1790 Flax. Aug. Quality, except when mixed with Tallow, which makes an indifferent Coat for Boat Bottoms, &c. The wood contains a sap of delicate white, but has not even the properties of bad Gum. As for the Flax, I can only say there is an abundance of it in all parts of the Sea Coast of this Island (but not inland), and is generally believed here will never be of that importance as supposed in England. The Woods are very thick, and interwoven throughout with a peculiar Vine, so much so in many places as to Birds. render it difficult of access. There is some little variety of Birds-a Parrot, Paroquet, Pidgeon, Dove, Hawk, and Owl, with many small Birds. The Parrot is very curios, the Paroquet common with no great share of Beauty, the Pidgeon beautiful, the Dove delicate, the Owl and Hawk quite common. Amongst the small Birds there is but one worthy of note, which is not unlike Rats. a Robin, having a rich vermillion Breast. The only Quadruped is a Rat, and those rather diminutive. For the Position of this Bay, the Islands, &c., I refer you to the Chart, which, though very small, is traced with care and accuracy. I cannot say a single Bad Word in favor of the Roads, being perfectly open, the Tide strong and irregular, the bottom foul throughout, and by no means fit for anchoring. The Winds which bring the Ships here are the same which occasion the high Surfs; therefore it rarely happens that you can have any Communication with them the two or three first Days. anchorage. accident. The landing is dangerous to a degree at almost all times, and this is the only place where Provisions can be landed with Safety Fatal and Convenience. I cannot help taking notice of the ill-natured account of the unfortunate loss of Mr. Cunninghame in this Island. It is not only pointed, but stained with a Tinge of Acrimony, and the whole laid to his Misconduct and Imprudence. Whoever this account is written by, I am sure it is not from Mr. King (that is, if we are to judge from his own Professions), who speaks of him with the greatest respect and seeming regard. The Circumstance runs thus:-A Boat from the Supply coming in one Day when it was bad landing, he was ordered to lay out at the Back of the Reef and close under the Point, to be ready for assistance in case of an Accident; but the current, which constantly sets from the Eastward (and along the reef) drove him unavoidably from his Station, which in trying to regain he was A boat met by some very heavy surfs that took his Boat on her broad- swamped. side, and sent them with surprising precipitation on the Western Reef, which swamp'd and upset the Boat, and by the numberless holes and Gullys which are irregularly interspersed along the Reefs, Three men with the continuance of some very heavy Surfs and strong undertow, he with three of the Boat's Crew were unfortunately drowned. (The other one Man was saved by luckily hitting the Passage and being a good Swimmer.) And to add to this melancholly accident, drowned. 1790 Aug. Another accident. there were some of his Friends and Shipmates had come on Shore that day to see him [Mr. Cunninghame], who had the mortification to see him drowned within thirty yards of them, without being able to render themselves of the least Assistance. (For further explanation concerning the Reef, vide Chart No. 3.) A similar accident unavoidably happened on the 17th of this Month [August], when the landing was not altogether bad; but the Current being so strong and the surfs following closely after the Boat (being our large Cutter saved from the Wreck, 24-feet Keel, which is too long for this place), before she could be swept round for the Eastern Channel was taken up by some very heavy Surfs, and dashed violently on the Rocks of the middle Reef. She had fourteen Persons in her, including her Crew, with four Casks of Salt Provisions, out of which one Man, three Women (Convicts), two Children, with two of our Seamen (the Boat's Crew), were unfortunately Loss of life. drowned and driven out to sea. Some of those that were picked Disasters. 29 Aug. Returns. A miracle. up were perfectly drowned, and many of the People who went off Right Honourable Sir, LIEUT.-GOVERNOR ROSS TO THE RIGHT HON. W. W. GRENVILLE. I should have had greater satisfaction in being at liberty to have stated many particulars which respect this island particularly, but by my instructions from the Governor I find myself tied down to make every report of that kind to his Excellency, in order to be by him laid before his Majesty's ministers; however, I think I may venture to say that if Providence had not worked a miracle in our favour there would have been but few of us found alive when those ships arrived to our relief. And further, I think I may venture to assure you, and the rest of his Majesty's These returns do not appear to have been preserved. 1790 29 Aug. ministers, that with respect to clearing and cultivating land on this island, I have established such a plan which, if pursued, will render it unnecessary ever to send any flour here. On the con- Cultivation. trary, in one year from the first of next January, the island will be able to spare grain for exportation, provided there is not more than seven hundred people kept upon the island. timber. On the eight inst. a man arrived here from Port Jackson for the purpose of managing and dressing the flax-plant; he has Flax and began to clear ground and prepare the plant for the purpose of dressing. I am likewise, by the Governor's directions, cutting down some of the pine-tree spars, in order to be put on board the Gorgon, in order to their being brought to Europe for the purpose of experiments. And as I understand that we are to be embarked for a passage to England on board the Gorgon, I shall wait until I have the honour of explaining many matters which very much concern the territory at large, and this island in particular, all which matters, together with the whole of my con- Personal duct since my appointment as Lieutenant-Governor, I trust will explanation. be honoured with the approval of his Majesty's ministers. And until that happy and much-to-be-wished period arrives, I have to request that whatever (perhaps false) representations with respect Detraction. to my conduct may have appear'd before the ministers, that you and them may do me the justice and the honour to suspend passing any judgment upon it until it is investigated. R. Ross. THE RIGHT HON. W. W. GRENVILLE TO LORD CORNWALLIS.* 6 Sept. from India. The expence with which the conveyance of provisions and live stock from this country and the Cape of Good Hope to the settlement in New South Wales has been attended has led his Majesty's ministers to consider of some plan for obtaining supplies from a situation more contiguous and upon more moderate terms. On consulting several gentlemen who have resided in India on Supplies this subject, I have been given to understand that flour, rice, pulse, ghee, live stock, spirits, &c., are constantly to be had at Calcutta in the greatest abundance, and at prices far below the amount which those articles, or others of a similar nature, supplied to New South Wales from hence, have cost to Government. In consequence of this information it has been determined that one of the transports now ordered to be taken up for the purpose of conveying convicts to New South Wales, shall, after landing them, be dispatched from thence by Governor Phillip, who will be directed to apprize your Lordship, or the commander-in-chief of his Majesty's forces in India for the time-being, by her, of the situation of the settlement, and of the particular supplies which may be most wanted there. * Governor of Bengal, and Governor-General of India. 1790 6 Sept. Prices. I enclose a calculation* which has been made of the prices at which the several articles therein mentioned can be supplied from hence or from the Cape, from which a judgment may be formed of the articles which can most advantageously be furnished from Bengal, and the transport is, as soon as possible, to be re-dispatched to New South Wales with an assortment of such articles only as can be supplied on better terms from Bengal than from England, unless Governor Phillip should state that the settlement under his command is in immediate and pressing want of any other articles. Your Lordship will direct the person whom you shall entrust with the detail of this business to procure such articles on the most moderate terms, and as soon as you shall have redispatched the transport you will draw upon the Lords of the Treasury for the amount of the purchases you shall have made, sending at the same time a particular account of the expence of each separate article, in order that a judgment may be formed of the cheaper mode of supply in future. It will probably be more than twelve months from this date Information before the transport can reach Bengal. In the meantime, I shall asked for. hope to have the honour of hearing from your Lordship, or the commander-in-chief for the time-being, on this subject, and of being furnished with a particular statement of the several articles which in your opinion can be obtained in Bengal, or in any other part of India, for the supply of the settlement upon more advantageous terms than they can be provided from hence or from the Cape. I have, &c.† officer. MAJOR GROSE TO SIR GEORGE YONGE. Portsmouth, September the 28th, 1790. The I am compelled much against my wish to request a general court-martial for the purpose of trying an officer of the New South Wales Corps, whose crime I herewith enclose to you. repeated neglects and misconduct of this gentleman I have long suffered, hoping by advice I should bring about that reformation An offending which many would have sought by more severe methods. I at length have been obliged to put him in arrest. From this arrest I should have readily released him had he seen fit to acknowledge his errors, but, as if to aggravate his former unmilitary behaviour, he rather chooses to be exposed to the consequences of a courtmartial than to apologize or make the slighest concession whatever. To avoid the trouble, as well as disgrace, this unthinking man will bring on the corps, I could wish the matter had been otherwise settled; but as that is not likely, I hope I shall not be considered as acting with severity when I say that it is absolutely Courtmartial. *Not recorded. This despatch is not signed; it is apparently from the Right Hon. W. W. Grenville. requisite that the gentleman of whom I write should for the good of this service, and this corps in particular, be brought to a proper sense of his duty. I am, &c., FRAN'S GROSE. UNDER SECRETARY LEWIS TO MAJOR GROSE. W.O., 29th Sept., 1790. 1790 28 Sept. 29 Sept. martial. Sir, I am directed to acke. the recipt of your letter of the 28th instant, and to acqt. you that before H. M.'s P. is taken relative to the general court-martial therein desired to be held for the trial Courtof Ensign and Quarter-master Duberly, of the N. So. Wales Corps, under your command, it will be necessary for you to specify the days on which the several offences are alledged to have been committed. I have, &c., Sir, M. LEWIS. MAJOR GROSE TO UNDER SECRETARY LEWIS. 30 Sept. I am honor'd with your letter of the 29th instant. In answer, have to communicate that as much concession has been made by Ensign and Qu'r-m'r Duberly since my application to the Sec'y at War for a court-martial, I could wish, if such desire can now be complied with, again to try him. I am the more anxious to avoid (if possible) his being brought to a court-martial from an The case not idea that, exclusive of this young man's destruction, it will be pressed. rather an unpleasant and disgraceful thing to the corps. Mr. Duberly still continues in confinement until such time as I am favour'd with your reply. I have, &c., FRAN'S GROSE, N.S. Wales Corps. UNDER SECRETARY LEWIS TO MAJOR GROSE. W.G., 1st October, 1790. 1 Oct. Sir, Having laid before the S. at War your letter to me of yesterday's date, I am directed to acqt. you that Sir George Yonge consents to your request of withdrawing your late application for a general court-martial on Ensn. and Quart.-master Duberly. CourtTrusting that the lenity shewn to him on the present occasion will have a proper influence on his future conduct, martial withdrawn. I have, &c., M. LEWIS. Sir, SECRETARY STEPHENS TO LIEUTENANT RIOU. 9th October, 1790. 9 Oct. On the 24th of April last I received by Mr. Clements, master of his Majesty's ship Guardian, then under your command, your letter of the 25th of December preceding, giving an account of the Accident very perilous situation that ship was then in owing to her having Guardian, to the |