1787 5 Nov. A fresh surgeon's mate. surgeon, I think it would be very proper for me to endeavour to get some young man as surgeon's mate, and enter him as A.B., for I am aware how improper any application for one publickly would be at surgeon or a this crisis. I have just now waited on Lord Hood,* who has not yet received any orders concerning me. The Commissioner promises me every assistance, and I have no doubt but the trifles I have to do here will be soon accomplished. I shall take a pleasure of informing you of my progress as I go on, and I hope by the time my business is over here the wind will turn favorable. At present I could not move with it. I am particularly happy at receiving your letter of the 25th, and I trust nothing can prevent me from completing my voyage much to your satisfaction. Difficulties I laugh at whilst I have your countenance, and shall be always sufficiently repaid whilst I am admitted to subscribe myself, Yours, &c., WM. BLIGH. [At the foot of this letter is written in Sir Joseph Banks's hand: "I offered my interest to any surgeon's mate who would go out as able with C. Bligh."] 10 Nov. The fleet at the Cape. Supplies purchased. Sir, GOVERNOR PHILLIP TO SECRETARY STEPHENS. Sirius, at the Cape of Good Hope, Nov. 10, 1787. You will please to inform the Right Hon'ble the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that I sailed from Rio de Janeiro the 4th of September, and anchored here the 13th of October, with the ships under my command. Having immediately on my arrival requested permission to procure refreshments, and such provisions as were wanted for his Majesty's ship Sirius and the Supply, tender, I was informed that the crops of corn having failed the year before last the inhabitants had been reduced to the greatest distress, and that I could not be permitted to purchase any flour or bread. I, however, obtained an order for three days' bread for all the ships, and as I found on enquiry that the last year's crops had been very good, I requested by letter to the Governor and Council permission to purchase what provisions were wanted for the Sirius and Supply, as likewise corn for seed, and what was necessary for the live stock intended to be embarked at this place. The three days granted for the bread being expired, leave was given for three days longer, and which permission was afterwards continued till 23rd, when I received an answer from the Council, who had taken that time to deliberate on my letter of the 15th, granting permission to receive bread daily for the use of the ships while we remained in this port, and the same evening I received a letter from the Governor granting all my demands. Viscount Hood, one of the Lords of the Admiralty. 1787 10 Nov. The voyage numerous. Our passage from Rio de Janeiro was very favourable. The number of sick on our arrival here was twenty marines and ninety-three convicts. The Sirius and Supply had only eight sick on board; and as all the ships were very amply supplied from Rio." with soft bread, vegetables, and fresh meat, I did not think it necessary to land any of the sick. Their Lordships will see by The sick not the returns that there are few sick at present. We are now ready for sea. What live cattle the ships can stow are now Cattle, getting on board, with such grain and seeds as was wanted, and grain, I shall sail immediately. The remaining so long before I could obtain leave to procure the necessaries we wanted has detained me longer in this port than I wished, but it will, I hope, be the means of keeping the people in health for the rest of the passage. I inclose a weekly account with the state and condition of the Sirius and Supply, as likewise returns of the detachment and convicts. I have, &c., A. PHILLIP. THE REV. THOMAS WALSHE TO LORD SYDNEY.* My Lord, and seed. You have been apprized of the desire of two clergymen of Catholic the Catholick persuasion which they have to instruct the convicts clergymen. who are of their faith who are destined for Botany Bay. I beg leave to inform your Lordship of my sentiments concerning their request. There are not less, probably, than 300, ignorant, you may imagine, of every principle of duty to God and man. The number is great, and consequently constitutes an object of consequence to every man who has the happiness of his neighbour at heart. That the Catholicks of this country are not only of inoffensive principles, but that they are zealously attached to the constitution of it, I may presume is well known to your Lordship. For my part, who am one of those clergymen who wish to take care of the convicts of my persuasion, I beg to acquaint your Lordship The that if I be so happy as to be permitted to go that I trust my endeavours to bring these unhappy people to a proper sense of their duty as subjects and citizens may be attended with some salutary consequences. They earnestly desire some Catholick Desire of the clergyman may go with them, and I trust to the known humanity of Government that a request which seems to promise some hopes of their reformation will not be denied. It is well known that these people will not pay the attention to other ministers which Value of they do to their own. Perhaps, also, the presence of such may ministers. be of great use to make them readily obey every order of their governors, and I have no doubt but our conduct will meet the approbation of them. I sincerely pity these poor people, not so much for the disagreeable situation into which they have brought themselves, as for the misdeameanours which have made them deserving of it. * This letter is not dated, but it was written apparently in the year 1787. Catholic convicts. convicts. 1787 Yet, I trust, if their ignorance be removed, and their obligations The priests' as men and Christians be forcibly inculcated to them, that this may be a means, under Providence, of their becoming useful to themselves, and perhaps afterwards to their country. mission. At least this I sincerely wish, nor do I think I can ever be as happy elsewhere as in the place of their destination, employed in using my endeavours to bring them out of the wretched state of depravity into which they have fallen. I entreat, therefore, most An appeal. humbly that this, our request, may be granted.* Those poor Passages asked for. 3 Dec Weather bound at Spithead. 1788 people will bless and thank you. I shall take care that they be not forgetful of their obligations to Government and Lord Sydney. I have, &c., My Lord, THOMAS WALSHE, Priest. We are not so presumptuous as to wish support from Government. We offer our voluntary services. We hope, how ever, not to offend in entreating for our passage. CAPTAIN BLIGH TO SIR JOSEPH BANKS. (Banks Papers.) Sir, Bounty, at Spithead, Decr. 3rd, 1787. Having met with contrary winds and bad weather since my sailing, I was not able to get farther than 7 leagues west of the Isle of Wight. The weather being very thick and the wind at west, I thought it not consistent with the good of the voyage to persist in keeping any longer at sea at this hazardous period of the year, and therefore came through the Needles and anchored. The wind blows still fresh at W.S.W., which gives me much uneasyness, knowing how late I am, which, if I was ever so negligent, would be a severe spur to get me clear of the channel, where one unfortunate gale may render all our plans abortive, but if there is any possibility of my getting away you may rely on my utmost exertion. † I am, &c., WM. BLIGH. GOVERNOR PHILLIP TO UNDER SECRETARY NEPEAN. 26th April, 1788. Sir, As the surgeon volunteer who was put on board the Lady 26 April. Penrhyn transport to attend the convicts was found to be very unequal to the task, I was under the necessity of desiring Mr. Arthur Bowes, surgeon of that transport, to take charge of the medicines, and attend to the sick, which he did with great attention. I therefore beg leave to recommend him to your notice, as he has not received any recompense for his trouble. Surgeon I have, &c., A. PHILLIP. *No reply to this letter has been found amongst the records, but the proposal was not entertained. †The Bounty did not clear the Channel until the 23rd December. My Lord, GOVERNOR PHILLIP TO LORD SYDNEY.* Sydney Cove, New South Wales, 1788 15 May. the Supply May 15th, 1788. I had the honor of informing your Lordship, by Captain Cox, who was returning to Europe from Madrass, that I was ready to sail from the Cape of Good Hope, and which I did with the ships under my command the 12th of November. The 25th, being eighty leagues to the eastward of the Cape, I left the Sirius, and went on board the Supply, tender, in hopes, by leaving the On board convoy, to gain sufficient time to examine the country round Botany Bay, and fix on the most eligible situation for the colony before the transports arrived. At the same time I ordered the agent for the transport in the Alexander to separate from the convoy with that ship, the Scarborough and Friendship, they sailing better than the others. I had reason to expect their arrival soon after the Supply's, and by having the labour of the convicts they had on board much might be done in preparing for the landing the stores and provisions. and the Major Ross now left the Sirius, and went on board the Scar- Major Ross borough, that he might be with that part of the detachment, which Scarwould probably be the first landed. borough. Hunter and Captain Hunter in the Sirius was to follow with the storeships Captain and the remainder of the transports, and he had the necessary the Sirius. instructions for his future proceedings, should the Supply meet with any accident. Sighting the coast. The westerly winds we now had continued till the 3rd of January, when we saw the coast of New South Wales, but the Australian winds, which had been so favourable, having seldom been to the eastward, and then for a few hours only, blowing from the N.W. to the S.W., generally very strong gales, now left us, and we had variable winds, with a current that at times set very strong to the southward, so that we did not arrive at Botany Bay before the 18th. Arrival at The Alexander, Scarborough, and Friendship came in the next day, and the Sirius, with the rest of the ships, the day after. Those ships had continued very healthy. Botany Bay. for ships. The Supply, sailing very badly, had not permitted my gaining the advantage hoped for, but I began to examine the bay as soon as we anchored, and found, that tho' extensive, it did not No shelter afford shelter to ships from the easterly winds; the greater part of the bay being so shoal that ships of even a moderate draught of water are obliged to anchor with the entrance of the bay open, and are exposed to a heavy sea that rolls in when it blows hard from the eastward. tory reports. Several small runs of fresh water were found in different parts Unsatisfacof the bay, but I did not see any situation to which there was not some very strong objection. The small creek that is in the northern part of the bay runs a considerable way into the country, * The first despatch sent from Sydney. 1788 15 May. but it had only water for a boat. The sides of this creek are frequently overflowed, and the lowlands a swamp. The western branch runs up for a considerable distance, but the officers I sent to examine it could not find any water, except in very small drains. The best situation that offered was near Point Sutherland, Sutherland. where there was a small run of good water; but the ground near it, as well as a considerable part of the higher ground, was spongy, and the ships could not approach this part of the bay. Point Port Jack son to be examined. Three exploring parties. "The finest har world." Several good situations offered for a small number of people, but none that appeared calculated for our numbers, and where the stores and provisions could be landed without a great loss of time. When I considered the bay's being so very open, and the probability of the swamps rendering the most eligible situation unhealthy, I judged it advisable to examine Port Jackson; but that no time might be lost if I did not succeed in finding a better harbour, and a proper situation for the settlement, the ground near Point Sutherland was in the meantime to be cleared and preparations made for landing under the direction of the LieutenantGovernor. As the time in which I might be absent, if I went in the Supply, must have been very uncertain, I went round with three boats, taking with me Captain Hunter and several officers, that by examining different parts of the port at the same time less time might be lost. We got into Port Jackson early in the afternoon, and had the bour in the satisfaction of finding the finest harbour in the world, in which a thousand sail of the line may ride in the most perfect security, and of which a rough survey, made by Captain Hunter and the officers of the Sirius after the ships came round, may give your Lordship some idea. Shipping accommodation. Sydney Cove. The fleet in Port Jack son. The different coves were examined with all possible expedition. I fixed on the one that had the best spring of water, and in which the ships can anchor so close to the shore that at a very small expence quays may be made at which the largest ships may unload. This cove, which I honoured with the name of Sydney,* is about a quarter of a mile across at the entrance, and half a mile in length. We returned to Botany Bay the third day, where I received a very unfavourable account of the ground that was clearing. The ships immediately prepared to go round, and the 25thseven days after I arrived in the Supply-I sailed in her for Port Jackson, leaving Captain Hunter to follow with the transports, it then blowing too strong for them to work out of the bay. They joined me the next evening, and all the transports were moored in the cove.† * After Lord Sydney, Secretary of State. This was the 26th January, the day now observed as Anniversary Day. The British flag was unfurled at the head of Sydney Cove, toasts were drunk, and volleys of musketry fired, but the formal proclamation of the Colony did not take place till the 7th February. |
