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29 chapters
Printed for John Stockdale, Picadilly January 1, 1793.
Printed for John Stockdale, Picadilly January 1, 1793.
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS LIST OF PLATES CHAPTER I The ships destined for Botany-Bay rendezvous at the Mother-Bank.--Leave that place, and proceed on the voyage.--The convicts on board one of the transports attempt an insurrection.--Are timely discovered, and the ring-leaders punished.--Arrived at Santa Cruz.--Transactions there.--Attempt of a convict to escape.--Description of Laguna, and the adjacent country. Departure from Santa Cruz.--Pass Cape Frio.--Arrive at Rio Janeiro. Transactions there.--Ci
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LIST OF PLATES.
LIST OF PLATES.
1. Captain Hunter 2. Vignette on the Title Page. (Vignette described ) 3. A Map of New South Wales 4. View of the Settlement on Sydney Cove, Port Jackson 5. The Southern Hemisphere, showing the Track of the Sirius 6. A Chart of Botany-Bay, Port Jackson, and Broken-Bay, with the Coast and Soundings 7. View at Rose-Hill 8. A Man of Lord Howe's Groupe 9. A Man of the Duke of York's Island 10. Canoes of the Duke of York's-Island 11. Canoes of the Admiralty Islands 12. Track of the Waaksamheyd Transp
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October 1786 to September 1787
October 1786 to September 1787
It being the intention of government to remove the inconvenience, which this country suffered, from the goals being so exceedingly crouded with criminals, who had been by the laws condemned to transportation, the east coast of New Holland was the place determined upon to form a settlement for this salutary purpose. The east coast of New Holland is that country, which was discovered and explored by Captain James Cook, in his first voyage round the world, and by him called New South Wales. Botany
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September 1787 to January 1788
September 1787 to January 1788
We had light and variable winds for the two first days after leaving Rio de Janeiro, then it veered round to the north-east, and freshened up, and was some times as far to the northward as north by east; we steered off east-south-east and south-east. In latitude 25° 50' south, the weather became dark and cloudy, with much rain and lightning all round the horizon, which shifted the wind to the southward, and the weather cleared up. On the 19th, we saw several Pentada birds. On the 29th, having ha
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January 1788 to August 1788
January 1788 to August 1788
A Few days after my arrival with the transports in Port Jackson, I set off with a six oared boat and a small boat, intending to make as good a survey of the harbour as circumstances would admit: I took to my assistance Mr. Bradley, the first lieutenant, Mr. Keltie, the master, and a young gentleman of the quarter-deck. During the time we were employed on this service, we had frequent meetings with different parties of the natives, whom we found at this time very numerous; a circumstance which I
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A VOYAGE TO CAPE OF GOOD HOPE September 1788 to January 1789
A VOYAGE TO CAPE OF GOOD HOPE September 1788 to January 1789
In the month of September, Governor Phillip signified to me, that it was his intention very soon to dispatch the Sirius to the Cape of Good Hope, in order to purchase such quantity of provisions as she might be capable of taking on board; and that she might be made as light as possible for that purpose, he desired I would land eight or ten of her guns and carriages, with any other articles which I judged the ship could spare, for the time she might be absent, and which might answer the purpose o
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A VOYAGE TO CAPE OF GOOD HOPE AND VOYAGE TO PORT JACKSON January 1789 to May 1789
A VOYAGE TO CAPE OF GOOD HOPE AND VOYAGE TO PORT JACKSON January 1789 to May 1789
As soon as the ship was anchored, we sent a boat with the first lieutenant on shore to the island, for such news from Europe as the commanding officer there might be able to give; I wished also to know if Governor Van de Graaff was still at the Cape, and if Colonel Gordon was still commander in chief of the troops in garrison there. The officer commanding at the island was exceedingly civil to the lieutenant who went on shore, and gave him every information he could; but it was unfortunate that
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TRANSACTIONS AT PORT JACKSON May 1789 to January 1790
TRANSACTIONS AT PORT JACKSON May 1789 to January 1790
As soon as the ship was secured, I went on shore to wait on the governor, whom I found in good health; he was sitting by the fire, drinking tea with a few friends; among whom I observed a native man of this country, who was decently cloathed, and seemed to be as much at his ease at the tea-table as any person there; he managed his cup and saucer as well, as though he had been long accustomed to such entertainment. This man was taken from his friends, by force, by Lieutenant Ball, of the Supply,
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TRANSACTIONS AT NORFOLK ISLAND February 1790 to February 1791
TRANSACTIONS AT NORFOLK ISLAND February 1790 to February 1791
In February, we began to look a little serious on our disappointment of arrivals: we had not now more than provisions till June, at the allowance I have already mentioned. The governor now saw a necessity for dividing the settlement, and signified his intention that such division should take place soon, by sending a certain number of marines and convicts, under the command of Major Ross, the lieutenant-governor, to Norfolk Island; at which place he understood there were many resources, which Por
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February 1791 to March 1791
February 1791 to March 1791
After my arrival at Port Jackson I went to Rose Hill, where great improvements were carrying on; a considerable town was laid out, many good buildings were erected, and roads were cut, with about two hundred and thirteen acres of land cleared for corn, and eighty acres for buildings and gardens; that is, the trees were cut down, but the roots remained in the ground, which would certainly lessen the quantity of cleared ground; this ground being grubbed up and laid open, gave me an opportunity of
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A VOYAGE TO BATAVIA March 1791 to September 1791
A VOYAGE TO BATAVIA March 1791 to September 1791
On the 27th of March, 1791, every thing being embarked, we left Sydney-cove, in the Waaksamheyd transport, and sailed down the harbour; when we were accompanied by the governor, and most of the civil and military officers in the settlement. When we passed the lower point of the Cove, all the marines and the New South Wales corps, who were off duty, came down and cheered our people, by way of taking leave, and wishing us a good passage. Never, upon any service, did there a better, or a more frien
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A VOYAGE TO THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE September 1791 to April 1792
A VOYAGE TO THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE September 1791 to April 1792
The master of the ship went immediately on shore, to inform his owner (the Shebander) of his arrival: that gentleman wrote me a note the same night, begging to see me the next morning as early as possible, that he might introduce me to the governor; he informed me at the same time, that it was quite unnecessary to write to the governor upon any business I might have to settle with him, (which the master of the ship informed him I intended) as my business could be done with more ease in a persona
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A Voyage From Port Jackson to England
A Voyage From Port Jackson to England
The LORDS of the ADMIRALTY, from a zealous wish to promote the nautical interests of Great-Britain, were pleased to permit the publication of the following letter from CAPTAIN HUNTER; which gives his opinion on the best course from NEW SOUTH WALES to EUROPE; and which closes the instructive communications of that able navigator. To the RIGHT HONOURABLE the LORDS COMMISSIONERS of the ADMIRALTY: My Lords, As the settlement, which is now established on the coast of New South Wales, will no doubt oc
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LIEUTENANT KING'S JOURNAL.
LIEUTENANT KING'S JOURNAL.
The public owe an obligation, and the publisher a kindness, to Sir Joseph Banks and Mr. Stephens, of the Admiralty, to whose charge Lieutenant King had committed his journal, for liberally allowing the free use of this intelligent manuscript, in order to the publication of such parts of it as might be supplementary in its notices to the foregoing narrative of Captain Hunter. The journal of Lieutenant King, like the narrative of Captain Hunter, begins with the plan of a settlement on the coast of
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A VOYAGE TO NORFOLK ISLAND February 1788 to April 1788
A VOYAGE TO NORFOLK ISLAND February 1788 to April 1788
On the 1st of February, at day-light in the morning, Lieutenant Dawes, of the marines, and myself, left Sydney Cove in a cutter, in order to proceed to Botany-Bay, and visit Monsieur De la Peyrouse, on the part of Governor Phillip, and to offer him any assistance he might stand in need of. We soon got down to the harbour's mouth, and finding a light breeze from the southward, we were obliged to row all the way: we arrived on board the Boussole at ten o'clock in the morning, and were received wit
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TRANSACTIONS AT NORFOLK ISLAND April 1788 to October 1788
TRANSACTIONS AT NORFOLK ISLAND April 1788 to October 1788
The settlement being now brought to some degree of order, I distributed the people into regular working parties, in order to facilitate the different operations which I was anxious to get forward as fast possible. Five men were sent to clear away ground on the north-east side of Mount George; two were employed in clearing a road from the ground where we had pitched the tents, to the fresh-water rivulet; two sawyers were sawing timber to build me a house; two men were employed in building huts; a
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TRANSACTIONS AT NORFOLK ISLAND October 1788 to February 1789
TRANSACTIONS AT NORFOLK ISLAND October 1788 to February 1789
The flood tide running strong all the morning of the 16th, and the wind being to the eastward, prevented the Golden Grove from working up; and though she fetched Point Ross in the afternoon, the flood making, she was swept to leeward. Having received instructions from Governor Phillip to send all the useful timber I conveniently could to Port Jackson, I set the men to work in cutting spars, and sawing boards for that purpose. At day-light in the morning of the 17th, the Golden Grove stood into t
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TRANSACTIONS AT NORFOLK ISLAND February 1789 to March 1790
TRANSACTIONS AT NORFOLK ISLAND February 1789 to March 1790
The interval of fine weather, which gave us an opportunity of examining the state of our provisions, and cleaning the damaged flour, was succeeded by a hurricane that was dreadful beyond description. In the morning of the 25th, we had light winds from the north-east, and very dismal, dark, cloudy weather, with constant torrents of heavy rain: towards noon, the wind blew a heavy gale, and kept increasing in violence. At midnight, it shifted to east-south-east, and blew with great fury, attended w
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TRANSACTIONS AT NORFOLK ISLAND AND PORT JACKSON March 1790 to April 1790
TRANSACTIONS AT NORFOLK ISLAND AND PORT JACKSON March 1790 to April 1790
At the break of day on the 13th of March, I was alarmed with a tumultuous noise of huzzaing and rejoicing; on enquiry into the cause, I found that two vessels were seen in the offing. Every one of us were now fully persuaded that the long looked for and much expected relief was at length arrived, and we began to felicitate each other that the time was now come, when we should hear news from England: some of us anticipated pleasing and unpleasing accounts from our friends in the northern hemisphe
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VOYAGE TO BATAVIA AND VOYAGE FROM BATAVIA TO ENGLAND April 1790 to December 1790
VOYAGE TO BATAVIA AND VOYAGE FROM BATAVIA TO ENGLAND April 1790 to December 1790
Having received the dispatches for his Majesty's principal Secretary of State, and for the Secretary of the Admiralty, from Governor Phillip, together with his order for me to go on board the Supply, and to proced in her to Batavia, and from thence, to make the best of my way to England, with the above dispatches, and Lieutenant Ball having also received his orders, I took my leave of the governor, and at noon on the 17th of April, we set sail; carrying with us the fervent prayers of those we le
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TRANSACTIONS AT PORT JACKSON June 1790 to July 1790
TRANSACTIONS AT PORT JACKSON June 1790 to July 1790
The Lady Juliana transport, which sailed from England in September, 1789, arrived at Port Jackson on the 3d of June, 1790, bringing supplies from England, and also dispatches from the Guardian at the Cape of Good Hope; which having sailed from England in August, struck unhappily on the 23d day of December, 1789, in 44° south latitude, and 41° 30' east longitude, on an island of ice. By the unfortunate loss of the Guardian the colony was deprived of those liberal supplies, which had been sent fro
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TRANSACTIONS AT PORT JACKSON August 1790 to October 1790
TRANSACTIONS AT PORT JACKSON August 1790 to October 1790
Towards the latter end of August, 1790, several officers made an excursion into the country, and going south-south-west from-Prospect-Hill for twenty miles, they came to a run of water, which they supposed to be the head of the Nepean river. They described the country through which they passed to be good land for ten miles, the rest ordinary ground, intersected by deep ravines and a large marsh, which they supposed, formed a very extensive piece of water, after heavy rains. A number of convicts
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TRANSACTIONS AT PORT JACKSON November 1790 to December 1790
TRANSACTIONS AT PORT JACKSON November 1790 to December 1790
The new moon, in the beginning of November, brought a few hours thunder, and rain for a short time, which they still continued greatly to want. Several fruits peculiar to the country were now in season: that which was supposed to be the fruit Captain Cook calls a cherry, the natives call mizooboore ; the taste of it is insipid, and it differs little from another fruit similar in its appearance, but something smaller, and which, as well as the former, is found in great abundance: there is likewis
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TRANSACTIONS AT PORT JACKSON December 1790 to February 1791
TRANSACTIONS AT PORT JACKSON December 1790 to February 1791
Several of the natives who had been pretty constant visitors at Sydney for some weeks, were detected stealing potatoes on the 28th of December; and, on the person they belonged to, endeavouring to drive them out of his garden, a fiz-gig was thrown at him. These people had lately made a practice of threatening any person whom they found in a hut alone, unless bread was given to them; and one of those who were suspected in the present instance, had, on several occasions, shown himself to be a dari
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TRANSACTIONS AT PORT JACKSON April 1791 to May 1791
TRANSACTIONS AT PORT JACKSON April 1791 to May 1791
On the 11th of April, 1791, Governor Phillip left Rose-Hill with a party, intending to reach Hawkesbury-River, opposite Richmond-Hill; and, if possible, to cross the river and get to the mountains. Besides the governor, the party consisted of a servant, and three convicts, who were good marksmen, eight soldiers, two serjeants, one captain, Lieutenant Tench, and Lieutenant Dawes; they took seven days provisions with them. As a few hours heavy rain would raise the waters at the head of the Hawkesb
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TRANSACTIONS AT PORT JACKSON June 1791 to September 1791
TRANSACTIONS AT PORT JACKSON June 1791 to September 1791
The weather continuing dry, two officers (Tench and Dawes,) who were with Governor Phillip on his last excursion, and two soldiers, set off in the beginning of June, 1791, to trace the Hawkesbury, from the place where the former party were turned off by the creek. They got opposite Richmond-Hill on the 5th day after their departure, and were assisted in crossing the river by a native, who lent his canoe to one of the soldiers that could not swim; but they afterwards found the river so very shall
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TRANSACTIONS AT PORT JACKSON September 1791 to December 1791
TRANSACTIONS AT PORT JACKSON September 1791 to December 1791
On the 21st of September, 1791, the Gorgon, Captain John Parker, came into the harbour. She sailed from Spithead on the 15th of the preceding March, had stopped at Teneriff, St. Jago, and the Cape of Good Hope; and having received on board as much of the provisions and stores, which were of the Guardian's cargo, as the ship could stow, together with three bulls, twenty-three cows, four rams, sixty-two ewes, and one boar; she left the Cape on the 30th of July. Captain King returned in this ship,
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VOYAGE TO ENGLAND FROM PORT JACKSON November 1791 to April 1792
VOYAGE TO ENGLAND FROM PORT JACKSON November 1791 to April 1792
Having received orders from Governor Phillip to get the Supply ready for sea, I had every thing in readiness by the 25th of November; and early the next morning, we weighed anchor, and stood out of Sydney Cove, with a moderate breeze at east-north-east, and pleasant weather. I had a Kanguroo on board, which I had directions to carry to Lord Grenville, as a present for his Majesty. Governor Phillip, accompanied by Captain John Parker, of the Gorgon, breakfasted on board the Supply the morning of
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Transactions at Norfolk Island
Transactions at Norfolk Island
The following particulars, respecting NORFOLK-ISLAND, which comprehend the substance of Lieutenant-Governor King's latest dispatches, being dated the 29th of December, 1791; and which were received the 30th of November 1792, by the William and Anne transport, that ought to have touched at Port Jackson, but was forced by contrary winds to bear away for England. The wheat harvest at Norfolk-Island was finished by the 10th of December, 1791; when about one thousand bushels of wheat were got in, and
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