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1791

22 Oct.

Cause of the fever.

The

convicts well.

Good behaviour.

Wine necessary.

on board the

convicts the fresh air being so conveyed to them, the stench that arose from them was so dreadfully offensive as to bring on the fever with which we have so much suffered. The officers of this ship are all in good health, Mr. Theed, one of the mates alone excepted; and it is very remarkable that amongst the convicts who are confined there is not a sick man, and of those who were released for the purpose of working the ship when the sailors could do their duty no longer, not any have been so severely afflicted as to lose their lives. Eleven of the sailors are already dead, and the crew at this time mostly in the sick list.

The convicts behave themselves with great regularity, and but for the melancholy scenes this fever has occasioned I never before had so pleasant, although so tedious, a voyage.

The necessity of giving port wine to the convalescents is so strongly recommended that I have endeavoured to procure it at this place, and for the payment of which, should I succeed, I shall be forced to draw on the Treasury. I have nothing particular to communicate at this time. The sick soldiers are recovering fast, and my surgeon's mate gives me great hopes that I need not expect any more of them to die of this disorder. I shall not omit any opportunity that occurs of writing to you. I am, &c., FRANS. GROSE.

[Enclosure.]

The Marines RETURN of the Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, Drummers, Privates, Men, Women, and Children of the New South Wales Corps on board the Pitt. Rio de Janeiro, October 20th, 1791.

Pitt.

[blocks in formation]

The Pitt at
Kio.

FRANCIS GROSE, Major Comt., N. S. Wales Corps.

CAPTAIN MANNING TO ALDERMAN MACAULAY.*

It is with great concern that I have to acquaint you of being obliged to put into this place for another fresh supply, not

* Captain Edward Manning, in command of the ship Pitt, which took out soldiers and convicts to the settlement at Port Jackson, wrote a letter to Alderman Macaulay, of London, from Rio de Janeiro, on the 24th October, 1791. Extracts from it, as given here, were published in the Public Advertiser (London) on the 9th February, 1792.

1791

24 Oct.

unfortunate

doubting, if you have received the account which I had the pleasure to write you from Port Praya, but that you have despatched us, before this time, from the Cape of Good Hope. From St. Jago hither, however, I have experienced nothing but adversity-attributing the groundwork of our misfortunes to the lateness of the season when we left England. At St. Jago the season was bad and the heat of the sun almost intolerable. We left it An about the 20th of August, and were nearly a month in a very passage. distressed situation-almost calm the whole time, with incessant rain-sometimes a few miles to the southward of the sun, and sometimes a few miles to the northward, most frequently without the smallest breath of air, but frequently very heavy squalls, with the severest thunder and lightning I ever was witness to in the Bad whole course of my life. A continuation of such weather. weather, with so many confined in so small a space, brought forth a most malignant epidemical fever, which spread so rapidly among Fever breaks the sailors and soldiers, and in a degree so alarming, that for some time we were almost afraid to approach each other. There were very few on board who escaped its fury. Mr. Theed was among the first likely to fall a victim, but is providentially recovered. For a considerable time our scene was truly melancholy. In fourteen days we buried twenty seven seamen, soldiers, their wives and Twentychildren. Scarcely a person escaped death who was watering on deaths. shore at that d place, St. Jago.

*

*

*

out.

seven

escape the

But extraordinary as it is to tell, it is not more extraordinary than true, that the fever never touched the convicts, among whom, The convicts one might naturally have concluded, that it would have been most fever, fatal; we have not buried one since we left Praya! But though they appear to have been proof against the fever, yet they have in other instances not been exempt from affliction. The flux and scurvy attacked them without mercy. Never were seen, I believe, but suffer such ulcers and ulcerated legs in the world. The smallest appearance on the flesh in a day or two spread broader than your hand, and soon made its way to the very bone, and many of the soldiers experienced equal calamity.

from scurvy.

winds and

These misfortunes were succeeded by adverse winds, which drove us so far to the westward that we were not able to cross the line Adverse under 32 degrees of longitude west; and when that was accom- hard gales. plished we met with such continued hard gales from the south, and with a very heavy sea, that we fell in with the coast about the latitude of 8 south, and then were compelled to bear as far as this place before we could expect any change of wind.

the land.

From these hardships combined, I can assure you that we had Driven near serious faces, and, though driven very near the land, my people were so weak and so much relaxed that we were almost afraid to venture in with it, or make even the attempt for harbour with any degree of safety. All the sailors we could muster were only

1791

24 Oct.

The crew exhausted.

The ship gets into

Rio with the help of the

convicts

five in a watch, and many of them not able to go aloft. From such unexpected delay and misfortune I was desirous of getting in anywhere, and the crew being so much exhausted, I was compelled to liberate many of the convicts and trust to their assistance to relieve the ship. Our joint efforts were then effectual, and you can form no conception of the joy that appeared in each person's countenance when we entered the harbour. It is the finest in the world-everything plentiful, and everything cheap.

The Viceroy, and all the officers in the place, have paid us every Kindness of possible attention. Immediate orders were given for us to receive as much beef as we could desire, with all the fruits with which the country abounded.

the Viceroy.

The sick

sent ashore.

Recovery.

Four con

victs lost.

The sick.

Deaths.

From the
Cape to
Sydney.

They gave directions also that the sick should be received at their hospital, and many were sent immediately on shore. The sick convicts also were sent under proper care to an island which was very near the ship, whither I sent them daily provisions, and Mr. Jameson attended them with his usual care and punctuality. We have been here now nearly three weeks, and are ready for sea. My people are returned a different class of men from the state in which they were landed, and I think I may add with safety that we are nearly recovered.

I am sorry to tell you that we have lost four of the convicts. I was under the necessity of permitting them to go on shore with the boats, from whence they did, or at least attempted to make their escape. I rather think they were drowned in making the attempt, or if not, they must have been secreted in a convent of the Friars. I applied to the Viceroy, and every step was taken that was possible for their recovery without effect.

Inclosed you have a list of the number we have unfortunately lost. Under the pressure of misfortune and disease, fortunate it is that we did not lose more.

*

*

*

*

*

There are some on board, I believe, who would rather stay at Rio six weeks than three; but as my commission is important, and I am desirous, as soon as possible, to give up my charge to Governor Phillips, wind and weather permitting, to-morrow I go to sea.

Average number of sick between the 21st of August and 9th of October was between 50 and 60.

Died.-Seamen, 7; soldiers, 13; soldiers' wives, 5; soldiers' children, 5; convicts (since we have left England) of the smallpox, 15; convict children, 2. Total, 47.

LIEUT.-GOVERNOR KING TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.*
Extract from a letter from Lieutenant-Governor King to the
Right Hon'ble the Marquis of Buckingham, dated Sydney,
New South Wales, 24th Oct., 1791.

OUR Voyage from the Cape of Good Hope can by no means be
called a bad one. Many gales of wind happened, and the seas were

* Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. He was Lord Grenville's brother.

1791

24 Oct.

in general very high; but in a ship like the Gorgon those inconveniences are not much felt, and was it not for the extreme cold (the thermometer being, on an average, below 40°) and the wet state of the ship, which made us unfortunately loose a part of our stock, the voyage, altho' in the depth of winter, and running 5,000 miles in the parallel of 43° and 44°, might be called a very good one. The general run of all the transports and the Gorgon from the Average Cape of Good Hope to this port was eight weeks.

length of passage.

stock.

Out of 25 cows, 3 bulls, 62 ewes, 4 rams, and 11 swine taken on board at the Cape we lost 8 cows, 3 bulls, 8 ewes, 3 rams; but Loss of live to make up in part for those losses a very fine bull calf, 17 cows, and a cow calf are in very good condition, and grazing at Parramatta with about 60 ewes.

prospects at

Very great exertions have been made here, and a vast tract of Harvest land cleared. A number of people have become settlers, one of Sydney. which has been some months independant, and the rest are making great advances towards it. From present appearances, I think there is every reason to expect a plentiful crop of Indian corn. The wheat has suffered very much from the great droughts; for sixteen months scarce any rain; but some late rains has given it a more promising appearance. Poultry, swine, and goats would have been in great abundance had there been corn to support them, and which there will be in plenty when the crops are got in.

harvest

fishery.

Respecting Norfolk Island, we have the most flattering accounts Good (both publick and private) of the appearance of a very plentiful at Norfolk harvest. A person sent there some time ago has made considerable Island. improvements in dressing the New Zealand flax found on the island, from which he has made some very good coarse canvas. There is a circumstance which will add greatly to the consequence of this settlement, which is the whale fishery. Most of Whale the whalers which were destined for the west coast of America have altered their plans, and are now going to fish on this coast. The most experienced master of those ships declared on his arrival here "that in one day he saw more spermaceti whales on this coast Whales than he had done on the coast of Brazil in six years." In the Gorgon we passed through a shoal of fifty. It is needless for me to point out the very obvious advantages which will accrue to the colony if this fishery succeeds, and which I think there is very little doubt of. Four of those [whaling ships] sailed yesterday to

fish on the coast.

LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR KING TO UNDER SECRETARY NEPEAN.

Sir,

Sydney, New South Wales, Oct'r 25th, 1791.

numerous.

25 Oct.

Port

I have to acquaint you with my arrival at this place in his Arrival at Majestie's ship Gorgon on the 22nd Sept'r. We sailed from the Jackson. Cape of Good Hope on the 30th July, and after much cold and

1791

25 Oct.

Loss of live stock.

Fruit-trees and plants.

King's movements.

27 Oct. The live stock.

and sheep.

blowing weather (but constant fair winds) we made the South Cape of New Holland on the 8th Sept'r, after which contrary winds retarded our arrival here till the 22nd Sept'r.

It gives me much concern to inform you of the ill-success which has attended the live stock that I purchased at the Cape of Good Hope for the use of the colony, an exact statement of which, together with the Commissary's receipt, I herewith enclose. When the extreme coldness of the weather, the wet state of the ship (and particularly the main deck, where the cattle were stowed) from rain and the seas which were often shipped, the inactive state of the cattle, and the violent motion of the ship is considered, I cannot help thinking it fortunate that a greater number did not die. The bulls are certainly a great loss; but the bull calf is strong and very thriving, and there is every appearance of its doing well.

The fruit-trees and other plants were all in a very good state on our arrival here, a proportion of which has been landed, and the remainder Governor Phillip has permitted me to take to Norfolk Island.

As the Atlantic, transport, is ordered to land me at Norfolk
Island on her way to Calcutta, I hope to arrive there about the
16th November.
I am, &c.,

Dear Sir,

PHILIP GIDLEY KING.

LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR KING TO UNDER SECRETARY NEPEAN.†
Sydney, New South Wales,
27th October, 1791.
By the publick letter you will observe our good and bad
luck with the stock; but I think we have been fortunate on the
whole, and should have been still more so if the Gorgon had been
properly fitted, which might have been done at a very small
expence in England, and would have ensured the safe arrival of
every head put on board at the Cape.

Should a forty-gun ship be sent for the purpose of bringing Black cattle cattle to this colony, I think a hundred black cattle, two hundred sheep, and a quantity of stores might be landed here very safely; but to effect that desirable purpose the ship must have a spardeck, and no other guns than on the quarter-deck and forecastle. Stalls, with bottoms raised six inches off the deck, should be fitted fore and aft on the main deck and on a part of the lower deck, in the midship parts of which very convenient sheep-pens might be built for containing two hundred head of sheep; but, as before observed, carrying cattle must be the principal object of How to send the voyage, as the quantity of hay and barley necessary for the support of so many animals would occupy a great part of the ship,

live stock

and food.

*Not available. The information is given in King's letter to Nepean; post, pp. 531, 532 A private letter.

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