by Watkin Tench
On the 17th instant, the Supply, Captain Ball, sailed for Batavia. We followed her with anxious eyes until she was no longer visible. Truly did we say to her ‘In te omnis domus inclinata recumbit.’†2 We were, however, consoled by reflecting that everything which zeal, fortitude and seamanship could produce was concentred in her commander.
Our bosoms consequently became less perturbed, and all other labour and attention were turned on one object—the procuring of food. ‘Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war’ were no more.†3
The distress of the lower classes for clothes was almost equal to their other wants. The stores had been long exhausted and winter was at hand. Nothing more ludicrous can be conceived than the expedients of substituting, shifting and patching which ingenuity devised to eke out wretchedness and preserve the remains of decency. The superior dexterity of the women was particularly conspicuous. Many a guard have I seen mount, in which the number of soldiers without shoes exceeded that which had yet preserved remnants of leather.
Nor was another part of our domestic economy less whimsical. If a lucky man who had knocked down a dinner with his gun, or caught a fish by angling from the rocks, invited a neighbour to dine with him, the invitation always ran, ‘bring your own bread.’ Even at the governor’s table this custom was constantly observed. Every man when he sat down pulled his bread out of his pocket and laid it by his plate.
The insufficiency of our ration soon diminished our execution of labour. Both soldiers and convicts pleaded such loss of strength as to find themselves unable to perform their accustomed tasks. The hours of public work were accordingly shortened or, rather, every man was ordered to do as much as his strength would permit, and every other possible indulgence was granted.
May 1790. In proportion, however, as lenity and mitigation were extended to inability and helplessness, inasmuch was the most rigorous justice executed on disturbers of the public tranquillity. Persons detected in robbing gardens or pilfering provisions were never screened because, as every man could possess, by his utmost exertions, but a bare sufficiency to preserve life,*3 he, who deprived his neighbour of that little, drove him to desperation. No new laws for the punishment of theft were enacted, but persons of all descriptions were publicly warned that the severest penalties, which the existing law in its greatest latitude would authorise, should be inflicted on offenders. The following sentence of a court of justice, of which I was a member, on a convict detected in a garden stealing potatoes, will illustrate the subject. He was ordered to receive three hundred lashes immediately, to be chained for six months to two other criminals who were thus fettered for former offences, and to have his allowance of flour stopped for six months. So that during the operation of the sentence, two pounds of pork and two pounds of rice (or, in lieu of the latter, a quart of peas) per week, constituted his whole subsistence. Such was the melancholy length to which we were compelled to stretch our penal system.
Farther to contribute to the detection of villainy, a proclamation offering a reward of sixty pounds of flour, more tempting than the ore of Peru or Potosi, was promised to anyone who should apprehend and bring to justice a robber of garden ground.
Our friend Baneelon, during this season of scarcity, was as well taken care of as our desperate circumstances would allow. We knew not how to keep him and yet were unwilling to part with him. Had he penetrated our state, perhaps he might have given his countrymen such a description of our diminished numbers and diminished strength as would have emboldened them to become more troublesome. Every expedient was used to keep him in ignorance. His allowance was regularly received by the governor’s servant, like that of any other person, but the ration of a week was insufficient to have kept him for a day. The deficiency was supplied by fish whenever it could be procured, and a little Indian corn which had been reserved was ground and appropriated to his use. In spite of all these aids, want of food has been known to make him furious and often melancholy.
There is reason to believe that he had long meditated his escape, which he effected in the night of the 3rd instant. About two o’clock in the morning he pretended illness and, awaking the servant who lay in the room with him, begged to go downstairs. The other attended him without suspicion of his design and Baneelon no sooner found himself in a backyard than he nimbly leaped over a slight paling and bade us adieu.
The following public order was issued within the date of this chapter, and is too pleasing a proof that universal depravity did not prevail among the convicts to be omitted.
The governor, in consequence of the unremitted good behaviour and meritorious conduct of John Irving, is pleased to remit the remainder of the term for which he was sentenced to transportation. He is therefore to be considered as restored to all those rights and privileges which had been suspended in consequence of the sentence of the law. And, as such, he is hereby appointed to act as an assistant to the surgeon at Norfolk Island.
7
Transactions of the colony in June, July and August 1790
At length the clouds of misfortune began to separate and on the evening of the 3rd of June the joyful cry of ‘the flag’s up’, resounded in every direction.
I was sitting in my hut, musing on our fate, when a confused clamour in the street drew my attention. I opened my door and saw several women with children in their arms running to and fro with distracted looks, congratulating each other and kissing their infants with the most passionate and extravagant marks of fondness. I needed no more, but instantly started out and ran to a hill where, by the assistance of a pocket-glass, my hopes were realised. My next door neighbour, a brother officer, was with me, but we could not speak. We wrung each other by the hand, with eyes and hearts overflowing.
Finding that the governor intended to go immediately in his boat down the harbour, I begged to be of his party.
As we proceeded, the object of our hopes soon appeared: a large ship with English colours flying, working in between the heads which form the entrance of the harbour. The tumultuous state of our minds represented her in danger and we were in agony. Soon after, the governor, having ascertained what she was, left us and stepped into a fishing boat to return to Sydney. The weather was wet and tempestuous but the body is delicate only when the soul is at ease. We pushed through wind and rain, the anxiety of our sensations every moment redoubling. At last we read the word London on her stern. ‘Pull away, my lads! She is from Old England! A few strokes more and we shall be aboard! Hurrah for a bellyfull, and news from our friends!’ Such were our exhortations to the boat’s crew.
A few minutes completed our wishes and we found ourselves on board the Lady Juliana transport, with 225 of our countrywomen whom crime or misfortune had condemned to exile. We learned that they had been almost eleven months on their passage, having left Plymouth, into which port they had put, in July 1789. We continued to ask a thousand questions on a breath. Stimulated by curiosity, they inquired in turn; but the right of being first answered, we thought, lay on our side. ‘Letters, letters!’ was the cry. They were produced, and torn open in trembling agitation. News burst upon us like meridian splendour on a blind man. We were overwhelmed with it: public, private, general and particular. Nor was it until some days had elapsed that we were able to methodise it or reduce it into form. We now heard for the first time of our sovereign’s illness and his happy restoration to health.† The French revolution of 1789, with all the attendant circumstances of that wonderful and unexpected event, succeeded to amaze us.* Now too, the disaster which had befallen the Guardian, and the liberal and enlarged plan on which she had been stored and fitted out by government for our use, was promulged. It served also, in some measure, to account why we had not sooner heard from England. For had not the Guardian struck on an island of ice she would probably have reached us three months before, and in this case have prevented the loss of the Sirius, although she had sailed from England three months after the Lady Juliana.
A general thanksgiving to Almighty God, for His Majesty
’s recovery and happy restoration to his family and subjects, was ordered to be offered up on the following Wednesday, when all public labour was suspended. Every person in the settlement attended at church where a sermon, suited to an occasion at once so full of gratitude and solemnity, was preached by the Reverend Richard Johnson, chaplain of the colony.
All the officers were afterwards entertained at dinner by the governor. And in the evening an address to His Excellency, expressive of congratulation and loyalty, was agreed upon, and two days after was presented and very graciously received.
The following invitation to the non-commissioned officers and private soldiers of the marine battalion was also about this time published.
In consequence of the assurance that was given to the non-commissioned officers and men belonging to the battalion of marines, on their embarking for the service of this country, that such of them as should behave well, would be allowed to quit the service on their return to England; or be discharged abroad upon the relief taking place, and permitted to settle in the country—His Majesty has been graciously pleased to direct the following encouragement to be held up to such non-commissioned officers and privates, as may be disposed to become settlers in this country, or in any of the islands comprised within the government of the continent of New South Wales, on the arrival of the corps raised and intended for the service of this colony, and for their relief, viz:
To every non-commissioned officer, an allotment of one hundred and thirty acres of land, if single; and of one hundred and fifty acres, if married. To every private soldier, an allotment of eighty acres, if single, and of one hundred acres, if married; and also an allotment of ten acres for every child, whether of a non-commissioned officer, or of a private soldier. These allotments will be free of all fines, taxes, quit-rents and other acknowledgments for the space of ten years; but after the expiration of that period will be subject to an annual quit-rent of one shilling for every fifty acres.
His Majesty has likewise been farther pleased to signify his royal will and pleasure, that a bounty of three pounds be offered to each non-commissioned officer and soldier who may be disposed to continue in this country, and enlist in the corps appointed for the service of New South Wales; with a farther assurance, that in case of a proper demeanour on their part, they shall, after a farther service of five years, be entitled to double the former portion of land, provided they then choose to become settlers in the country, free of all taxes, fines, and quit-rents, for the space of fifteen years; but after that time, to be subject to the beforementioned annual quit-rent of one shilling for every fifty acres.
And as a farther encouragement to those men who may be desirous to become settlers and continue in the country, His Majesty has been likewise pleased to direct that every man shall, on being discharged, receive out of the public store a portion of clothing and provisions sufficient for his support for one year; together with a suitable quantity of seeds, grain, &c. for the tillage of the land; and a portion of tools and implements of agriculture, proper for their use. And whenever any man, who may become a settler, can maintain, feed, and clothe, such number of convicts as may be judged necessary by the governor, for the time being, to assist him in clearing and cultivating the land, the service of such convicts shall be assigned to him.
We were joyfully surprised on the 20th of the month to see another sail enter the harbour. She proved to be the Justinian transport, commanded by Captain Maitland, and our rapture was doubled on finding that she was laden entirely with provisions for our use. Full allowance, and general congratulation, immediately took place. This ship had left Falmouth on the preceding 20th of January and completed her passage exactly in five months.*2 She had stayed at Madeira one day and four at Sao Tiago, from which last place she had steered directly for New South Wales, neglecting Rio de Janeiro on her right and the Cape of Good Hope on her left; and, notwithstanding the immense tract of ocean she had passed, brought her crew without sickness into harbour. When the novelty and boldness of such an attempt shall be recollected, too much praise on the spirit and activity of Mr Maitland cannot be bestowed.
Good fortune continued to befriend us. Before the end of the month, three more transports, having on board two companies of the New South Wales corps, arrived to add to our society. These ships also brought out a large body of convicts, whose state and sufferings will be best estimated by the following return.
N.B. Of those landed sick, 124 died in the hospital at Sydney.
On our passage from England, which had lasted more than eight months, and with nearly an equal number of persons, only twenty-four had died and not thirty were landed sick. The difference can be accounted for only by comparing the manner in which each fleet was fitted out and conducted. With us, the provisions served on board were laid in by a contractor who sent a deputy to serve them out, and it became a part of duty for the officers of the troops to inspect their quality and to order that everyone received his just proportion. Whereas in the fleet now arrived, the distribution of provisions rested entirely with the masters of the merchantmen, and the officers were expressly forbidden to interfere in any shape farther about the convicts than to prevent their escape.
Seventeen pounds, in full of all expense, was the sum paid by the public for the passage of each person. And this sum was certainly competent to afford fair profit to the merchant who contracted. But there is reason to believe that some of those who were employed to act for him violated every principle of justice, and rioted on the spoils of misery, for want of a controlling power to check their enormities. No doubt can be entertained that a humane and liberal government will interpose its authority to prevent the repetition of such flagitious conduct.
Although the convicts had landed from these ships with every mark of meagre misery, yet it was soon seen that a want of room in which more conveniences might have been stowed for their use had not caused it. Several of the masters of the transports immediately opened stores, and exposed large quantities of goods to sale which, though at most extortionate prices, were eagerly bought up.
Such was the weakly state of the newcomers that for several weeks little real benefit to the colony was derived from so great a nominal addition to our number. However, as fast as they recovered, employment was immediately assigned to them. The old hours of labour, which had been reduced in our distress, were re-established, and the most vigorous measures adopted to give prosperity to the settlement. New buildings were immediately planned, and large tracts of ground at Rose Hill ordered to be cleared and prepared for cultivation. Some superintendents who had arrived in the fleet, and were hired by government for the purpose of overlooking and directing the convicts, were found extremely serviceable in accelerating the progress of improvement.
July 1790. This month was marked by nothing worth communication, except a melancholy accident which befell a young gentleman of amiable character (one of the midshipmen lately belonging to the Sirius) and two marines. He was in a small boat, with three marines, in the harbour, when a whale was seen near them. Sensible of their danger, they used every effort to avoid the cause of it, by rowing in a contrary direction from that which the fish seemed to take, but the monster suddenly arose close to them and nearly filled the boat with water. By exerting themselves, they baled her out and again steered from it. For some time it was not seen, and they conceived themselves safe when, rising immediately under the boat, it lifted her to the height of many yards on its back, whence slipping off, she dropped as from a precipice and immediately filled and sunk. The midshipman and one of the marines were sucked into the vortex which the whale had made, and disappeared at once. The two other marines swam for the nearest shore, but one only reached it to recount the fate of his companions.
August 1790. In the beginning of this month, in company with Mr Dawes and Mr Worgan, late surgeon of the Sirius, I undertook an expedition to the southward and westward of Rose Hill, where the country had never been explored. We remained out seven days and penetrated to a co
nsiderable distance in a SSW direction, bounding our course at a remarkable hill, to which, from its conical shape, we gave the name of Pyramid Hill.†2 Except the discovery of a river (which is unquestionably the Nepean near its source) to which we gave the name of the Worgan, in honour of one of our party, nothing very interesting was remarked.
Towards the end of the month we made a second excursion to the north-west of Rose Hill, when we again fell in with the Nepean and traced it to the spot where it had been first discovered by the party of which I was a member fourteen months before, examining the country as we went along. Little doubt now subsisted that the Hawkesbury and Nepean were one river.
We undertook a third expedition soon after to Broken Bay, which place we found had not been exaggerated in description, whether its capacious harbour or its desolate incultivable shores be considered. On all these excursions we brought away, in small bags, as many specimens of the soil of the country we had passed through as could be conveniently carried, in order that by analysis its qualities might be ascertained.
8
Transactions of the colony in the beginning of September 1790
THE tremendous monster who had occasioned the unhappy catastrophe just recorded was fated to be the cause of farther mischief to us.
On the 7th instant, Captain Nepean of the New South Wales corps, and Mr White, accompanied by little Nanbaree and a party of men, went in a boat to Manly Cove, intending to land there and walk on to Broken Bay. On drawing near the shore, a dead whale in the most disgusting state of putrefaction was seen lying on the beach, and at least two hundred Indians surrounding it, broiling the flesh on different fires and feasting on it with the most extravagant marks of greediness and rapture. As the boat continued to approach they were observed to fall into confusion and to pick up their spears, on which our people lay upon their oars and Nanbaree, stepping forward, harangued them for some time assuring them that we were friends.
