1788 10 July. puting them up and having them placed in a dry place where no wet can come at them during the voyage, is another circumstance equally to be attended to. I have, &c., JOHN WHITE, Surgeon. Ross's grievances. MAJOR ROSS TO UNDER SECRETARY NEPEAN.* My Dear Sir, 10th July, 1788. I know not whether the Secretary of State expects I am to write to him or not, but I suppose rather not, for as I came out without any orders or instructions from your office with respect to the intentions of Government, so am I still ignorant of it, for the Governor has never told me, neither has he ever advised or consulted with me on the subject, and I beleive everybody else are in the dark as well as myself. Should his Lordship expect letters from me, I hope you will think the above a sufficient excuse, for I cannot see how I could write without informing him of the manner in which the Governor treats me as Lieut.Governor; and as to the detachment, they have just the same cause for complaint that I have. This you will see cannot be done without my letter coming in the manner of a complaint, which I by no means wish to be the case at this stage of the business; but I will not answer for what may be the case hereGeneral dis- after, for, take my word for it, there is not a man in this place but wishes to return home, and indeed they have no less than cause, for I believe there never was a set of people so much upon the parrish as this garrison is, and what little we want, even to a single nail, we must not send to the Commissary for it, but must apply to his Excellency, and when we do he allways sayes there is but little come out, and of course it is but little we get, and what we are obliged to take as a mark of favor. satisfaction. The country If you want a true description of this country it is only to be condemned. found amongst many of the private letters sent home; however, I will, in confidence, venture to assure you that this country will never answer to settle in, for altho' I think corn will grow here, yet I am convinced that if ever it is able to maintain the people here it cannot be in less time than probably a hundred years hence. I therefore think it will be cheaper to feed the convicts Convicts and on turtle and venison at the London Tavern than be at the expence of sending them here. turtle. I have now only to add my hope that yourself, Mrs. Nepean, and the family are well, and to assure you that it is not possible you can be better than you are wished to be by James Campbell,† as well as by, my dear sir, Yours, &c., My Lord, GOVERNOR PHILLIP TO LORD SYDNEY. Sydney Cove, July the 10th, 1788. 1788 10 July. In obedience to the instructions I received under the Royal Sign Manual, respecting the natives, and transmitting an account of the nature and quality of the soil in and near the settlement, and the mode, and upon what terms and conditions, according to the best of my judgment, lands may be granted,* I have the honor of informing your Lordship that the natives have ever been treated The natives. with the greatest humanity and attention, and every precaution that was possible has been taken to prevent their receiving any insults; and when I shall have time to mix more with them every means shall be used to reconcile them to live amongst us, and to Their friendteach them the advantages they will reap from cultivating the land, which will enable them to support themselves at this season of the year, when fish are so scarce that many of them perish with hunger, at least, I have strong reason to suppose that to be the case. Their number in the neighbourhood of this settlement, that Their is within ten miles to the northward and ten miles to the southward, I reckon at fifteen hundred. ship sought. number. settlers. With respect to the soil, I have had the honor of informing your Lordship that near the head of the harbour there is a tract of country running to the westward for many miles which appears to be in general rich, good land; the breadth of this tract of Good land. country I have not yet been able to examine, but I believe it to be considerable. These lands, and several particular spots, may be settled, and the ground cleared of timber, without the great labour we experience in the situation in which I have been obliged to fix the colony. Farmers and people used to the cultivation of lands, Farmers as if sent out (and without which agriculture will make but a very slow progress), must be supported by Government for two or three years, and have the labour of a certain number of convicts to assist them for that time, after which they may be able to support themselves, and to take the convicts sent out at the expence which Government is put to for their transportation; but then, I presume, none should be sent whose sentence is for a less term than fourteen years. A yearly fine to be paid for the lands granted, after the Land grants. fifth year; the fine to be in grain, and in proportion to the crop ; and this, I should hope, would be the only tax laid on the crops, giving the church lands in the room of tythes. wanted. The sending out settlers, who will be interested in the labor of Settlers the convicts, and in the cultivation of the country, appears to me to be absolutely necessary. of settle Lands granted to officers or settlers will, I presume, be on Conditions condition of a certain proportion of the lands so granted being ment. cultivated or cleared within a certain time, and which time and quantity can only be determined by the nature of the ground and Survey of Port Jackson. Letters from Natives fish. situation of the lands; and, in that case, when lands are granted to officers, the garrison must be sufficient for the service of the place, and to permit such officers occasionally to be absent at the lands they are to cultivate, and for a certain time; they likewise must be allowed convicts, who must be maintained at the expence of the Crown. Your Lordship will be pleased to consider this opinion as given in obedience to orders, on a subject which requires more consideration than I can give it at present, and at a time when I have only a very superficial knowledge of the country for a few miles I have, &c., A. PHILLIP. around. GOVERNOR PHILLIP TO UNDER SECRETARY NEPEAN.* Dear Sir, Sydney Cove, Port Jackson, July the 10th, 1788. By the Alexander, under the care of Lieutenant Shortland, agent for the transports, I have sent dispatches to the Right Honourable the Lord Sydney and for yourself, with a rough survey of Port Jackson. Duplicates of these dispatches go by the Friendship, under the care of Lieutenant Collins, of the marines, triplicates of most by the master of the Borrowdale, and a quadriplicate of my publick letters to you by the Prince of Wales. With your dispatches I have sent duplicates and triplicates of my publick letters to the Admiralty and Navy Board, and I have taken the liberty of troubling you with some private letters. Lieutenant Shortland is likewise charged with a box of letters from Monsieur La Perouse for the French Ambassador. Yesterday twenty of the natives came down to the beach, each appropriate armed with a number of spears, and seized on a good part of the fish caught in the seine. The coxswain had been ordered, however small the quantity he caught, always to give them a part whenever any of them came where he was fishing, and this was the first time they ever attempted to take any by force. While the greatest number were seizing the fish, several stood at a small distance with their spears poised ready to throw them if any resistance had been made, but the coxswain very prudently permitted them to take what they chose, and parted good friends. They, at present, find it very difficult to support themselves. Precautions. In consequence of what happened yesterday, no boat will in future go down the harbour without an officer. GOVERNOR PHILLIP TO LORD SYDNEY.* 1789 10 July. My Lord, Sydney Cove, †July, 1788. The publick letters to your Lordship will show the situation of this settlement, and the little difficultys we have met with, Difficulties, which time, an additional force, and proper people for cultivating the land will remove; and your Lordship may be assured that anxious to render a very essential service to my country, by the establishment of a colony, which from its situation must hereafter be a valuable acquisition to Great Britain, no perseverance will be wanting on my part, and which consideration alone could make amends for the being surrounded by the most infamous of mankind, it is to your Lordship and to Nepean only that I make a declaration of this kind. Time will remove all difficultys, and Time will with a few familys who have been used to the cultivation of remove lands, this country will wear a more pleasing aspect, and those who are to come out, knowing what the country really is, will be less disapointed. As to myself, I am satisfied to remain as long as my services are wanted: I am serving my country, and serving Devotion the cause of humanity. I flatter myself that by the return of to duty. the ships that brought us out provisions, and on which is placed our sole dependence, I shall be able to give your Lordship a more satisfactory account of this country. them. Lt. Philip Gidley King, the second lieut. of the Sirius, who is King at Norfolk Island, is a very steady, good officer. He, too, is cut off praised. from all society, and is in a situation that will require patience and perseverance, both of which he possesses, with great merit in the service as an officer; as such I beg leave to recommend him to your Lordship. The rank of master and commander he well His proearned in the late war, and I should be very happy if he now asked for attained it, thro' your Lordship. I have now, my Lord, only to request that my compliments may be made acceptable to Lady Sydney and family, and as I have directed my official letters to Mr. Nepean, to Mr. Townshend in particular, I hope he will not forget his exiled friend. Of your Lordship's friendship I have had proofs, and of which I retain a just sense; add to the obligation, my Lord, by believing that I merit the friendship you honor me with, and that I am, with esteem,— Your Lordship's, &c., My Lord, A. PHILLIP. GOVERNOR PHILLIP TO LORD SYDNEY.§ * A private letter. The day of the month is not given, but the letter was probably written on the same day as the official despatches, i.e., 10th July. King was promoted 2nd March, 1791. § A private letter. motion 1788 Care for the natives. and stand in need of an apology. Your Lordship will see by the 10 July. last letter that the natives, armed, took some fish by force from the boat's crew. The temptation was great, for the quantity caught was considerable, and fish is now very scarce. We shall guard against any dispute on this head in future, and when the ships sail I shall have time to go amongst them and to give them some little assistance if, from the rains having ceased, fish can be caught in any quantity. Presents for England. Birds. A kangaroo. 12 July. Urgent wants. Leather. Warm clothing. Vinegar. The enclosed memorandum contains the articles for your Lordship, which are on board the Alexander, and of which I beg your acceptance. The wine will, I hope, be improved by the voyage. I have once more the pleasure of assuring your Lordship of my esteem, and of a just sense of the friendship with which I am honor'd, and of requesting that my respects may be made acceptable to Lady Sydney, with compliments to Mr. Townshend. The birds from Lord Howe Island may be acceptable to Lady Chatham; and I am sorry that I have not been able to procure any small birds for Miss Townshend, to whom, likewise, your Lordship will please to make my compliments. The The kangurroo* for your Lordship is the largest I have yet seen. As it stands it measures five feet nine inches. This extraordinary animal makes the same use of his fore feet as the monkey does. Major Ross has one alive. It is young, very tame, and comes to you and embraces your hands with the fore feet. female was killed, and the young one remained by the body. Wishing your Lordship health, I have the honour to be, with the greatest esteem, &c., A. PHILLIP. Lt. Collins, whose bad state of health obliges him to return, I beg leave to recommend to your Lordship's notice. GOVERNOR PHILLIP TO UNDER SECRETARY NEPEAN. Sydney Cove, July 12th, 1788. You will excuse the repetition of our wants; they will, I hope, Vinegar will be very acceptable; it is very much wanted. * Up to this time no agreement seems to have been come to as to the spelling o "kangaroo." |