Of the Island Coorooraa*; Who departed this Life on the 27th of December, 1784, By the Honourable United East India Company, For the humane and Kind Treatment Which was wrecked off that island Stop, Reader, stop! Let Nature claim a Tear; This amiable young prince, whose residence here was only five months, conformed himself to the English dress in every instance, except his hair, which he continued to wear after the fashion of his own country. His countenance was so expressive, that it depicted the best qualities of a virtuous mind. His eyes were lively and intelligent; and his whole manner gentle and interesting. He had the natural politeness of a gentleman, without the drudgery of study, or the observance of established forms of ceremony. After his death, it was found that he had laid by all the seeds or stones of fruit he had eaten afer his arrival, with a view to plant them at Pelew. When we reflect on the unhappy fate of poor Lee Boo, with which the reader is now acquainted, the mind ranges to the habitation of his father Abba Thulle, who, on a cord, had tied thirty knots, as a memento that his son * Coorooraa is the proper name of the Island, of which Pelew is the capital town. would return in thirty moons, or, perhaps, a few more, for which he was willing to make allowance. Those moons have long since performed their revolutions. The knots are untied; and yet no gladdening sail hovers round Pelew. Lee Boo is dead in reality; and though no more, perhaps, even in the tortured imagi.. nation of his expecting family, yet the sight of an European vessel, even at some distant period, would animate their hopes, and recal the fondness of past endearments. How it would have gratified the heart of sensibility to know, that this benevolent and confiding king had seen his son restored to his embraces; how will every reader lament that he probably must ever remain ignorant, that Lee Boo can return no more! I 2 VOYAGE OF GOVERNOR PHILLIP, TO BOTANY BAY; WITH A NARRATIVE OF THE SETTLEMENT OF THE COLONIES AT PORT JACKSON AND NORFOLK ISLAND. FOR a series of years, those who had forfeited a right to enjoy the blessings of society in their own country, and yet, whose crimes did not call down capital punishment upon them, were transported to the British plantations in America. After the unfortunate contest between the colonies and the mother country, which, it is well known, terminated in the independence of the former, it became necessary for British convicts, not sentenced to die, to be employed in some way that might make them sensible of the crimes they had committed, and free the community from the dread of their future depredations. Banishment to the coast of Africa was generally found to be a harsher sentence than death in their own country, and the hulks on the Thames were little adapted to improve the abandoned, or prevent a repetition of crime. Penitentiary houses were soon seen to be equally ineffica cious to answer, at once, the purpose of punishment and reformation; and, therefore, government projected the scheme of establishing a colony of convicts on the coast of New Holland. To this plan of wisdom, policy and humanity united, the legislature gave its sanction in the beginning of the year 1787, and preparations were immediately set about to carry it into execution. Captain Arthur Phillip, of the navy, was appointed commodore of the voyage, and governor of the new colony; and it appears, that a more prudent choice could not have been made. This gentleman was born in London, in 1738; and at the age of sixteen began his maritime career. He went through the usual routine of service with applause, was at the capture of the Havannah, and in 1761, was promoted to a lieutenancy by Admiral Sir George Pococke. By the succeeding peace his services were rendered useless to his country, he therefore engaged in the Portuguese navy, in which he served with great reputation, till war again. breaking out between Britain and France, he returned to fight for his king and country; and was soon after made master and commander.... In 1781, his merit procured him the rank of post captain, and he was appointed to the Europe, of sixty-four guns, towards the close of that year. In 1783, he sailed with a reinforcement to the East Indies, where he remained till the conclusion of the war. Prudent and active, a perfect master of his profession, and estimable as a man and an officer, those qualities could not fail to recom |