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STATE PAPER, BOTANY BAY.
Extract of a Letter from Governor PHILIPS, to the Right Hon. Lord SYDNEY, dated Sidney Cove, Feb. 12, 1790.
"When the Supply left Norfolk Island, the people were all very healthy, and they had vegetables in the greatest abundance ; and they got fish when the weather permits for the boats to go without the reef, and at times in such quantities, that fish is served to the people in lieu of salt provisions. They make their lines from the flax plant ; but unfortunately we have not any person who understands how to dress it.
"Half a pod of cotton being found on the island, supposed to be brought there by a bird; and a cocoa-not, which was perfectly found, and appeared to have been but a short time in the water; being thrown upon the beach, have given some reason to suppose that both these articles will be found in some island at no great distance.
"Lord Howe's Island, has been examined, but no fresh water, or good anchorage being found, it can be of no other advantage to this settlement, than occasionally supplying a few turtle.
"I had the honour of informing your Lordship, that a settlement was intended to be made at a place I named Rose Hill. At the head of this harbour there is a creek, which, at half flood, has water for large boats to go three miles up ; and one mile higher the water is fresh, and the soil is good. A very industrious man, whom I brought from England, is employed there at present, and has under his direction one hundred convicts, who are employed in clearing and cultivating the ground. A barn, granary, and other necessary buildings are erected, and twenty-seven acres in corn promise a good crop. The soil is good, and the country, for twenty miles to the westward, which is as far as I have examined, lies well for cultivation ; but even there the labour of clearing the ground is very great ; and I have seen none that can be cultivated without cutting down the timber, except some few particular spots, which, from their situation (lying at a distance from either of the habours), can be of no advantage to us at present ; and I presume, the meadows mentioned in Capt. Cook's Voyage were seen from the high grounds about Botany Bay, and from whence they appear well to the eye, but, when examined, are found to be marshes, the draining of which would be a waste of time, and not to be attempted by the first settlers.
"The Captain's guard, which, until lately, did duty at Rose Hill, is now reduced to a Lieutenant, and twelve privates, and intended merely as a guard to the shore, which contains the provisions, and which is the redoubt ; for I am now sensible there is nothing to be apprehended from the natives ; and the little attendance which had been desired of the Officers, more than what was immediately garrison duty, when at Rose Hill, is now no longer required.
"At Sydney Cove, all the Officers are in good huts, and the men in the barracks ; and although many unforeseen difficulties have been met with, I believe there is not an individual, from the Governor to the private Soldier, whose situation is not more eligible at this time, than he had any reason to expect it could be, in the course of the three years station ; and it is the same with the convicts ; and those who have been any ways industrious, have vegetables in plenty. The buildings now carrying on, are of brick and stone. The house intended for myself, was to consist of only three rooms ; but having a good foundation, has been enlarged, contains six rooms, and is so well built, that I presume it will stand for a great number of years.
"The stores have been lately over-run with rats, and they are equally numerous in the gardens, where they do considerable damage ; and as the loss in the stores could not be known by removing all the provisions, that was ordered to be done, and many casks of flour and rice were found to be damaged, or totally destroyed. The loss in these two articles by the rats, since landing, has been more than twelve thousand weight.
"Vegetables and provisions having been frequently stolen in the night, from convicts and others, twelve convicts were chosen as a night watch, and they have actually answered the end proposed, no robbery having been committed for several months ; and the convicts in general have behaved better than I ever expected. Only two convicts have suffered death in the last year; four were executed in the first year.
"As near two years have now passed since we first landed in this country, some judgment may be formed of the climate ; and I believe a finer, or more healthy climate, is not to be found in any part of the world. Of 1030 people who were landed, many of whom were worn out by old age, the scurvy and various disorders, only 72 have died in 21 months, and by the Surgeon's return it appears, that 26 of those died from disorders of long standing ; and which, it is more than probable, would have carried them off much sooner in England. Fifty-nine children have been born in the above time.
"In December the corn at Rose Hill was got in ; the corn was exceedingly good ; about 200 bushels of wheat and 60 of barley, with a small quantity of flax, Indian corn, and oats; all which is preserved for feed. Here I beg leave to observe to your Lordship, that if settlers are sent out, and the convicts divided amongst them, this settlement will very shortly maintain itself ; but without which, this country cannot be cultivated to any advantage. At present I have only one person (who has about 100 convicts under his direction) who is employed in cultivating the ground for the public benefit, and he has returned the quantity of corn above mentioned into the public store; the officers have not raised sufficient to support the little stock they have; some ground I have had in cultivation will return about 20 bushels of wheat into store, so that the produce of the labour of the convicts employed in cultivation, has been very short of what might have been expected, and which I take the liberty of pointing out to your Lordship in this place, to shew, as fully as possible, the fate of this colony, and the necessity of the convicts being employed by those who have an interest in their labour. --- The giving convicts to the officers has been hitherto necessary ; but it is attended with many inconveniences, for which the advantages arising to the officers do not make amends, it will not therefore be continued after this detachment is relieved, unless particularly directed ; the numbers employed in cultivation will of course be encreased as necessary buildings are finished, but which will be a work of time ; for there are numbers in this settlement who do nothing towards their own support, except those employed for the public.
"In November the Supply sailed for Norfolk Island, with some convicts, and returned, after being absent six weeks ; all the people in that island were well, and their crops, after all they had suffered from rats, birds, and a worm, which had done them considerable damage, so good that they had grain sufficient for six months, and bread for every one upon the island, reserving sufficient for their next year's crops.
"Early January 1790, the Supply again sailed for Norfolk Island with more convicts ; and in her passage, left a small party on Lord Howe Island, to hunt turtle ; but in 15 days, only three were taken, so that no great advantages will at present accrue from thence. The island has fresh water, but no good anchoring ground.
"Since the deaths mentioned in a former part of this letter, one woman has suffered for a robbery; 5 children have died, and 28 children have been born, making in all 77 deaths and 87 births."