicts: the huts were building
at the distance of one hundred feet from each other, and each hut
was to contain ten convicts. In these huts they will live more
comfortably than they could possibly do if numbers were confined
together in larger buildings; and having good gardens to
cultivate, and frequent opportunities to exchange vegetables for
little necessaries which the stores do not furnish; these
accommodations will make them feel the benefits they may draw
from their industry.
Some few inconveniences, indeed, ensue from the convicts being
so much dispersed, but their being indulged with having their own
gardens is a spur to industry, which they would not have, if
employed in a public garden, though entirely for their own
benefits, as they never seemed to think it was their own; and it
was not observed, that many of those who had been for some months
in huts, and consequently were more at liberty than they would be
if numbers were confined together, had abused the confidence
placed in them, any farther than the robbing of a garden.
A GENERAL RETURN of MALE CONVICTS, with their respective employments,
on the 23d of July, 1790.
AT SYDNEY.
40 Making bricks and tiles.
50 Bringing in bricks, etc. for the new store-house.
19 Bricklayers and labourers employed in building a store-house
and huts at Rose-Hill.
8 Carpenters employed at the new store, and in building huts at
Rose-Hill.
9 Men who can work with the axe, and who assist the
carpenters.
2 Sawyers.
9 Smiths.
10 Watchmen.
40 Receiving stores and provisions from the ships.
12 Employed on the roads--mostly convalescents.
18 Bringing in timber.
4 Stone-masons.
10 Employed in the boats.
3 Wheelwrights.
6 Employed in the stores.
38 Employed by the officers of the civil and military departments
at their farms. These men will be employed for the public when
the relief takes place.
2 Assistants to the provost marshal.
3 Gardeners and labourers employed by the governor.
3 Coopers.
6 Shoe-makers.
4 Taylors.
5 Bakers.
6 Attending the sick at the hospital.
3 Barbers.
3 Gardeners, and others, employed at the hospital.
3 Employed by the governor bringing in of wood, etc.
316
413 Under medical treatment.
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729
AT ROSE-HILL.
2 Employed at the store.
3 Servants to the three superintendants.
1 Employed in taking care of the stock.
2 Employed at the hospital.
5 Men who work with the axe in building huts.
1 Baker.
1 Cook.
4 Boys variously employed.
1 Assistant to the provost marshal.
3 Thatchers.
1 Servant to the store-keepers.
1 Ditto to the assistant surgeon.
4 Overseers.
25 Sick.
113 Clearing and cultivating the ground.
12 Sawyers.
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179