The Present Picture of New South Wales (1811) by David Dickinson Mann

D >> David Dickinson Mann >> The Present Picture of New South Wales (1811)

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

The storms of thunder and lightning are sometimes particularly
terrific, but have seldom been productive of much damage. In some
few instances, indeed, individuals had been killed by the
electric fires, but these accidents have generally resulted from
the too common and dangerous mode of seeking shelter under trees,
which attracted and directed the lightning to its object, instead
of affording that security which was sought for. A very singular
circumstance happened at the close of the spring of 1802, when
the Atlas, a ship commanded by Mr. Thomas Musgrove, was stricken
by a flash on the 5th of November, and, although the bottom of
the ship was immediately perforated by the stroke, not a man on
board received any material injury: such a singular instance is
almost without its parallel. At other periods, the tempestuous
gales which have been experienced surpass the conception of those
who have never witnessed the boisterous and tumultuous agitation
of nature. Hailstones, exceeding six inches in circumference,
have frequently fallen with such violence as to destroy the
windows of those habitations which had neglected the adoption of
measures of security, to kill the poultry, and lay level with the
earth the shrubs and the corn. In fact, storms of this
description never fail to occasion the most extensive
devastation, and to commit injuries to the settlers, which the
labour of months is scarcely sufficient to overcome.

An absurd notion had uniformly existed amongst the convicts
that it was possible, by penetrating into the interior, to
discover a country, where they might exist without labour, and
enjoy sweets hitherto unknown. This ridiculous opinion had
induced numbers, since the establishment of the colony, to desert
their employment, and to trust themselves in forests which were
unknown to them, and where they generally wandered until the
means of supporting further fatigue had failed them, and they
perished from want--until they became the victims of the natives
who fell in with them--or surrendered themselves to the parties
who were sent in pursuit of them. Such was commonly the
termination of these chimerical expeditions; yet these
consequences were unable to expunge the impression alluded to
from the minds of these obstinate people, and, in February, 1803,
fifteen convicts once again ventured into the woods from Castle
Hill, in search of this undiscovered country. Many of these
bigotted fugitives were subsequently re-taken, after enduring
every fatigue and privation which human nature is capable of
sustaining; after bearing the complicated hardships of want,
weariness, and pain; their feet blistered and bare, their hopes
destroyed, their perseverance completely worn out, and their
restless dispositions perfectly corrected into submission.

The art of printing had been gradually improving from the
period of its establishment, by the judicious care of Governor
Hunter, and its advantages became daily more and more obvious. On
the 5th of March, "The Sydney Gazette" was instituted
by authority, for the more ready communication of events through
the various settlements of the colony The utility and interest of
such an establishment were speedily and universally acknowledged;
and its commencement was soon succeeded by the publication of an
almanack, and other works calculated to suit the general taste
and increase the general stock of amusement. The general orders
were also issued through the medium of the press, and a vigilant
eye was kept upon it, to prevent the appearance of any thing
which could tend to shake those principles of morality and
subordination, on the due preservation of which depended the
individual happiness, and the public security of the settlement;
and which could be in no danger of subversion, until the press
should become prostituted to base designs--a period much and
sincerely to be deprecated by every real friend to the
colony.

In the month of August, a most inhuman murder was committed on
the body of Joseph Luken, a constable, who, after going off his
watch at the government-house, was beset by some villains who
still remain undiscovered, and who buried the hilt of his own
cutlass very deeply in his head. I was the second person at the
spot, where the body of the unfortunate man was discovered; and,
in attempting to turn the corpse, my fore-finger penetrated
through a hole in the skull, into the brains of the deceased.
Every possible search was made to discover the vile perpetrators
of this diabolical act, but to no purpose, the measures of escape
had been too well planned to be thwarted. Even the governor
himself attended, and gave directions for the drums to beat to
arms; the military to stop all avenues leading from the town, and
different officers to search every house; but, although several
were apprehended, no conviction could be brought home. Soon
afterwards, another murder was committed on the body of a man
belonging to one of the colonial craft, named Boylan. It appeared
that he had been in a part of the town, called "The
Rocks," and had been struck with some heavy weapon on the
head, of which he immediately died. Upon this occasion, I sat as
foreman of the jury, which was summoned soon after daylight, and
continued to sit until nearly one o'clock the next morning, when
two men and a woman were committed for trial; and a third man, in
the progress of the investigation, was sent to gaol for
prevarication. When the prisoners were arraigned at the bar, they
all pleaded "Not guilty;" and, after an impartial
trial, were acquitted. The singularity and cruelty of this man's
murder appeared to be equal to that of Luken. A third murder was
committed, nearly at the same time, by a woman named Salmon, on
the body of her own child. It appeared that she wished to conceal
her pregnancy; and, after delivering herself, had thrown the
infant down the privy, where it was smothered. Suspicions of her
situation having, however, been entertained by some persons, an
investigation took place, and the body of the child was
discovered. The woman was too ill to be brought to trial, and her
subsequent dissolution rendered that event unnecessary: before
her death, however, she made confession of her crime; and her
body was afterwards carried to a grave under the gallows, by men
belonging to the jail gang, with the greatest ignominy; nor was
it without the greatest exertions of the police, that the corpse
was permitted to be carried along the streets, so great was the
abhorrence expressed by the inhabitants at the idea of such an
unnatural, detestable, and abominable offence.

In the month of September, Joseph Samuels, who had been
convicted of a burglary, was three times suspended: the rope
first broke, in a very singular manner, in the middle, and the
suffering criminal fell prostrate on the ground; on the second
attempt, the cord unrove at the fastening, and he again came to
the ground; a third trial was attended with no better success,
for at the moment when he was launched off, the cord again
snapped in twain. Thomas Smyth, esq. the provost-marshal, taking
compassion on his protracted sufferings, stayed the further
progress of the execution, and rode immediately to the governor,
to whom he feelingly represented these extraordinary
circumstances, and his excellency was pleased to extend his
majesty's mercy. Samuels was afterwards transported to another
settlement, in consequence of his continuance in his dishonest
career, and has subsequently lost his life on the coast, in
making an attempt to escape from the colony.

In the month of October, Lieutenant-Governor Collins arrived
to form and command a settlement at Port Phillip: he was
accompanied by detachments of marines and convicts; but the
situation being found particularly ineligible, after
communicating with the governor in chief, he removed to the river
Derwent, where he arrived on the 19th of February, 1804, and a
very extensive settlement was speedily formed there; as, in
addition to the numbers of persons he took with him, a great many
settlers and others went thither from Norfolk Island, since that
place had been ordered to be evacuated. In the following April, a
new settlement was formed at the Coal River, now called King's
Town, Newcastle District, the county of Northumberland, and a
short distance to the northward of Port Jackson. Previous to this
period, some form of government had been adopted at that place,
in order to enable vessels going there to procure cedar and coals
with greater facility; but, on account of the increasing trade,
the governor considered it expedient to found a regular
settlement, and thus to establish a commercial intercourse of
greater importance.

At the commencement of the year 1804, the tranquillity of the
colony experienced some interruption. I have mentioned in the
beginning of this chapter the circumstances of the importation of
Irish convicts in the year 1800, and of their attempts to
disseminate amongst their fellow-prisoners the seeds of
insubordination and riot. The vigilance and prudence of Governor
Hunter, at that time, checked the rapid progress of the flame of
sedition; but, although apparently extinguished, the fire was
only smothered for a time. Discontent had taken root, and its
eradication was a matter of more difficulty than could have been
foreseen. The most unprincipled of the convicts had cherished the
vile principles of their new companions, and only waited for the
maturity of their designs to commence the execution of schemes
which involved the happiness and security of the whole colony.
The operations of these disaffected persons had hitherto been
conducted with such secrecy, that no suspicion of their views was
entertained, until the 4th of March in this year, when a violent
insurrection broke out at Castle Hill, a settlement between
Parramatta and Hawkesbury, and the insurgents expressed their
determination to emancipate themselves from their confinement, or
to perish in the struggle for liberty. Information of the extent
and alarming appearance of this mutiny having reached the
governor, it was deemed necessary, on the following day, to
proclaim martial law; and a party of the troops, under the
command of Lieutenant-Colonel George Johnston, were directed to
pursue the rebels. After a long march, the military detachment
came up with the insurgents, near the Ponds, about half-way
between Parramatta and Hawkesbury, and a short parley ensued,
when the Colonel found it necessary to fire upon them; and, after
killing several of the misguided rebels, and making prisoners of
the principals who survived, the remainder made a rapid retreat.
Ten of the leaders of this insurrection, who had been observed as
particularly conspicuous and zealous in their endeavours to
seduce the rest, were tried on the 8th of March, and capitally
convicted. Three were executed on the same evening at Parramatta,
since it was justly concluded, that measures of prompt severity
would have a greater effect upon the minds of those who had
forsaken their allegiance. On the following day, two other rebels
were executed at Sydney, and three at Castle Hill: the two
remaining criminals were respited, as they were the least
corrupted, and had discovered symptoms of sincere remorse for the
part which they had taken in the late operations. On the 9th,
martial law was repealed; and from that moment no disturbance has
again broken in upon the peace of the settlement of a serious
nature, although it would be too much to suppose that the seeds
of insubordination and disorder were entirely eradicated by the
frustrated event of the first endeavour. Men of such desperate
characters as are to be found in this colony, are not to be
intimidated by punishment, nor discouraged by failure from the
pursuit of that career of depravity, which is become dear to them
from habit; nothing short of death can destroy, in those minds,
the affection for vice, and the determination to gratify their
ruling passion, in spite of obstacles, however alarming, or
opposition, however strenuous and vigilant. Mr. Dixon, a Roman
Catholic priest, who had been sent under an order of
transportation from Ireland, for his principles, accompanted
Colonel Johnston on this service, and proved to be of some
utility in bringing back the insurgents to a proper sense of
their duty. It cannot be too much to say, that the conduct of Mr.
Dixon, before and after this business, was strictly
exemplary.

In May, the blessings of vaccination were introduced into the
settlement, and all the young children were inoculated with
success; but unfortunately, by some means as yet unaccounted for,
the virtue has been lost, and the colony has been once more left
without a protection from that most dreadful of all disorders,
the small-pox; of the fatal consequences of which the natives
have more than once afforded the most dreadful evidence, their
loathsome carcases having been found, while this disorder was
prevalent amongst them, lying about the beach, and on the rocks.
In fact, such is the terror of this disorder amongst these
untutored sons of nature, that, on its appearance, they forsake
those who are infected with it, leaving them to die, without a
friend at hand, or assistance to smooth the aspect of death, and
fly into the thickest of the woods. Their superstition leads them
to consider it as an infernal visitation; and its effects are
such as to justify this idea, in some degree, for it seldom fails
to desolate and depopulate whole districts, and strews the
surface of the country with the unburied carcases of its wretched
and deserted victims.

In September, the limits of Northumberland, and of Cornwall
and Buckinghamshire, on Van Diemen's Land, where a settlement had
been made during the last year, were defined; and the lines of
demarkation were fixed as follow:--The line of demarkation
between Cumberland and Northumberland is the parallel of 33. 2.
south latitude; and the line of demarkation between
Buckinghamshire and Cornwall, on Van Diemen's Land, is the
parallel of 42. south latitude. On the 15th of the following
month, Lieutenant-Governor Paterson sailed to make and command a
settlement at Port Dalrymple; and, in the course of a short
period, the colony had the satisfaction to hear of the foundation
of two towns, Yorkton and Launceston, which are making their
progress to perfection with considerable rapidity.

During the violence of a tempest in this month, a ship of five
hundred tons, named the Lady Barlow, and belonging to Messrs.
Campbell and Co. whilst lying in the Cove at her moorings, was
completely overset by the irresistible fury of the gale; but,
with some difficulty, she was raised again. Considerable damage
also resulted from this tremendous storm in the interior of the
settlement, where trees were rooted up, and the forests were
almost depopulated of their most ancient tenants. Huts were blown
down and houses unroofed, and the loss to numbers of the
inhabitants was such as to afford a serious interruption to their
prosperity.

In the month of May, 1805, Norfolk Island experienced a
considerable influx of the sea, which, from the extraordinary
nature of the occurrence, is worthy of mention. The tide first
ebbed to a great distance; when, suddenly, an unusual swell was
seen coming in, which occasioned considerable alarm to the
colony, to whom such a circumstance was entirely novel: it rose
to a great height, and retired to its channel. A second time it
revisited the shore, and flowed to a more considerable height
than before: a second time it retreated; and once again returned,
with a fury surpassing its former efforts; paralyzing the
spectators with terror, who were unable to imagine where the
extraordinary swellings might pause. For the last time, however,
the ocean left the shores, without having caused any material
damage; and, in its regress, it opened the secrets of the deep,
and displayed to "mortal ken" rocks which had remained
until now undiscovered.

About this period, a mare, belonging to a settler named Roger
Twyfield, at Hawkesbury, produced a foal, without any fore-legs,
or the least appearance of any: it lived for some time, fed very
well, and, exclusive of its natural deficiency, was in every
respect a remakably well-made animal. Such a singular phoenomenon
in nature has no parallel in my recollection; and I believe it is
the only instance of an imperfect or deformed progeny in the
settlement. Previous to the death of this singular animal, an
appearance of a horn was discovered sprouting from its forehead;
assimilating it, in some degree, to the supposed unicorn.

Chapter II.

Abstract of General Orders.--Arrival of
Governor Bligh.--George Barrington.--Blue Mountains.--Journey
thither.--New Market at Sydney.--Vessels seized and carried away
by the Convicts.--Natives.--Cruelty of the Savages in Bateman's
Bay.--Arrival of Masters for the Orphan Schools.--New Storehouse
built.--Murders.

Of the General Orders which were issued for the government of
the settlement, I shall here give the following abridgment, as it
will shew to the reader the nature of the regulations which were
adopted in the colony:--

_Agreements_--not cognizable, unless written and
registered; being witnessed by one person, not a prisoner.

_Apprentices and Deserters_--forbid to be harboured or
inveigled, under the penalty of six months hard labour, exclusive
of penalties by law ordained, if free; and, if a prisoner, one
hundred lashes, with other penalties, at discretion of a bench of
magistrates.

_Arms and Ammunition_--prohibited to be landed without
permission, under the penalty of forfeiting bond and
charter-party.

_Assault_.--Every description of persons to obtain
redress by action or indictment; and persons beating prisoners
assigned them, to forfeit such future indulgence.

_Assignments_--not cognizable, unless drawn up at the
judge-advocate's office and registered.

_Bakers_--to make bread of one quality only; viz. 24lbs.
of bran to be taken from 100lbs. of wheat: to charge 4d.
in money, or 2 1/2 lbs. wheat, for a loaf weighing 2lbs. 1oz.
when new, and 2lbs. if one day old, under the penalty of
5L. and otherwise at discretion of a bench of
magistrates.--[Since the above regulations were made, a much
more regular system has been adopted to fix the price of bread.
On every Saturday morning, a bench of magistrates assemble to
hear the price of wheat, and affix that of bread for the ensuing
week, according to the rate wheat has been sold at.]

_Bakers_--not to pay more than one shilling per bushel
for grinding wheat into flour.

_Barrack Bedding and Furniture_--prohibited to be
purchased: penalty--indictment for receiving stolen goods.

_Boats_--belonging to individuals, to land only at the
Hospital-wharf, unless by permission; nor must any convey spirits
without a permit, under penalty of being seized.

_Boats_--employed in the Hawkesbury trade, not to depart
from thence, nor from Sydney, without three days notice of
departure. In case of attack, to cut away masts and run on shore;
and to be provided with an axe or tomahawk, under penalty of
exemplary punishment. Those boats in the Hawkesbury river to be
numbered, registered, and chained at night, and not to be rowed
about after dark, under penalty of confiscation. No boat to
convey any person on board a vessel after notice of departure,
without permission from the governor or officer in command, under
the penalty of the boat being forfeited to the informer, and five
pounds to the Orphan School. And all boats must be registered and
numbered, under the penalty of their being forfeited to the
Orphans.

_Boats_--forbid being in Cockle Bay or Farm Cove, either
ashore or afloat, after sunset, under the penalty of being
forfeited to the crown; and all boats to be moored within the
Hospital wharf, and hulk.

_Boats conveying Grain from Hawkesbury_.--No grain to be
put into an open boat, or one that is not trust-worthy, or no
complaint of damage therefrom cognizable; but if more grain be
received than is consistent with safety, the master to make good
all loss or damage, lose the freight, and pay five pounds for
Orphans; and the same sum to that institution, if grain should
appear to have been wetted, to increase its weight or
measure.

_British Seamen_--forbid shipping in foreign vessels,
during the war, under the penalty of fifty pounds.

_Butchers_.--None to vend carcase meat but such as are
licensed, under the penalty of five pounds, and one year's
imprisonment. Licenced butchers to enter into recognizances to
observe as follows:--Not to kill any breeding stock; nor to send
live stock, or carcase meat, on board vessels, without
permission; to deliver to the governor a weekly return of stock
killed, purchased, and sold; not to demand more than one shilling
and eight-pence per pound for beef, one shilling per pound for
mutton, and eight-pence halfpenny per pound for pork; and not to
sell meat by the joint, but by weight, under the penalty of
forfeiting their licences and recognizances; the latter to the
informer.

_Cedar_--growing at Hawkesbury, not to be cut down or
removed without permission, under the penalty of confiscation,
with that also of the boat or cart removing it, to public
use.

_Centinels_--to oblige every person (except an officer)
to advance, when challenged, and to confine every person who
presumes to answer "Officer," without authority; and
when stores, etc. are to be placed in the charge of a
centinel, application must be made to the serjeant of the guard,
from whom he is to receive instructions, otherwise the centinel
not to be accountable.

_Certificates_.--No person to be employed unless he
produces his certificate, if a freeman, or his ticket of leave,
if a prisoner, under the penalty that his employer pays five
pounds, and half-a-crown for each day the man has been employed;
and should he prove to be a prisoner, without permission, the sum
of twenty pounds, and half-a-crown a day to Orphans. Certificates
will not be granted to persons about to leave the colony, unless
their names be published one week previous to their leaving the
Cove.

_Coals_ (Newcastle) _and Timber_--the exclusive
property of the crown. Coals prohibited to be worked by
individuals, but to be procured by government at ten shillings
per ton, and cedar at three halfpence per superficial foot,
exclusive of other duties and fines; _viz._ Licence
2s. clearance 1s. harbour-dues at Sydney at
established rates, entrance in and clearance from the river
2s. entrance at Sydney 1s. King's dues for Orphans:
coals for home consumption, or for exportation, 2s.
6d. per ton; timber for home consumption 3L. per
1000 square feet, ditto for exportation 4L. per ditto;
metage per ton on coals 2s.; measure of timber per 1000
feet 2s. No vessel to go to Hunter's River without a
specific licence; and the masters to enter into recognizances,
themselves in 50L. and two sureties in 25L. each,
to abide by the following regulations; _viz_. To take a
regular clearance; to observe the orders of the officer in
command; not to interfere with people at public labour; not to be
riotous or troublesome; not to land until permission be obtained;
to use baskets which will contain one hundred weight of coals; to
make daily returns to the commandant of the quantity of coals and
timber taken in; to give two days notice of departure to the
officer in command, and receive his certificate and letters; not
to sail between dusk and daylight; to land at the place directed,
only; to employ no prisoner without permission, and to pay
3s. 6d. per day for the ration of each permitted to
be employed; to give no strong liquors to any prisoner; not to
land any spirits without permit; likewise to enter into further
recognizances, the master in 100L. and two sureties in
50L. each, to take no person on board without sufficient
authority.

_Colonial Vessels_--to be registered, and pay fees to
Orphans: for register, ten shillings; for permission to go to
Botany Bay or Hawkesbury, two shillings; for re-entry, two
shillings; and, to go beyond Broken or Botany Bay, five
shillings, and the same at re-entry. Colonial vessels clearing
for or from any dependent settlement, prohibited taking any
person on board, unless authorised, under the penalty of
forfeiting bond and recognizances; nor is any colonial vessel to
be allowed a clearance with more than eighty gallons of spirits
for twenty-six men, fifty gallons for eighteen men, thirty
gallons for twelve men, and eighteen gallons for six men, if
going on a sealing or whaling voyage. Persons having families not
to enter on board any colonial vessels, unless provision be made
by the owners for their families whilst absent; the owners to
find security also to return such persons when their engagement
expires. The owners must likewise maintain their men while on
shore, or the latter may relinquish their contract. The owners
must also provide sufficient provisions for the support of their
men, or be prosecuted at civil law. Colonial vessels not to
depart for oiling and sealing, until bonds be entered into by the
owners, binding themselves in five hundred pounds, and two
sureties in fifty pounds each (to be renewed annually, for the
conduct of masters in their employ), to perform as follows:--To
take no person without permission and regular notice of
departure; to obtain a clearance; not to navigate beyond the
limits, namely, 10.37. and 43.39. south, and 135. east, from
Greenwich; not to entice seamen, or entertain deserters; to
provide sufficient provisions for the support of their men; not
to break bulk, until entered and the fees paid; not to authorize
strange vessels taking away British subjects from the gangs; not
to purchase or receive more than twenty gallons of spirits from
any vessel they may meet, without the governor's permission.

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10