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Sydney Cove, Port Jackson, Cumberland County, New South Wales, 1788.
SIR,
PERHAPS the unlooked-for delay for an express from our side, will, before this letter can arrive, have induced you and the rest of my English friends to conclude, that a disastrous fate has happened to the forlorn expedition on which I am engaged.
A variety of difficulties not easily to be surmounted, have so entangled and retarded our progress, that perhaps even now we part with our shipping too soon: and that we may not have their absence to deplore, is what we rather wish than expect. When we left England, Government was sanguine enough to believe, that a very few weeks of delay of the transports, would serve to put matters into such a train after our arrival here, as would be amply sufficient for us to proceed upon.
To drop, however, the difficulties of the moment I write at, and to take a retrospect of those we have overcome, let me inform you, that we arrived at BOTANY BAY, in three divisions, on the 18th, 19th, and 20th of January last, having separated thus, by order, at sea, for the purpose of effecting the passage quicker. Nothing could be more fortunate than the winds and weather we met with, in the whole of our voyage; nor did a more healthy fleet ever rendezvous in port, after having come so far. We had no sooner dropt anchor, than every means of exploring and seizing a knowledge of the country was set on foot. Our researches, however, ended so little to Governor PHILLIP's satisfaction, that he set off almost immediately to examine the opening to which Mr. COOK, in passing along this coast, had given the name of PORT JACKSON. The experiment well rewarded HIS EXCELLENCY'S pains ; for he discovered a HARBOUR, superior to any other that we know of in the World : and our removal to the place where I date, was the consequence of this discovery, a few days afterwards.
Since this period, our endeavours to fix ourselves, and establish our motley COMMUNITY, have been indefatigable. STORE-HOUSES have been erected ; BARRACKS for the troops are in a state of forwardness ; LAND for cultivation cleared from the woods which grew on it ; and temporary HABITATIONS sprung up like mushrooms, to shelter the owners from the inclemency of the seasons. To attempt a description of our tumultuous disembarkation, and subsequent attempts at system and regularity, are far beyond the reach of your Friend. Figure to yourself the landing of a number of Convicts, many of whom, for years before, had been strangers to the luxury of even setting foot on shore. To suppose that these wretched creatures would of themselves conform to discipline and order, were an insult to common sense : and yet so supine, or so parsimonious, had Government been, that not a single person in the line of Director or Overseer, had been appointed to superintend them. An attempt was, indeed, made to saddle the Officers of the Marine Battalion with this pleasing duty, but they rejected it to a man; and the consequence of a want of proper appointments has been, that not half the progress which from our numbers might have been expected, is atchieved.
Methinks I hear you ask, what steps have been taken to provide for your security, both from the Convicts and Natives? None at all, my dear Sir. -- People in England were romantic enough to believe, that we should find it requisite to enclose our Troops, Stores, and Provisions, with an ENTRENCHMENT, by way of preventing surprizes and depredations. But those schemers erred in their reckoning : and that no such necessity existed, I humbly presume to believe, from every plan of this nature being rejected and set aside.
Considering the description of men we have had to deal with, our public executions have been comparatively few: LENITY indeed is a leading feature in the character of Governor PHILLIP.
OFFENCES of a degree not very atrocious, are usually settled by one, or more JUSTICES of the Peace, who examine into the business before them, and order the criminal, when guilty, to be immediately taken away and receive a stated bodily punishment, by flogging. In matters of a more serious nature, a COURT, consisting of six Officers, and the JUDGE of the Settlement as PRESIDENT, sit for the trial of offenders brought before them. To liken this Court to any other that we know of, were impossible: its institution is new, though its VERDICT is directed to be given according to the LAWS of ENGLAND, "or as nearly as may be, allowing for the circumstances and situation of the Settlement." Were it not for this necessity and saving clause, the wisest among us would be now and then puzzled how to act ; but this solver of difficulty unties every gordian knot, and levels every impediment which might otherwise obstruct the career of Justice, in her most exemplary form. For how