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Chelsea, Dec. 31, 1790.
daily expectation of seeing some fuller accounts from our colony in New South Wales, I kept back the following, dated the 14th of April last, and lately received from a very worthy and intelligent young man, who left England as an officer in his Majesty's Ship the SIRIUS. The extracts from this letter, which is very long, may do something more than merely to gratify the curiosity of a few minutes perusal, I therefore give them, and could give others to the public. To add, that my own feelings are not of the most cheerful kind, may be very uninteresting; and to urge that they might have been more consolatory, maybe deemed presumptuous: but I think as a BRITON, I hope, should always think. It was long ago said, "That they who at ease in Zion, do not readily enter into the afflictions of Joseph". What can I say more, than that I am a well-wisher to every Englishman,whether he be worthy, or worthless? and much rejoiced should I have been, to see my countrymen of each description rendered much happier by their transit to a far distant soil, under the eye and care of a generous nation - a nation, Sir, which all others in the world have been taught, upon the best principles, to revere.
I am, Sir, your's,
W.B
EXTRACTS.
Out-Posts, Port-Jackson, April 14, 1790.
"Ever honoured and dear Sir,
"MY warmest and most affectionate good wishes are herewith bound to yourself, my dear aunt, and cousins. Glad I am to have an opportunity of conversing with friends whom I so much esteem; but you will join with me in thinking the circumstances that furnish it untoward.
"I bless God, though unfortunate, we have enough for which to be thankful. But before I mention the grand catastrophe, I will just trace back the steps that led to it. We have long waited here, in vain expectation of receiving a supply of provisions, &c. from England, but nothing has as yet arrived. The consequence is, that the allowance has, for half a year past, been diminished from time to time ; and, lately, to such a degree, as to be most sensibly felt by all. Were we at a full quantity, our food, from being so long in store, affords but little nutriment. We are now at less than half allowance, and some articles of diet are deficient, having been consumed. We are now on the brink of going three on one man's dividend ; and a few weeks must, if nothing arrives, put us at a quarter's allowance. The consequence of this we shall not dwell on; but, it is certain, that any moderate man, on full, especially if laborious, has but little left, when provision becomes due. After waiting so long, that the general hopes began to diminish, the Governor thought proper, in this emergency, to send Major Ross, (a) Commandant of Marines, with many officers, privates, and common people of both sexes, to Norfolk Island, with a proportionable part of the remaining provision. This, I believe, was done, because of the more thriving soil at Norfolk, and on account of fish being there in greater plenty. We have for near three months had a look-out kept here for ships towards the sea. The flag-staff is situated on very high land, being the south head of the harbour, just by the entrance, and the hutts in which we reside are close adjacent. For the first four or five weeks, a commission officer and midshipman were stationed here with a party of men ; but, on the ships (b) being ordered for sea, or rather before that time, his Excellency was pleased to direct, that this charge should devolve upon myself and the Governor jointly. As my wish was to see what was to be seen while abroad, and, as several of the young men had already visited Norfolk Island, I waited upon Capt. Hunter, to apply for one who was willing to stay on shore in my room ; and I observed, that as it was a particular service, and indeed a hazardous business, the landing so many people and provisions in a tremendous surf, and that, as being a mate, of which there is only three, it was rather a matter of surprise to me (c). I spoke this with some appearance of dissatisfaction ; and he took it as I meant he should, viz. "as having rather the appearance of undervaluing my intended services ; but he soon relieved me, by giving me such reasons for the Governor's choice, as occasioned me to acknowledge myself honoured by it; and indeed the attention he pays to me while here, and his approbation of my conduct, seem fully to warrant what was said. I nevertheless intended to have referred the matter to Governor Phillips ; but, reflecting with myself, that I should be the only naval officer here, and that, in case of a fleet coming with stores, he might find me useful, and possibly have looked forward to such an event to serve me - I e'en let the matter rest, determined to be satisfied. But to proceed.
"When all thing were adjusted, they embarked on board the Sirius and Supply ; they left this port on the 6th of March, 1790, and I, from the flag-staff, followed them with my eyes till out of sight. Nothing more of them was seen till April the 5th inst. when the man who takes his station there at day-break, soon came down to inform me that a sail was in sight. On going up I saw her coming in with the land, and judged it to be the Supply ; but was not a little surprised at her returning so soon ; and likewise being alone. My mind fell to foreboding an accident ; and on going down to get ready for waiting upon the Governor, I desired the gunner to notice whether the people mustered thick on her decks, as she came in under the head-land : thinking in my own mind, what I afterwards found, that the Sirius was lost.
"The Supply brought an account that on the 19th of March, about noon, the Sirius had in the interval of loading the boats drifted rather in with the land - on seeing this, they of course endeavoured to stand off: but the wind being dead on the shore, and the ship out of trim, and working unusually bad: in staying (for she would not go about), just as she was coming to wind, she tailed the ground with the after-part of her keel: and, with two sends of the vast surf that runs there, was completely thrown on the reef of dangerous rocks called Point Ross (d). In this last extremity, they luckily let go both anchors, and stopped the cables securely, and this, though it failed of the intention of riding her clear, yet caused her to go right stern fore-most on rocks; by which means she lay with her bow opposed to the sea - a most happy circumstance! for had she lain broadside to - which otherwise she would have had a natural tendency to have done - it is more than probable she must have overset, gone to pieces, and every soul have perished. We see in this one instance how a gracious Providence can, by means undesired on man's part, and seemingly accidental, bring about effectual preservation, where little was to be expected but inevitable death:- "Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters:" and surely a subject for thanksgiving that it is so; for here all skill, all human knowledge, would have been rendered abortive, without this providential interference.
"Her bottom bulged immediately, and the masts were soon cut away; and the gallant ship, upon which hung the hopes of the colony, was now a complete wreck. They brought a few of the officers and men hither: the remainder of the ship's company, together with Capt. Hunter, &c. are left there, on account of constituting a number adequate to the provisions, and partly to save what they possibly can from the wreck. I understand there are some faint hopes, if favoured with extraordinary fine weather, to recover most of the provision; for she carried a great quantity there, on the part of the reinforcement. The whole of the crew were saved to a man, by God's mercy most providentially, on a coast so dangerous as to give but small hopes of escaping on such an occasion; every exertion being used, and all assistance received from the Supply, and the Colonists on shore.
"The passengers fortunately had landed before the accident; and I will just mention to you the method by which the crew were saved:- When they found that the ship was ruined, and giving way upon the beam right athwart, they made a rope fast to a draft buoy, which by the surf was driven on shore. By this a stout hawser was conveyed, and those on shore made it fast a good way up a pine tree; the other end being aboard was hove taught (e); on this hawser was placed the heart of a stay (a piece of wood, with a hole through it), and to this a grating was slung, after the manner of a pair of scales. Two lines were made fast, on either side of the heart; one to haul it on shore, the other to return it on board. On this kind of frame the shipwrecked seated themselves, two or more at a time; and thus were dragged onshore, through a sad dashing surf, which broke frequently over their heads, keeping them a considerable time under water. Some of them, in coming on shore, were half drowned, and a good deal bruised. Captain Hunter was considerably hurt, and with repeated seas knocked off the grating; insomuch that all lookers on feared greatly for his letting go - but he got on shore safe, and his hurts are by no means dangerous. Many private effects were saved by the sea's driving them on shore, when thrown overboard; but it was not always so courteous; much is lost, and many escaped with nothing more than they stood in. I luckily had left nothing of mine of any consequence go to sea; as reflecting that no ship that leaves a port can answer for her return. I was a little rallied by my young friends on board, for my foresight; and in answer I wished them good luck, though I told them I could by no means insure it.
"But for this ill-hap, it was intended to have sent the Sirius to China immediately on her return, for provision. The Supply, however, is getting ready with all expedition for sea. She is, if convenient, to touch at Norfolk in the way, to receive the First Lieutenant; who is to have the charge of bringing hither whatever vessels may be taken up (f); but not for this, or or any other purpose, to make any long delay; for the errand she goes upon is, as you perceive, of the last importance.
"Batavia is the port to which they are first bound; if a ship or ships cannot be got there, they will proceed to China or the Cape, possibly both; and if at the latter no news is heard of any that have sailed on their way to New Holland; or in case they have, and yet there is reason to judge, from the time, &c. that something fatal had befallen them, they must then take up a very capital concern on Government account; which, at this rate, must exceed six months. But we must hope for something sooner, or this may come too late!
"It is one satisfaction, amidst this gloomy state of things, to see prudent measures pursued in order to avert, as much as possible, the present and impending evils. Private stock, of which, by the bye, there is but little, is purchased on the public account, and served in lieu at the store. Seed, and every proper encouragement, is now given to those who will industriously cultivate the