An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales Volume I Part 47

In the night of the 29th, the _Francis_ schooner returned from Norfolk island, having been absent five weeks and three days. From her we learned, that the criminal court of judicature had been a.s.sembled, and one man, a convict, had suffered death, being convicted of a most daring burglary, which he and two others his accomplices effected with some circ.u.mstances of cruelty. The accomplices were sentenced to hard labour on Phillip Island for a certain term of years.

It was observed that the gangs at this place employed in different public works were seldom to be seen in the afternoon. On inquiry, it appeared that, notwithstanding the orders which had been given for the regulation of the public labour, the superintendants had taken it upon themselves to task the working people in such manner as they thought proper, and upon no other authority than their own will. By this abuse the work of government was almost wholly neglected, and the time of the labourers applied to the use of private individuals.

To remedy this evil, the governor repeated the order in which the hours of public labour were pointed out, and informed the superintendants and overseers, that if they should be known to take the liberty of applying to any other use or purpose the time designed to be employed for the public, they would be instantly dismissed from their employments, as persons who could not be depended upon; and they might rest a.s.sured, that any one, who had been proved unworthy the trust he had placed in him, would never be restored to a situation of which he was so little tenacious.

During this month died Mr. Henry Brewer, the provost-marshal of the territory, at the age of fifty-seven years. He came out with Governor Phillip as his clerk, and on our landing was appointed to act as provost-marshal in the room of the person appointed by the crown, Mr. Alexander, who never came out. Mr. Brewer afterwards received his Majesty's commission appointing him to the vacancy. There also died Andrew Fishburn, a private in the New South Wales corps, but formerly belonging to the marine detachment serving in this country, who had been very useful as a carpenter in the settlement; a soldier, who came out in the _Cornwallis_; one male convict, who died suddenly; one unfortunate man, John Williams, who was crushed to death by the wheel of a timber-carriage going over his head; and the settler's servant who was killed at the Hawkesbury; beside the seaman belonging to the _Indispensable_ who was shot.

August.] A court of criminal judicature was a.s.sembled early in the month for the trial of several offenders who were at that time in confinement under different charges.

Four prisoners were tried for a burglary in the house of William Miller, but acquitted through a defect in evidence. David Lloyd was tried for the wilful murder of John Smith, the seaman belonging to the s.h.i.+p _Indispensable_. It appeared, that the seaman had repaired in a state of intoxication to the house of Mr. Payne, for the express purpose of taking from a female convict, (then living as a servant at Mr. Payne's, and with whom he, the seaman, had cohabited during the pa.s.sage) some clothes which he had given her. A riot, the natural consequence of such a proceeding, ensued; and the prisoner endeavoured to make it appear that he had been compelled in his own defence to fire the pistol which caused the death of the seaman. The court admitted that the prisoner had not any of that malice in his heart against the deceased which is necessary to const.i.tute the crime of murder, and therefore acquitted him of that charge; but found him guilty of manslaughter, and sentenced him to receive six hundred lashes. John Fenlow was tried for the wilful murder of his servant, David Lane. This charge was fully made out, and the prisoner received sentence to die. Matthew Farrel, who (with Richard Sutton, the Newgate Bully) a.s.saulted the watch on the night of the 17th of March last, having in the course of that contest received a wound on the temple which proved incurable, and occasioned his death some time after, the watchmen were now brought forward to account for the death of the deceased. This they did very satisfactorily, and were discharged.

Four vagabonds, who had repeatedly broken out of prison, and run away from the jall-gang, were tried as incorrigible rogues, and being found guilty, were sentenced to three years hard labour at Norfolk Island; and one man was tried for a rape, but acquitted. Fenlow, being tried on the Sat.u.r.day, was executed on the following Monday. His body being delivered to the surgeons for dissection pursuant to his sentence, a stone was found in his gall bladder, of the size of a lark's egg. This unhappy man was remarkable for an extreme irascibility of temper: might it not have been occasioned by the torment that such a substance must produce in so irritable a situation? He however, the night before his execution, confessed that the murder which he committed was premeditated.

Notwithstanding which, he had, the day before he was tried, prepared an opening through the brick wall of his cell, purposing, if it had not been discovered in time, to have availed himself of it to escape after his trial. It could scarcely be supposed, that among the description of people of which the lower cla.s.s was formed in this place, any would have been found sufficiently curious to have attended the surgeons on such an occasion; but they had no sooner signified that the body was ready for inspection, than the hospital was filled with people, men, women, and children, to the number of several hundreds; none of whom appeared moved with pity for his fate, or in the least degree admonished by the sad spectacle before their eyes.

On Monday the 8th the snow _Susan_ sailed on her voyage to Canton. Two women, Sarah Nitch.e.l.l and Elizabeth Robinson, and a few men, were allowed to quit the colony in this vessel.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales's birthday was duly distinguished by us on the 12th of this month. Such days had never been neglected by the colonists of New South Wales.

A civil court was again held on the day following, when several persons who had been arrested by writs issued from the last court were brought up; many of whom, being settlers, gave a.s.signments on their coming crops of wheat for the different sums in which they were indebted. Several other debts were sworn to, and writs issued. Had those defendants who were thus suffered to give a.s.signments on their crops then in the ground been thrown into prison at the suit of the different plaintiffs, their ruin would have been certain, and the debt would have remained unsatisfied. This method was tried, as being something more beneficial to both parties; but they were in general of such a thoughtless worthless description, that even this indulgence might induce them to be, if possible, more worthless and thoughtless than before, as, to use their own expression, they had now 'to work for a dead horse.'

On the 23rd (the signal for a sail having been made at the South Head, the day before), there anch.o.r.ed in the stream, just without the two points of Sydney Cove, the s.h.i.+p _Grand Turk_, from Boston, after a pa.s.sage of five months from that port. She had been twenty-three days from Van Dieman's Land, meeting with a current, during several days, that set her each day twenty-one miles either to the SE or NE. We found on board as supercargo, Mr. McGee, who was here before in the _Halcyon_ with Mr. Benjamin Page. He brought news from Europe as late as January last, by which we learned that the war still raged. Mr. McGee had on board for sale, spirits, tobacco, wine, soap, iron, linseed oil, broadcloth, etc., etc., for this market, Manilla, and Canton. The tobacco (eighteen hogsheads) were immediately bought for one s.h.i.+lling and three half-pence per pound, and government purchased some of his spirits at seven s.h.i.+llings per gallon.

During this month a long-boat belonging to his Majesty's s.h.i.+p _Reliance_, which had been sent to Botany Bay in July to procure fish, was given up for lost, with five or six seamen. They were known to have quitted Botany Bay, and, not having been heard of for some weeks, were conjectured to have taken the boat away to the northward, where, being without compa.s.s or provisions, except the few fish they had caught, it was more than probable they had perished.

The jail-gang at this time, notwithstanding the examples which had been made, consisted of upwards of twenty-five persons; and many of the female prisoners were found to be every whit as infamous as the men.

One settler was executed this month, and one soldier lost his life by a tree falling on him at the Hawkesbury.

The first and middle parts of the month were wet. The branch of the harbour named Duck River was so swollen as to overflow its banks, which were very steep.

September.] A temporary church, formed out of the materials of two old huts, was opened at Parramatta by the Rev. Mr. Marsden on the first Sunday in this month. Decent places of wors.h.i.+p were now to be seen at the two princ.i.p.al settlements. At the time when we were visited by the Spanish s.h.i.+ps Mr. Johnson preached wherever he could find a shady spot.

The priest belonging to the commodore's s.h.i.+p, observing that we had not any church built, lifted up his eyes with astonishment, and declared, that had the place been settled by his nation, a house for G.o.d would have been erected before any house for man.

The s.h.i.+ps being now on the point of sailing, the _Britannia_ for England, and the _Relianc _ and _Supply_ for the Cape of Good Hope, the following appointments were notified in the public orders: _viz_ Captain George Johnston, of the New South Wales corps, was appointed aid-de-camp to the governor. The Rev. Mr. Johnson and William Balmain Esq were nominated the acting magistrates in the district of the town of Sydney. Mr. James Williamson (a gentleman who came from England with the governor) was to do the duty of commissary in the absence of Mr. Palmer, who was returning to England on leave. Mr. Thomas Smyth was appointed provost-marshal, in the room of Mr. Henry Brewer, by warrant bearing date the day after his decease. Mr. Thomas Moore, carpenter of the s.h.i.+p _Britannia_, was appointed master boat-builder in the room of Mr. Daniel Payne. William Stephenson was placed under the commissary as a store-keeper, in the room of Mr. Thomas Smyth; and George Barrington, whose conduct, still uniform and upright, recommended him to the notice of the governor, was, after receiving an absolute pardon under the seal of the territory, appointed a superintendant of convicts, with a salary of fifty pounds per annum, in the room of Mr. Thomas Clark, returning to England.*

[* Mr. Richard Atkins had some time before been nominated by the secretary of state to do the duty of judge-advocate, whenever Captain Collins should return to England.]

On the 20th, his Majesty's s.h.i.+p _Supply_ sailed for Norfolk Island and the Cape of Good Hope, having on board part of the military relief intended for that settlement, and part of a thousand bushels of wheat which had been written for from thence.

On the following day the s.h.i.+ps _Indispensable_ and _Grand Turk_ sailed for Canton. The American had not succeeded in his speculation so well as he had expected; the market was over-stocked with goods, and by the governor's regulations he was compelled to take away, with many other articles, his ground-tier full of spirits, which he hoped to have sold here.

The invalids and pa.s.sengers who were returning to England in the _Britannia_ being embarked, that s.h.i.+p, the _Reliance_, and the _Francis_ schooner, hauled out of the cove preparatory to their departure.

As a proof that stock was not falling in its value, Mr. Palmer, the commissary, sold two Cape cows and one steer for 189 sterling. The stock in the colony at this time was of considerable extent and value, as will appear by the following account of it, which was taken for the purpose of being transmitted to government:

ACCOUNT OF LIVE STOCK IN THE POSSESSION OF GOVERNMENT AND THE CIVIL AND MILITARY OFFICERS OF THE SETTLEMENT, ON THE 1ST OF SEPTEMBER 1796 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- To whom Mares Cows Bulls Oxen Sheep Goats Hogs belonging and and and Horses Cow-calves Bull-calves ----------------------------------------------------------------------- To government 14 67 37 46 191 111 59 Officers civil and military 43 34 37 6 1310 1176 889 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Total of government and officers 57 101 74 52 1501 1287 948 To settlers - - - - 30 140 921 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- General total 57 101 74 52 1531 1427 1869 -----------------------------------------------------------------------

The wild cattle to the westward of the river Nepean were not included in this account.

All kinds of poultry were numerous.

The following account of the land in cultivation was taken at the same time: ----------------------------------------------------------------------- To whom belonging Land in Observations Cultivation (Acres) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- To government 1700 (By our weakness in public labourers, (and wanting many necessary buildings, (the land cleared by government was (unemployed this year.

Officers civil and military 1172 (About four fifths of which were at (this time sown with wheat.

Total of government and officers 2872

To settlers 2547 {Of which much timber was cut down {but not burnt off.

General total 5419

It was satisfactory to those gentlemen who were now about to quit the colony to reflect that they left it not only with a prospect of plenty before it, but with stores and granaries abundantly filled at the time.

Of these, the judge-advocate and the commissary, who had been in the settlement from its establishment, had witnessed periods of distress and difficulty; but they had the gratification of seeing them fairly surmounted, and the probability of their ever recurring thrown to a very great distance. In the houses of individuals were to be found most of the comforts, and not a few of the luxuries of life. For these the island was indebted to the communications it had had with India, and other parts of the world; and the former years of famine, toil, and difficulty, were now exchanged for years of plenty, ease, and pleasure.

The following state of the settlement was made up to the 31st of last month:

SALT PROVISIONS AND GRAIN IN STORE.

Quality To last at the established ration Weeks Days Beef 31 1 Pork 44 6

Total of salt meat 76 0 (75 weeks + 7 days)

Peas 22 - Wheat 29 1 Maize 41 4 Sugar 4 -

To consume this quant.i.ty of food, there were victualled at Sydney 2219 persons At Parramatta 965 At the Hawkesbury 454 Making a total of 3638

There were 321 people off the public stores, which, added to the 3638 who were victualled, gave a general total of 3959 persons in the different settlements, of all descriptions and ages; not including those at Norfolk Island, in which settlement were 119 persons; to which add 3959 persons in New South Wales; there will be found 4848 persons under the British government in New South Wales and its dependencies.

A few days previous to the sailing of the s.h.i.+ps, information was received of a most inhuman murder having been perpetrated on the body of ---- Williams, a settler's wife, at the district of the Ponds. A female neighbour of their's was accused by an accomplice of having committed this diabolical act, for the purpose of enriching herself with the property which she knew this unfortunate woman had in the house. She was immediately apprehended, and search made for the property which had been taken away. Some of this was found, and there was little doubt but the avenging arm of Justice would soon fall upon the head of the murderer.

On the 29th his Majesty's s.h.i.+p _Reliance_, the _Britannia_ hired transport, and the _Francis_ schooner, sailed from Port Jackson. They were all to touch at Norfolk Island, whence the s.h.i.+ps were to proceed to the Cape of Good Hope, and the schooner was to return to New South Wales.

The _Britannia's_ call at Norfolk Island was for the purpose of taking on board lieutenant-governor King, who, from a long state of ill health, had found himself compelled to apply to Governor Hunter for leave to return to England, to which the governor had consented.

On board of the _Reliance_ were the commissary, the remainder of the military relief, and such part of the thousand bushels of wheat as the _Supply_ did not receive. In the transport were Captain Paterson; Lieutenants Abbott and Clephan; one sergeant and seventeen privates (invalids) of the New South Wales corps, with their wives and children; the judge-advocate of the settlement, who was charged with dispatches from the governor; Mr. Leeds, an a.s.sistant-surgeon; Thomas Clark, late a superintendant of convicts; James Thorp, the master millwright; and several other persons, male and female, who had been allowed a pa.s.sage to England by the governor.

The following were the prices of various articles, as they were sold at Sydney about the time the s.h.i.+ps sailed, viz

Stock Groceries ----- --------- Cows 80 Hyson tea per lb 1 4s Horses 90 Coffee, ditto, 2s Sheep 7 10s Sugar (soft), ditto, 1s Goats 4 Soap, ditto, 2s Turkeys 1 1s Virginia leaf-tobacco, ditto, 5s Geese 1 1s Brazil roll, ditto, 7s Fowls, full grown, 5s Black pepper, ditto, 4s Ducks 5s Ginger, ditto, 3s Fresh pork per lb 1s 3d Pipes per gross 1 10s Mutton 2s WINE AND SPIRITS Goat per lb 1s 6d Red port per bottle 5s Kangaroo 6d Madeira, per bottle, 4s Barley, per bushel, 10s Cape wine, ditto, 3s Peas, ditto, 7s Rum, ditto, 5s Maize, ditto, 5s Gin, ditto, 6s Ditto ground, ditto, 5s Porter, ditto, 2s Cheese per lb 3s Beer made at Sydney 1s 6d b.u.t.ter, ditto, 3s INDIA GOODS White-wine vinegar per gallon 6s Long cloth per yard from 3s to 6s Fish 2d Callicoes, ditto, from 1s 6d to 2s 6d Eggs per dozen 2s Muslins, ditto, from 7s to 12s Salted pork per lb 1s Nankeen per piece 10s Salted beef, ditto, 8d Coa.r.s.e printed callicoes, ditto, 1 5s Potatoes per cwt 12s Silk handkerchiefs, ditto, 12s Ditto per lb 3d ENGLISH GOODS Flour, ditto, 7d Black hats from 15s to 2 Wheat-meal, sifted, 4d Shoes per pair from 9s to 13s Ditto, unsifted, 3d Cotton Stockings from 6s to 12s Wheat per bushel 12s Writing paper per quire 6s

The beer mentioned in the preceding account as being made at Sydney was brewed from Indian corn, properly malted, and bittered with the leaves and stalks of the love-apple, (Lycopersic.u.m, a species of Solarium) or, as it was more commonly called in the settlement, the Cape gooseberry.

Mr. Boston found this succeeded so well, that he erected at some expense a building proper for the business, and was, when the s.h.i.+ps sailed, engaged in brewing beer from the abovementioned materials, and in making soap.

At this time the following prices were demanded and paid for labour and work done at Sydney and the different settlements, viz. . s. d.

A carpenter for a day's work 0 5 0 A labourer for a day's work 0 3 0 For clearing an acre of ground 3 0 0 For breaking up an acre of ground 1 0 0 For thres.h.i.+ng a bushel of wheat 0 1 6 For reaping an acre of wheat 0 10 0 For felling an acre of timber 0 17 0 The price of ground was from 12s to 1 an acre For making a pair of men's shoes 0 3 6 For making a pair of women's shoes 0 3 0 For making a coat 0 6 0 For making a gown 0 5 0

For was.h.i.+ng, three-pence for each article was paid; and the person who washed found soap, etc. If a woman was hired, she had one s.h.i.+lling and six-pence for the day, and her meals.

It must here be remarked, that the mechanic and the labourer were generally contented to be paid the above prices in such articles as they or their families stood in need of, the values of which had not as yet been regulated by any other authority, or guided by any other rule, than the will of the purchaser.

The want at this time of several public buildings in the settlement has already been mentioned. To this want must be added, as absolutely necessary to the well-being and comfort of the settlers and the prosperity of the colony in general, that of a public store, to be opened on a plan, though not exactly the same, yet as liberal as that of the island of St Helena, where the East India Company issue to their own servants European and Indian goods, at ten per cent advance on the prime cost. Considering our immense distance from England, a greater advance would be necessary; and the settlers and others would be well satisfied, and think it equally liberal, to pay fifty per cent on the prime cost of all goods brought from England; for at present they pay never less than one hundred, and frequently one thousand per cent on what they have occasion to purchase. It may be supposed that government would not choose to open an account, and be concerned in the retail of goods; but any individual would find it to his interest to do this, particularly if a.s.sisted by government in the freight; and the inhabitants would gladly prefer the manufactures of their own country to the sweepings of the Indian bazars.