TRANSACTIONS AT PORT JACKSON
September 1791 to December 1791
-Arrival of the Gorgon, and several transports
at Port Jackson.--The number of convicts brought out in these
vessels.--A whale-fishery established on the Coast of New South
Wales.-
On the 21st of September, 1791, the Gorgon, Captain John
Parker, came into the harbour. She sailed from Spithead on the
15th of the preceding March, had stopped at Teneriff, St. Jago,
and the Cape of Good Hope; and having received on board as much
of the provisions and stores, which were of the Guardian's cargo,
as the ship could stow, together with three bulls, twenty-three
cows, four rams, sixty-two ewes, and one boar; she left the Cape
on the 30th of July.
Captain King returned in this ship, his Majesty having been
pleased to give him the rank of master and commander in the navy,
with a commission as Lieutenant-Governor of Norfolk Island, in
consideration of his useful services.
The chaplain of the New South Wales corps, and several who
were appointed to civil employments, came out likewise in the
Gorgon, and as she was to bring out stores and provisions, her
lower deck guns were left in England, and her complement reduced
to one hundred men. Of the cattle received on board the Gorgon,
at the Cape of Good Hope, three bulls, six cows, three rams, and
nine ewes died on the passage; one cow died soon after landing,
and the ewes were severely afflicted with the scab, but it was
hoped they would soon recover: the bulls all dying was an
unfortunate circumstance; however, our Colonists had a bull calf
and patience still left. Seed and a variety of fruit-trees in
good condition were likewise received by the Gorgon; and when she
left the Cape, five transports were preparing to leave it for
this colony.
Thirty male convicts were on board the Gorgon, and assisted in
working the ship, her complement as a store-ship being only one
hundred men, officers included. On the 26th of September, the
Queen transport, having Lieutenant Blow on board as an agent,
arrived from Ireland with provisions, and one hundred and
twenty-six male, and twenty-one female convicts: seven male
convicts and one female died on the passage.
The Active transport arrived the same day with provisions, and
one hundred and fifty-four male convicts: both these ships
brought a part of the Guardian's cargo from the Cape of Good
Hope, and detachments from the New South Wales corps.
The weather still continued showery, and the gardens began to
promise plenty of vegetables; the wheat also, which, it was
feared, would have been lost by the long continuance of dry
weather, improved greatly in appearance: nearly all the maize was
put into the ground, and the greater part of it was up. The
weather had lately been very unsettled, but better than what
Governor Phillip ever found it in the Brazils at this season of
the year.
The surgeon's return of sick was greatly increased since the
arrival of the last vessels; for though the number of sick
convicts were not considerable when landed from the ships, they
were, in general, greatly emaciated, and appeared starved, and
worn out with confinement. The return of sick on the 1st of
October was three hundred and four convicts. One soldier, fifteen
male, and one female convict, with three children, died in the
last month; and two convicts were lost in the woods.
The Albemarle transport, Lieutenant R. P. Young as agent,
arrived on the 13th, and the Britannia came in the next day: the
Albemarle brought out twenty-three soldiers and one woman of the
New South Wales corps, two hundred and fifty male, and six female
convicts, one free woman, a convict's wife and one child.
Thirty-two male convicts died on the passage, and forty-four were
sick on their arrival. The Britannia brought out thirteen
soldiers, one woman, and three children of the New South Wales
corps, and one hundred and twenty-nine male convicts. One soldier
and twenty-one convicts died on the passage, and thirty-eight
were sick when landed.
When these vessels came in, the Admiral Barrington transport
was off the port, but it blowing hard on the night of the 14th,
that ship was not in sight the next day.
The convicts on board the Albemarle, during the passage,
attempted to seize on the ship, and the ringleader, having
knocked down a centinel, and seized his sword, got on the
quarter-deck, and was going to kill the seaman at the helm; but
the master of the ship, hearing a noise, took up a blunderbuss,
which was loaded, and discharged it at the villain, who finding
himself wounded, dropped the sword and ran away. Many of the
convicts had got their irons off, and were rushing aft for the
quarter-deck; but, on seeing their leader wounded, they ran
forward and hid themselves, so that the whole business was put an
end to in a few minutes.
After a short conversation amongst the officers, two of the
ringleaders were hanged, and two seamen, who had furnished the
convicts with knives, and who were to have conducted the ship to
America after all the officers and ship's company, with the
soldiers, had been put to death, were landed at Madeira, in order
that they might be sent to England: they were both Americans, and
one of them had a superficial knowledge of navigation.
The Admiral Barrington arrived on the 16th of October. This
ship brought out a captain, three noncommissioned officers, and
twenty-four privates of the New South Wales corps, with two
hundred and sixty-four male convicts: four women came out with
their husbands, who were convicts, and two children. Ninety-seven
were sick on board this ship.
The whole number of convicts embarked on board the ten
transports, including thirty in the Gorgon, were one thousand six
hundred and ninety-five males, sixty-eight females, and eleven
children; of whom, one hundred and ninety-four males, four
females, and one child died on the passage.
What provisions were in the store, added to those which were
brought out in these transports, would not furnish many months
provisions for this colony; Governor Phillip, therefore, took the
Atlantic into the service as a naval transport.
The Lieutenant-Governor of Norfolk Island, Captain Paterson,
of the New South Wales corps, with part of his company,
twenty-nine marines who had been discharged to become settlers;
several convicts, whose time of transportation being expired,
were admitted as settlers, with thirty-three male, and twelve
female convicts, and a considerable quantity of stores and
provisions were embarked on board the Atlantic, for Norfolk
Island, under the direction of Lieutenant Bowen, as naval agent;
who, after landing what he had on board for the island, had
orders to proceed to Calcutta, where he was to load with
provisions for the colony.
The great number of spermaceti whales that had been seen on
the coast of New South Wales, induced the masters of those
vessels which were fitted out for that fishery, and intended,
after landing the convicts, to proceed to the north-west coast of
America, to try for a cargo here: indeed, the master of the
Britannia, a vessel belonging to Messieurs Enderbys, of London,
who have the merit of being the first that adventured to the
South Seas for whales, assured Governor Phillip, that he had seen
more spermaceti whales in his passage from the south cape to Port
Jackson, than he had ever seen on the Brazil coast, although he
had been six years on that fishery.
No time was lost by the masters of these ships in getting
ready for sea: the Britannia sailed on the 25th of October, in
company with the William and Ann: the Mary Ann and the Matilda
sailed the day before, and the Salamander sailed on the 1st of
November. The Britannia returned from her cruize on the 10th of
November, being the first ship which had ever fished for whales
on the coast of New South Wales.
The following letter from the Master of the Britannia, to
Messrs. Enderbys, his owners, we subjoin for the reader's
satisfaction, because it shows the first introduction of a
whale-fishery, on the coast of New South Wales.
-Ship Britannia, Sydney, Port-Jackson_,
-November 29, 1791_.
Messrs. Samuel Enderby and Sons,
Gentlemen,
I have the pleasure to inform you of our safe arrival in Port
Jackson, in New South Wales, October 13, after a passage of
fifty-five days from the Cape of Good Hope. We were only six
weeks from the Cape to Van Diemen's Land, but met with contrary
winds after we doubled Van Diemen's Land, which made our passage
longer than I expected. We parted company with our agent the next
day after we left the Cape of Good Hope, and never saw him again
till we arrived at Port-Jackson, both in one day. The Albemarle
and we sailed much alike. The Admiral Barrington arrived three
days after us. I am very well myself, thank God, and all the crew
are in high spirits. We lost in all on our passage from England
twenty-one convicts and one soldier. We had one birth on our
passage from the Cape. I tried to make and made the island of
Amsterdam, and made it in the longitude of 76° 4' 14" east
from Greenwich, by a good lunar observation: my intention was to
run close to it to discover whether the sealing business might
not have been carried on there; but the weather was so bad, and
thick weather coming on, I did not think it prudent to attempt
it, likewise to lose a night's run, and a fair wind blowing.
The day before we made it we saw two shoals of sperm-whales.
After we doubled the south-west cape of Van Diemen's Land, we saw
a large sperm whale off Maria's-Islands, but did not see any
more, being very thick weather and blowing hard, till within
fifteen leagues of the latitude of Port Jackson. Within three
leagues of the shore, we saw sperm whales in great plenty: we
sailed through different shoals of them from twelve o'clock in
the day till after sun-set, all round the horizon, as far as I
could see from the mast-head: in fact, I saw a very great
prospect in making our fishery upon this coast and establishing a
fishery here. Our people were in the highest spirits at so great
a sight, and I was determined, as soon as I got in and got clear
of my live lumber, to make all possible dispatch on the fishery
on this coast.
On our arrival here, I waited upon his Excellency Governor
Phillip, and delivered my letters to him. I had the mortification
to find he wanted to dispatch me with my convicts to
Norfolk-Island, and likewise wanted to purchase our vessel to
stay in the country, which I refused to do. I immediately told
him the secret of seeing the whales, thinking that would get me
off going to Norfolk-Island, that there was a prospect of
establishing a fishery here, and might be of service to the
colony, and left him. I waited upon him two hours afterwards with
a box directed to him: he took me into a private room, he told me
he had read my letters, and that he would render me every service
that lay in his power; that next morning he would dispatch every
long-boat in the fleet to take our convicts out, and take our
stores out immediately, which he did accordingly, and did every
thing to dispatch us on the fishery. Captain King used all his
interest in the business; he gave his kind respects to you.
The secret of seeing whales our sailors could not keep from
the rest of the whalers here, the news put them all to the stir,
but have the pleasure to say, we were the first ship ready for
sea; notwithstanding they had been some of them a month arrived
before us. We went out, in company with the William and Ann, the
eleventh day after our arrival. The next day after we went out,
we had very bad weather, and fell in with a very great number of
sperm whales.
At sun-rising in the morning, we could see them all round the
horizon. We run through them in different bodies till two o'clock
in the afternoon, when the weather abated a little, but a very
high sea running. I lowered away two boats, and Bunker followed
the example; in less than two hours we had seven whales killed,
but unfortunately a heavy gale came on from the south-west, and
took the ship aback with a squall, that the ship could only fetch
two of them, the rest we were obliged to cut from, and make the
best of our way on board to save the boats and crew. The William
and Ann saved one, and we took the other and rode by them all
night with a heavy gale of wind. Next morning it moderated, and
we took her in; she made us twelve barrels.
We saw large whales next day, but were not able to lower away
our boats; we saw whales every day for a week after, but the
weather being so bad, we could not attempt to lower a boat down:
we cruized fifteen days in all, having left our sixty shakes of
butts on shore with the Gorgon's cooper, to set up in our
absence, which Captain Parker was so kind as to let us have, and
wanting to purchase more casks of Mr. Calvert's ships, and having
no prospect of getting any good weather, I thought it most
prudent to come in and refit the ship, and compleat my casks and
fill my water, and by that time the weather would be more
moderate.
The day after we came in, the Mary-Ann came in off a cruize,
having met with very bad weather, shipped a sea, and washed her
try-works overboard. He informed me, he left the Matilda in a
harbour to the northward, and that the Salamander had killed a
forty barrel whale, and lost her by bad weather. There is nothing
against making a voyage on this coast but the weather, which I
expect will be better next month; I think to make another month's
trial of it.
If a voyage can be got upon this coast, it will make it
shorter than going to Peru; and the governor has been very
attentive in sending greens for refreshment to our crew at
different times. Captain Parker has been kind, and has given me
every assistance that lay in his power; he carries our long-boat
home, as we cannot sell her here: he will dispose of her for you,
or leave her at Portsmouth: he will wait upon you on his arrival
in London. Captain Ball, of the Supply, who is the bearer of this
letter, has likewise been very kind, and rendered us every
service that lay in his power; he will wait upon you
likewise.
The colony is all alive, expecting there will be a rendezvous
for the fishermen. We shall be ready to sail on Tuesday the 22d,
on a cruize. The Matilda has since arrived here; she saw the
Salamander four days ago: she had seen more whales, but durst not
lower their boats down: she has been into harbour twice. We have
the pleasure to say, we killed the first four whales on this
coast.
I have enclosed you the certificates for the convicts, and
receipts for the stores. Captain Nepean has paid every attention
to me, and has been so kind as to let us have a cooper: he dines
with me to-morrow. I am collecting you some beautiful birds, and
land animals, and other curiosities for you. The ship remains
tight and strong, and in good condition. I will write you by the
Gorgon man of war; she sails in about a month or six week's
time.
I am, Sirs,
Your humble servant,
THOMAS MELVILLE.
The Matilda and the Mary-Ann transports returned from their
fishing-cruize on the 10th of November. These vessels had run to
the southward in search of seals, and met with very bad weather,
but saw no fish. The Matilda had put into Jervis-Bay, which,
according to the master's account, is a very fine harbour, the
anchorage very good, and capable of receiving the largest ships.
These two vessels, after refitting, sailed again to try for fish
on this coast.
Our colonists began to reap the barley on the 22d of November,
and the wheat was getting ripe.
The Supply armed tender, after having been under repair from
the time she returned from Norfolk-Island, was found, on a
survey, to be in so bad a state, that the best repair which could
be given her in this country, would only render her serviceable
for six months longer; Governor Phillip, therefore, ordered her
to England, and she sailed on the 26th of November.
From the debilitated state in which many of the convicts were
landed from the last ships, the number of sick were greatly
increased; the surgeon's returns on the 27th, being upwards of
four hundred sick at Parramatta; and the same day medicines were
distributed to one hundred and ninety-two at Sydney. To the
number of sick at Parramatta, upwards of one hundred may be
added, who were so weak that they could not be put to any kind of
labour, not even to that of pulling grass for thatching the huts.
Forty-two convicts died in the month of November, and in these
people nature seemed fairly to be worn out; many of them were so
thoroughly exhausted that they expired without a groan, and
apparently without any kind of pain.
Showers of rain had been more frequent lately than for many
months past, but not in the abundance which the ground required;
and, from the extreme dryness of the weather, and from the ground
not being sufficiently worked before the maize was put into it, a
great number of acres were likely to be destroyed. This was one
of the many inconveniencies the settlement laboured under, from
the want of people to employ in agriculture, who would feel
themselves interested in the labour of those that were under
their direction, and who had some knowledge as farmers.
The following parcels of land were in cultivation at
Parramatta, in November, 1791.
Acres./Roods./Perches.
351 2 5 in Maise.
44 1 8 Wheat.
6 1 30 Barley.
1 0 0 Oats.
2 0 3 Potatoes.
4 2 0 Not cultivated, but cleared.
4 2 15 Mostly planted with vines.
6 0 0 The governor's garden, partly sown with maize and wheat.
80 0 0 Garden-ground belonging to individuals.
17 0 0 Land in cultivation by the New South Wales corps.
150 0 0 Cleared, and to be sowed with turnips.
91 3 2 Ground in cultivation by settlers.
28 0 0 Ground in cultivation by officers of the civil and military.
134 0 0 Inclosed, and the timber thinned for feeding cattle.
The above grounds were measured by David Burton, the public
gardener, who observes, that the soil in most places is
remarkably good, and only wants cultivation to be fit for any
use, for the ground that has been the longest in cultivation
bears the best crops.
Of the convicts who were received by the last ships, there
were great numbers of the worst of characters, particularly
amongst those who came from Ireland, and whose great ignorance
led them into schemes more destructive to themselves than they
were likely to be to the settlement. Some of these people had
formed an idea that they could go along the coast, and subsist on
oysters and other shell-fish, till they reached some of the
Chinese settlements: others had heard that there were a copper
coloured people only one hundred and fifty miles to the
northward, where they would be free. Full of these notions, three
parties set off; but, after straggling about for many days,
several of them were taken, and others returned to the
settlement. Governor Phillip was less inclined to inflict any
punishment on these people, than to punish those who had deceived
them by the information of "not being far from some of the
Chinese settlements, and near people who would receive them, and
where they would have every thing they wanted, and live very
happy:"
These reasons most of them assigned for going into the woods,
and where some of them still remained, dreading a severe
punishment if they returned: a general pardon was therefore
promised to all those who came back within a certain time, as
several were supposed to be lurking in the woods near the
settlement; however, some of these wretches were so prepossessed
with the idea of being able to live in the woods and on the
sea-coast until they could reach a settlement, or find a people
who would maintain them without labour, that several who were
brought in when almost famished, and carried to the hospital,
went away again as soon as they were judged able to return to
their labour; and although what would be called a day's work in
England is very seldom done by any convict in the settlement, yet
some of them declared that they would sooner perish in the woods
than be obliged to work; and forty were now absent.
In order to give those who might be still lurking near the
settlement an opportunity of returning, all the convicts were
assembled, and a pardon was promised to all who returned within
five days; at the same time they were assured that very severe
punishment would be inflicted on any who were taken after the
expiration of that time, or who should in future attempt to leave
the settlement.
Several appeared sensible of the lenity shown them when their
irons were taken off, but some of them appeared capable of the
most desperate attempts, and even talked of seizing on the
soldiers arms; they were, however, informed, that no mercy would
be shown to any who were even seen near those that might make an
attempt of the kind.
All the whalers who came into the harbour to refit, sailed
again by the 1st of December, and the Albemarle and the Active
transports sailed on the 2d for Bombay, where they were to load
with cotton for England.
A new store was now covered in at Sydney, which was the best
that had been built in the colony; and was intended for the
convicts cloathing and the implements of husbandry: it has a
second floor, and is eighty feet in length by twenty-four feet in
breadth. A building of fifty-six feet by twenty-four was likewise
covered in at Parramatta, and was intended for a place of
worship, until a church could be built.
The idea of finding a Chinese settlement at no great distance
to the northward, still prevailed amongst the Irish convicts; and
on the 4th of December, two of them stole the surgeon's boat, but
they only got a few miles to the northward of the harbour when
they were obliged to run her on shore. Some officers who were out
a shooting, saw this boat on the beach, and stove a plank in her,
that she might not be carried away; they also saw the two men,
who ran into the woods; however, a convict who had been six weeks
in the woods, and was scarcely able to walk, gave himself up to
the officers, and, with their assistance, was able to return to
Sydney.
Many of those convicts who left the settlement, as has already
been related, came back; some were still missing, and several
were said to be killed by the natives. The miserable situation of
those who returned to the settlement, would, it was believed,
most effectually prevent any more excursions of the like
nature.
On the 5th of December, the Queen transport returned from
Norfolk-Island, with the lieutenant-governor of the territory,
who was relieved by Lieutenant-Governor King; a detachment of
marines who had been doing duty on the island; a party of the New
South Wale corps, who were relieved by Captain Paterson, and some
convicts, whose times for which they had been sentenced were
expired.
By the 7th, the Gorgon was nearly ready for sea, and the
detachment of marines who came from England in the first ships
was ordered to hold themselves ready to embark, except one
captain, three lieutenants, eight non-commissioned officers, and
fifty privates, who were to stay at Port Jackson until the
remainder of the New South Wales corps should arrive: those
marines who were desirous of becoming settlers, remained
likewise, to the number of thirty-one.
Governor Phillip had frequently been solicited by Bannelong,
to receive Ballederry, the native who wounded a convict in June,
1791, into favour again, but he always refused; however, on the
14th of December, he was informed that Ballederry was extremely
ill. The surgeon had been to see him, and found him in a fever;
and the first question he asked was, whether the Governor was
still angry, or if he would let him be brought to the hospital to
be cured. Bannelong had fetched the surgeon to Ballederry, and
returned with him to Governor Phillip; who saying he was not
angry, and telling him to bring his companion to the settlement,
he said he would; so, early the next morning, Ballederry was
brought in. At first, he seemed under great apprehensions, but
they presently subsided, on the governor taking him by the hand,
and promising that when he was recovered he should reside with
him again. Poor Ballederry appeared to be very ill, and went with
the surgeon to the hospital.
Of those convicts who were received from the last ships, one
hundred and fourteen males, and two females, died before the 15th
of December: the number of sick had considerably decreased
lately; the surgeon's list being now reduced from six hundred and
two to four hundred and three.
The Matilda and the Mary-Ann transports came into the harbour
on the 16th; these ships had been out but nine days. The Matilda
had been into Jervis-Bay, but had not seen any spermaceti whales.
The Mary-Ann fell in with one shoal; it was in the evening when
all the boats were absent from the ship: the master was in hopes
they should have the fish about them the next morning, but he had
the mortification to find that a current had driven the ship
fifty miles to the southward.
The Gorgon dropped down the harbour on the 17th of December,
Captain Parker intending to sail the next day. The detachment
under the command of Major Ross were embarked, agreeable to the
orders which had previously been given.
* * * * *
Here closes the Journal of Governor Phillip; which contained
the latest accounts from New South Wales; being received by the
Gorgon, that left Port Jackon in December, 1791.
The following Journal of Lieutenant Ball of the Supply, is
subjoined; because it contains an account of a voyage from Port
Jackson by the route of Cape Horn, which was made in a shorter
time than had ever been performed by any other vessel.