1786 18 Aug. Live stock and seed. As many of the marines as possible should be artificers, such as carpenters, sawyers, smiths, potters (if possible), and some busbandmen. To have a chaplain on board, with a surgeon, and one mate at least; the former to remain at the settlement. That these vessels should touch at the Cape of Good Hope, or any other places that may be convenient, for any seed that may be requisite to be taken from thence, and for such live stock as they can possibly contain, which, it is supposed, can be procured there without any sort of difficulty, and at the most reasonable rates, for the use of the settlement at large. That Government should immediately provide a certain number of ships of a proper burthen to receive on board at least seven or Transports. eight hundred convicts, and that one of them should be properly fitted for the accommodation of the women, to prevent their intercourse with the men. Two years' provisions. That these ships should take on board as much provisions as they can possibly stow, or at least a sufficient quantity for two years' consumption; supposing one year to be issued at whole allowance, and the other year's provisions at half allowance, which will last two years longer, by which time, it is presumed, the colony, with the live stock and grain which may be raised by a common industry on the part of the new settlers, will be fully sufficient for their maintenance and support. That, in addition to the crews of the ships appointed to contain the convicts, a company of marines should be divided between Guards for them, to be employed as guards for preventing ill consequences that might arise from dissatisfaction amongst the convicts, and for the protection of the crew in the navigation of the ship from insults that might be offered by the convicts. transports. : Surgeons. Further .supplies. Island Government. That each of the ships should have on board at least two surgeons' mates, to attend to the wants of the sick, and should be supplied with a proper assortment of medicines and instruments, and that two of them should remain with the settlement. After the arrival of the ships which are intended to convey the convicts, the ship of war and tender may be employed in obtaining live stock from the Cape, or from the Molucca Islands, a sufficient quantity of which may be brought from either of those places to the new settlement in two or three trips; or the tender, if it should be thought most adviseable, may be employed in conveying to the new settlement a further number of women from the Friendly Islands, New Caledonia, &c., which are contiguous thereto, and from whence any number may be procured without difficulty; and without a sufficient proportion of that sex it is well-known that it would be impossible to preserve the settlement from gross irregularities and disorders. The whole regulation and management of the settlement should be committed to the care of a discreet officer, and provision should be made in all cases, both civil and military, by special instructions under the Great Seal or otherwise, as may be thought proper. 1786 18 Aug. Upon the whole, it may be observed with great force and truth that the difference of expence (whatever method of carrying the convicts thither may be adopted) that this mode of disposing of them and that of the usual ineffectual one is too trivial to be a Expense not consideration with Government, at least in comparison with the considered. great object to be obtained by it, especially now the evil is increased to such an alarming degree, from the inadequacy of all other expedients that have hitherto been tried or suggested. to be It may not be amiss to remark in favour of this plan that considerable advantage will arise from the cultivation of the New Zealand hemp or flax-plant in the new intended settlement, the Flax. supply of which would be of great consequence to us as a naval power, as our manufacturers are of opinion that canvas made of it would be superior in strength and beauty to any canvas made of the European material, and that a cable of the circumference of ten inches made from the former would be superior in strength to one of eighteen inches made of the latter. The threads or filaments of this New Zealand plant are formed by nature with the most exquisite delicacy, and may be so minutely divided as to be manufactured into the finest linens. Most of the Asiatic productions may also without doubt be Tropical cultivated in the new settlement, and in a few years may render products. our recourse to our European neighbours for those productions unnecessary. timber. It may also be proper to attend to the possibility of procuring New Zealand from New Zealand any quantity of masts and ship timber for the use of our fleets in India, as the distance between the two countrys is not greater than between Great Britain and America. It grows close to the water's edge, is of size and quality superior to any hitherto known, and may be obtained without difficulty. Staff Establishment for the Settlement at New South Wales:: The Naval Commander to be appointed Governor or Super- The Commanding Officer of the Marines to be appointed Yearly Salary. Estimate of expenditure. £ s. d. 1-Staff. 500 0 0 ... 250 0 0 The Commissary of Stores and Provisions, for himself and assistants (to be appointed or named by the contractors for the provisions) 200 0 0 ... £182 10 0 Ditto of two mates 182 10 0 1786 Estimate of clothing to serve a male convict for one year :— The expence of clothing female convicts may be computed to amount to the like sum. TURNBULL MACAULAY AND T. GREGORY TO UNDER SECRETARY Terms for conveying convicts. 31 Aug. London, 21st August, 1786. If Government should determine to send the convicts to South Wales, we beg leave to offer to undertake to convey them thither, and provide what may be wanting for them, on the following terms :— To provide sufficient vessels for transporting them thither, and to remain two months with them after their arrivals; accomodation on board; and sufficient provisions for the voyage, and two months after; at the rate of twenty-eight guineas each person. To deliver in South Wales sufficient provisions, in proportion, as the troops are victualled, for such number of men and such length of time as may be required, at the rate of 73d. sterling p'r man p'r day; freight and insurance to South Wales therein included. To purchase on the most reasonable terms whatever tools, utensils, &c., may be wanted, without charging any commission thereon. We have, &c., TURNBULL MACAULAY AND T. GREGORY. LORD SYDNEY TO THE LORDS OF THE ADMIRALTY. Whitehall, 31st August, 1786. The King having been pleased to signify his Royal Commands that 750 of the convicts now in this kingdom under sentence of transportation should be sent to Botany Bay, on the coast of New South Wales, in the latitude of 33° south, at which place it is intended that the said convicts should form a Convicts to settlement, and that the Lords of the Treasury should forthwith Botany Bay. provide a sufficient number of vessels for their conveyance thither, together with provisions and other supplies for their subsistence, as well as tools to enable them to erect habitations, and also be sent to 1786 31 Aug. Ships implements for agriculture; and it being his Majesty's intention that a ship of war of a proper class, with part of her guns only on board, commanded by an able and discreet officer, and a sufficient establishment of inferior officers and men, together with a required. vessel of about 200 tons burthen, commanded also by an officer, should, as soon as the convict ships are ready, proceed with them to the new settlement, for the purpose of regulating their sailing, and for the preservation of peace and good order during the passage, as well as for other purposes after their arrival and tender. I am commanded to signify to your Lordships the King's plea- Ship of war sure that you do forthwith cause a ship of war and a tender for those services to be fitted for sea with all possible expedition, and when the said convicts shall be put on board the ships which are preparing for their reception in the river Thames, to instruct the commander of the ship of war to take the convict ships under his Instructions protection, and proceed with them and the tender (which he will for the employ as he shall find occasion) to Botany Bay, calling off Plymouth, on his way thither, for another convict ship, the master of which will be directed to join the convoy from thence upon its appearance. commander. at the Cape. From the length of the voyage to New South Wales, the convoy will, of course, find it necessary to put into port on their way thither, for the purpose of recruiting their water. Your Lordships will, therefore, give instructions accordingly, only taking care that one of the places to be fixed upon for a rendezvous may be the Rendezvous Cape of Good Hope, from whence it is intended that as many supplies as possible for the new settlement shall be procured. As it has been thought advisable that some military establish- Garrison. ment shall be made at the new intended settlement, not only to enforce due subordination and obedience, but for the defence of the settlement against incursions of the natives, and as from the nature of the service to be performed it is highly expedient that it should be composed of men accustomed to and under proper discipline, his Majesty has been pleased to direct that 160 private marines, with a suitable number of officers and non-com- Marines. mission officers, shall proceed in the ship of war and the tender to the new settlement, where it is intended they shall be disembarked for the purposes before mentioned. They will be properly victualled by a commissary immediately after their landing, and provision has been also made for supplying them with such tools, implements, and utensils as they may have occasion for, to render The soldiers their situation comfortable during their continuance at the new to be made intended settlement, which it is designed shall not exceed a period of three years. comfortable. When these circumstances are known, it is very probable that Volunteers. many of the non-commissioned officers and men may express a desire of embarking upon this expedition; if the whole number be 1786 31 Aug. to volunteer. to be employed upon it were to consist of persons of that description, it would upon many accounts be advisable to give them a preference. It is therefore his Majesty's pleasure that their Marines to wishes in this respect should as much as possible be attended encouraged to, and that your Lordship should, if there should be occasion, hold out such further indulgences to them as may induce them to embark voluntarily upon this service, either by bounty or promise of discharge should they desire it upon their return, or at the expiration of three years, to be computed from the time of their landing at the new intended settlement should they prefer the remaining in that country. Heads of a plan. I enclose to your Lordships herewith the heads of a plan* upon which the new settlement is to be formed, for your further information, together with the proposed establishment for its regulation and government; and as soon as I am acquainted by your Lordships with the names of the officers intended to command the ship of war and the marine corps I shall receive his Majesty's further pleasure for preparing their commissions, and instructions. Such instructions as may be requisite for their guidance. Commis sions and Officers to be under the Home Depart ment. 3 Sept. Phillip's appointment. be From the nature of the services they are to execute under these instructions, entirely unconnected with maritime affairs, it would proper that they should be immediately subordinate to the direction of this office, and upon that ground it is his Majesty's pleasure that they should be directed after their arrival at New South Wales to follow such orders and directions as they may receive from his Majesty thro' his Principal Secretary of State for this department. I have, &c., LORD HOWE TO LORD SYDNEY. SYDNEY. Langar, 3rd September, 1786. THE benefit of the King's service being our common object, I am persuaded, my dear Lord, it will never suffer for want of our ready concurrence when a necessary facility can be rendered by us, on either part, to promote the advancement of it on any occasion. In the present instance, the settlement of the convicts, as you have determined, being a matter so immediately connected with your department, I could never have a thought of contesting the choice you would make of the officer to be entrusted with the conduct of it. I cannot say the little knowledge I have of Captain Philips† would have led me to select him for a service of this complicated nature. But as you are satisfied of his ability, and I conclude he will be taken under your direction, I presume it will not be unreasonable to move the King for having his Majesty's * Ante, p. 17. + Phillip's name was frequently mis-spelt by the public men of the time. |