Betweenthetwolastisanentirebedofimpassablerocks，manyofthemabovewater。ThelatitudeoftheEddystoneis43deg531/2min，longitude147deg9min;thatofSwilly43deg54minsouth，longitude147deg3mineastofGreenwich。
　　Inthenightthewesterlywind，whichhadsolongbefriendedus，diedaway，andwassucceededbyonefromthenorth—east。Whendayappearedwehadlostsightoftheland，anddidnotregainituntilthe19th，atonlythedistanceof17leaguesfromourdesiredport。Thewindwasnowfair，theskyserene，thoughalittlehazy，andthetemperatureoftheairdelightfullypleasant:joysparkledineverycountenance，andcongratulationsissuedfromeverymouth。IthacaitselfwasscarcelymorelongedforbyUlysses，thanBotanyBaybytheadventurerswhohadtraversedsomanythousandmilestotakepossessionofit。
　　"Heavilyincloudscameontheday"whichusheredinourarrival。
　　Tousitwas"agreat，animportantday，"thoughIhopethefoundation，notthefall，ofanempirewillbedatedfromit。
　　Onthemorningofthe20th，byteno’clock，thewholeofthefleethadcastanchorinBotanyBay，where，toourmutualsatisfaction，wefoundtheGovernor，andthefirstdivisionoftransports。Oninquiry，weheard，thatthe’Supply’hadarrivedonthe18th，andthetransportsonlytheprecedingday。
　　Thus，afterapassageofexactlythirty—sixweeksfromPortsmouth，wehappilyeffectedourarduousundertaking，withsuchatrainofunexampledblessingsashardlyeverattendedafleetinalikepredicament。
　　Oftwohundredandtwelvemarineswelostonlyone;andofsevenhundredandseventy—fiveconvicts，putonboardinEngland，buttwenty—fourperishedinourroute。Towhatcausearewetoattributethisunhopedforsuccess？
　　IwishIcouldanswertotheliberalmannerinwhichGovernmentsuppliedtheexpedition。Butwhenthereaderistold，thatsomeofthenecessaryarticlesallowedtoshipsonacommonpassagetoWestIndies，werewithheldfromus;thatportablesoup，wheat，andpickledvegetableswerenotallowed;andthataninadequatequantityofessenceofmaltwastheonlyantiscorbuticsupplied，hissurprisewillredoubleattheresultofthevoyage。Foritmustberemembered，thatthepeoplethussentoutwerenotaship’scompanystartingwitheveryadvantageofhealthandgoodliving，whichastateoffreedomproduces;butthemajorpartamiserablesetofconvicts，emaciatedfromconfinement，andinwantofcloaths，andalmosteveryconveniencetorendersolongapassagetolerable。
　　Ibegleave，however，tosay，thattheprovisionsservedonboardweregood，andofamuchsuperiorqualitytothoseusuallysuppliedbycontract:
　　theywerefurnishedbyMr。Richards，junior，ofWalworth，Surrey。
　　CHAPTERVIII。
　　FromtheFleet’sArrivalatBotanyBaytotheEvacuationofit;
　　andtakingPossessionofPortJackson。InterviewswiththeNatives;
　　andanAccountoftheCountryaboutBotanyBay。
　　Wehadscarcelybideachotherwelcomeonourarrival，whenanexpeditionuptheBaywasundertakenbytheGovernorandLieutenant—Governor，inordertoexplorethenatureofthecountry，andfixonaspottobeginouroperationsupon。None，however，whichcouldbedeemedveryeligible，beingdiscovered，hisExcellencyproceededinaboattoexaminetheopening，towhichMr。CookhadgiventhenameofPortJackson，onanideathatashelterforshippingwithinitmightbefound。Theboatreturnedontheeveningofthe23rd，withsuchanaccountoftheharbourandadvantagesattendingtheplace，thatitwasdeterminedtheevacuationofBotanyBayshouldcommencethenextmorning。
　　Inconsequenceofthisdecision，thefewseamenandmarineswhohadbeenlandedfromthesquadron，wereinstantlyreimbarked，andeverypreparationmadetobidadieutoaportwhichhadsolongbeenthesubjectofourconversation;
　　whichbutthreedaysbeforewehadenteredwithsomanysentimentsofsatisfaction;andinwhich，aswehadbelieved，somanyofourfuturehoursweretobepassed。Thethoughtsofremovalbanishedsleep，sothatIroseatthefirstdawnofthemorning。Butjudgeofmysurprizeonhearingfromaserjeant，whorandownalmostbreathlesstothecabinwhereIwasdressing，thatashipwasseenofftheharbour’smouth。AtfirstIonlylaughed，butknowingthemanwhospoketometobeofgreatveracity，andhearinghimrepeathisinformation，Iflewupondeck，onwhichIhadbarelysetmyfoot，whenthecryof"anothersail"struckonmyastonishedear。
　　Confoundedbyathousandideaswhicharoseinmymindinaninstant，Ispranguponthebarricadoandplainlydescriedtwoshipsofconsiderablesize，standinginforthemouthoftheBay。Bythistimethealarmhadbecomegeneral，andeveryoneappearedlostinconjecture。NowtheywereDutchmensenttodispossessus，andthemomentafterstoreshipsfromEngland，withsuppliesforthesettlement。Theimprobabilitieswhichattendedboththeseconclusions，weresunkintheagitationofthemoment。
　　ItwasbyGovernorPhillip，thatthismysterywasatlengthunravelled，andthecauseofthealarmpronouncedtobetwoFrenchships，which，itwasnowrecollected，wereonavoyageofdiscoveryinthesouthernhemisphere。Thuswereourdoubtsclearedup，andourapprehensionsbanished;
　　itwas，however，judgedexpedienttopostponeourremovaltoPortJackson，untilacompleteconfirmationofourconjecturescouldbeprocured。
　　Hadtheseabreezesetin，thestrangeshipswouldhavebeenatanchorintheBaybyeighto’clockinthemorning，butthewindblowingout，theyweredrivenbyastrongleecurrenttothesouthwardoftheport。
　　Onthefollowingdaytheyre—appearedintheirformersituation，andaboatwassenttothem，withalieutenantofthenavyinher，toofferassistance，andpointoutthenecessarymarksforenteringtheharbour。Inthecourseofthedaytheofficerreturned，andbroughtintelligencethattheshipsweretheBoussoleandAstrolabe，sentoutbyorderoftheKingofFrance，andunderthecommandofMonsieurDePerrouse。TheastonishmentoftheFrenchatseeingus，hadnotequalledthatwehadexperienced，foritappeared，thatinthecourseoftheirvoyagetheyhadtouchedatKamschatka，andbythatmeanslearntthatourexpeditionwasincontemplation。
　　Theydroppedanchorthenextmorning，justaswehadgotunderweightoworkoutoftheBay，sothatforthepresentnothingmorethansalutationscouldpassbetweenus。
　　BeforeIquitBotanyBay，Ishallrelatetheobservationswewereenabledtomakeduringourshortstaythere;aswellasthosewhichoursubsequentvisitstoitfromPortJacksonenabledustocomplete。
　　TheBayisveryopen，andgreatlyexposedtothefuryoftheS。E。winds，which，whentheyblow，causeaheavyanddangerousswell。Itisofprodigiousextent，theprincipalarm，whichtakesaS。W。direction，beingnotless，includingitswindings，thantwentyfourmilesfromthecapeswhichformtheentrance，accordingtothereportoftheFrenchofficers，whotookuncommonpainstosurveyit。Atthedistanceofaleaguefromtheharbour’smouthisabar，onwhichatlowwater，notmorethanfifteenfeetaretobefound。Withinthisbar，formanymilesuptheS。W。
　　arm，isahaven，equalineveryrespecttoanyhithertoknown，andinwhichanynumberofshipsmightanchor，securedfromallwinds。ThecountryaroundfarexceedsinrichnessofsoilthataboutCapeBanksandPointSolander，thoughunfortunatelytheyresembleeachotherinonerespect，ascarcityoffreshwater。
　　Wefoundthenativestolerablynumerousasweadvanceduptheriver，andevenattheharbour’smouthwehadreasontoconcludethecountrymorepopulousthanMr。Cookthoughtit。ForontheSupply’sarrivalintheBayonthe18thofthemonth，theywereassembledonthebeachofthesouthshore，tothenumberofnotlessthanfortypersons，shoutingandmakingmanyuncouthsignsandgestures。Thisappearancewhettedcuriositytoitsutmost，butasprudenceforbadeafewpeopletoventurewantonlyamongsogreatanumber，andapartyofonlysixmenwasobservedonthenorthshore，theGovernorimmediatelyproceededtolandonthatside，inordertotakepossessionofhisnewterritory，andbringaboutanintercoursebetweenitsoldandnewmasters。TheboatinwhichhisExcellencywas，roweduptheharbour，closetotheland，forsomedistance;theIndianskeepingpacewithheronthebeach。Atlastanofficerintheboatmadesignsofawantofwater，whichitwasjudgedwouldindicatehiswishoflanding。
　　Thenativesdirectlycomprehendedwhathewanted，andpointedtoaspotwherewatercouldbeprocured;onwhichtheboatwasimmediatelypushedin，andalandingtookplace。Asontheeventofthismeetingmightdependsomuchofourfuturetranquillity，everydelicacyonoursidewasrequisite。
　　TheIndians，thoughtimorous，shewednosignsofresentmentattheGovernor’sgoingonshore;aninterviewcommenced，inwhichtheconductofbothpartiespleasedeachothersomuch，thatthestrangersreturnedtotheirshipswithamuchbetteropinionofthenativesthantheyhadlandedwith;
　　andthelatterseemedhighlyentertainedwiththeirnewacquaintance，fromwhomtheycondescendedtoacceptofalookingglass，somebeads，andothertoys。
　　Owingtothelatenessofourarrival，itwasnotmygoodfortunetogoonshoreuntilthreedaysafterthishadhappened，whenIwentwithapartytothesouthsideoftheharbour，andhadscarcelylandedfiveminutes，whenweweremetbyadozenIndians，nakedasatthemomentoftheirbirth，walkingalongthebeach。Eagertocometoaconference，andyetafraidofgivingoffence，weadvancedwithcautiontowardsthem，norwouldthey，atfirstapproachnearertousthanthedistanceofsomepaces。Bothpartieswerearmed;
　　yetanattackseemedasunlikelyontheirpart，asweknewittobeonourown。
　　Ihadatthistimealittleboy，ofnotmorethansevenyearsofage，inmyhand。Thechildseemedtoattracttheirattentionverymuch，fortheyfrequentlypointedtohimandspoketoeachother;andashewasnotfrightened，Iadvancedwithhimtowardsthem，atthesametimebaringhisbosomand，shewingthewhitenessoftheskin。Onthecloathsbeingremoved，theygavealoudexclamation，andoneoftheparty，anoldman，withalongbeard，hideouslyugly，cameclosetous。Ibademylittlechargenottobeafraid，andintroducedhimtotheacquaintanceofthisuncouthpersonage。TheIndian，withgreatgentleness，laidhishandonthechild’shat，andafterwardsfelthiscloaths，mutteringtohimselfallthewhile。Ifounditnecessary，however，bythistimetosendawaythechild，assuchacloseconnectionratheralarmedhim;andinthis，astheconclusionverified，Igavenooffencetotheoldgentleman。
　　Indeeditwasbutputtingourselvesonaparwiththem，asIhadobservedfromthefirst，thatsomeyouthsoftheirown，thoughconsiderablyolderthantheonewithus，were，keptbackbythegrownpeople。
　　Severalmorenowcameup，towhom，wemadevariouspresents，butourtoysseemednottoberegardedasveryvaluable;norwouldtheyforalongtimemakeanyreturnstothem，thoughbeforeweparted，alargeclub，withaheadalmostsufficienttofellanox，wasobtainedinexchangeforalooking—glass。
　　Thesepeopleseemedatalosstoknow（probablyfromourwantofbeards）
　　ofwhatsexwewere，whichhavingunderstood，theyburstintothemostimmoderatefitsoflaughter，talkingtoeachotheratthesametimewithsuchrapidityandvociferationasIhadneverbeforeheard。Afternearlyanhour’sconversationbysignsandgestures，theyrepeatedseveraltimesthewordwhurra，whichsignifies，begone，andwalkedawayfromustotheheadoftheBay。
　　Thenativesbeingdeparted，wesetouttoobservethecountry，which，oninspection，ratherdisappointedourhopes，beinginvariablysandyandunpromisingforthepurposesofcultivation，thoughthetreesandgrassflourishingreatluxuriancy。ClosetouswasthespringatwhichMr。Cookwatered，butwedidnotthinkthewaterveryexcellent，nordiditrunfreely。Intheeveningwereturnedonboard，notgreatlypleasedwiththelatterpartofourdiscoveries，asitindicatedanincreaseofthosedifficulties，whichbeforeseemedsufficientlynumerous。
　　Betweenthisandourdeparturewehadseveralmoreinterviewswiththenatives，whichendedinsofriendlyamanner，thatwebegantoentertainstronghopesofbringingaboutaconnectionwiththem。Ourfirstobjectwastowintheiraffections，andournexttoconvincethemofthesuperioritywepossessed:forwithoutthelatter，theformerweknewwouldbeoflittleimportance。
　　Anofficeronedayprevailedononeofthemtoplaceatarget，madeofbark，againstatree，whichhefiredatwithapistol，atthedistanceofsomepaces。
　　TheIndians，thoughterrifiedatthereport，didnotrunaway，buttheirastonishmentexceededtheiralarm，onlookingattheshieldwhichtheballhadperforated。Asthisproducedalittleshyness，theofficer，todissipatetheirfearsandremovetheirjealousy，whistledtheairofMalbrooke，whichtheyappearedhighlycharmedwith，andimitatedhimwithequalpleasureandreadiness。Icannothelpremarkinghere，whatIwasafterwardstoldbyMonsieurDePerrouse，thatthenativesofCalifornia，andthroughoutalltheislandsofthePacificOcean，andinshortwhereverhehadbeen，seemedequallytouchedanddelightedwiththislittleplaintiveair。
　　CHAPTERIX。
　　ThetakingPossessionofPortJackson，withtheDisembarkationoftheMarinesandConvicts。
　　OurpassagetoPortJacksontookupbutfewhours，andthosewerespentfarfromunpleasantly。Theeveningwasbright，andtheprospectbeforeussuchasmightjustifysanguineexpectation。Havingpassedbetweenthecapeswhichformitsentrance，wefoundourselvesinaportsuperior，inextentandexcellency，toallwehadseenbefore。Wecontinuedtorunuptheharbouraboutfourmiles，inawesterlydirection，enjoyingtheluxuriantprospectofitsshores，coveredwithtreestothewater’sedge，amongwhichmanyoftheIndianswerefrequentlyseen，tillwearrivedatasmallsnugcoveonthesouthernside，onwhosebankstheplanofouroperationswasdestinedtocommence。
　　Thelandingofapartofthemarinesandconvictstookplacethenextday，andonthefollowing，theremainderwasdisembarked。Businessnowsatoneverybrow，andthescene，toanindifferentspectator，atleisuretocontemplateit，wouldhavebeenhighlypicturesqueandamusing。
　　Inoneplace，apartycuttingdownthewoods;asecond，settingupablacksmith’sforge;athird，draggingalongaloadofstonesorprovisions;
　　hereanofficerpitchinghismarquee，withadetachmentoftroopsparadingononesideofhim，andacook’sfireblazingupontheother。Throughtheunwearieddiligenceofthoseattheheadofthedifferentdepartments，regularitywas，however，soonintroduced，and，asfarastheunsettledstateofmatterswouldallow，confusiongaveplacetosystem。
　　Intotheheadofthecove，onwhichourestablishmentisfixed，runsasmallstreamoffreshwater，whichservestodividetheadjacentcountrytoalittledistance，inthedirectionofnorthandsouth。OntheeasternsideofthisrivulettheGovernorfixedhisplaceofresidence，withalargebodyofconvictsencampednearhim;andonthewesternsidewasdisposedtheremainingpartofthesepeople，nearthemarineencampment。
　　Fromthislasttwoguards，consistingoftwosubalterns，asmanyserjeants，fourcorporals，twodrummers，andforty—twoprivatemen，undertheordersofaCaptainoftheday，towhomallreportsweremade，dailymountedforthepublicsecurity，withsuchdirectionstouseforce，incaseofnecessity，asleftnoroomforthosewhoweretheobjectoftheorder，buttoremainpeaceable，orperishbythebayonet。
　　Asthestragglingoftheconvictswasnotonlyadesertionfromthepubliclabour，butmightbeattendedwithillconsequencestothesettlement，incaseoftheirmeetingthenatives，everycarewastakentopreventit。
　　TheProvostMartialwithhismenwasorderedtopatrolethecountryaround，andtheconvictsinformed，thattheseverestpunishmentwouldbeinflictedontransgressors。Inspite，however，ofallourprecautions，theysoonfoundtheroadtoBotanyBay，invisitstotheFrench，whowouldgladlyhavedispensedwiththeircompany。
　　Butasseverityalonewasknowntobeinadequateatoncetochastizeandreform，noopportunitywasomittedtoassuretheconvicts，thatbytheirgoodbehaviourandsubmissivedeportment，everyclaimtopresentdistinctionandfuturefavourwastobeearned。Thatthiscautionwasnotattendedwithallthegoodeffectswhichwerehopedfromit，Ihaveonlytolament;thatitoperatedinsomecasesisindisputable;norwillacandidandhumanemindfailtoconsiderandallowforthesituationtheseunfortunatebeingssopeculiarlystoodin。Whiletheywereonboardship，thetwosexeshadbeenkeptmostrigorouslyapart;but，whenlanded，theirseparationbecameimpracticable，andwouldhavebeen，perhaps，wrong。Licentiousnesswastheunavoidableconsequence，andtheiroldhabitsofdepravitywerebeginningtorecur。Whatwastobeattempted？Topreventtheirintercoursewasimpossible;andtopalliateitsevilsonlyremained。Marriagewasrecommended，andsuchadvantagesheldouttothosewhoaimedatreformation，ashavegreatlycontributedtothetranquillityofthesettlement。
　　OntheSundayafterourlandingdivineservicewasperformedunderagreattree，bytheRev。Mr。Johnson，ChaplainoftheSettlement，inthepresenceofthetroopsandconvicts，whosebehaviourontheoccasionwasequallyregularandattentive。InthecourseofourpassagethishadbeenrepeatedeverySunday，whiletheshipswereinport;
　　andinadditiontoit，Mr。Johnsonhadfurnishedthemwithbooks，atoncetendingtopromoteinstructionandpiety。
　　TheIndiansforalittlewhileafterourarrivalpaidusfrequentvisits，butinafewdaystheywereobservedtobemoreshyofourcompany。
　　Fromwhatcausetheirdistaste:arosewenevercouldtrace，aswehadmadeitourstudy，ontheseoccasions，totreatthemwithkindness，andloadthemwithpresents。Noquarrelhadhappened，andwehadflatteredourselves，fromGovernorPhillip’sfirstreceptionamongthem，thatsuchaconnectionmightbeestablishedaswouldtendtotheinterestofbothparties。Itseems，thatonthatoccasion，theynotonlyreceivedourpeoplewithgreatcordiality，butsofaracknowledgedtheirauthorityastosubmit，thataboundary，duringtheirfirstinterview，mightbedrawnonthesand，whichtheyattemptednottoinfringe，andappearedtobesatisfiedwith。
　　CHAPTERX。
　　ThereadingoftheCommissions，andtakingPossessionoftheSettlement，inform。
　　WithanAccountoftheCourtsofLaw，andModeofadministeringPublicJusticeinthisCountry。
　　Owingtothemultiplicityofpressingbusinessnecessarytobeperformedimmediatelyafterlanding，itwasfoundimpossibletoreadthepubliccommissionsandtakepossessionofthecolonyinform，untilthe7thofFebruary。Onthatdayalltheofficersofguardtookpostinthemarinebattalion，whichwasdrawnup，andmarchedofftheparadewithmusicplaying，andcoloursflying，toanadjoiningground，whichhadbeenclearedfortheoccasion，whereontheconvictswereassembledtohearHisMajesty’scommissionread，appointinghisExcellencyArthurPhillip，Esq。GovernorandCaptainGeneralinandovertheterritoryofNewSouthWales，anditsdependencies;togetherwiththeActofParliamentforestablishingtrialsbylawwithinthesame;andthepatentsundertheGreatSealofGreatBritain，forholdingthecivilandcriminalcourtsofjudicature，bywhichallcasesoflifeanddeath，aswellasmattersofproperty，weretobedecided。WhentheJudgeAdvocatehadfinishedreading，hisExcellencyaddressedhimselftotheconvictsinapointedandjudiciousspeech，informingthemofhisfutureintentions，whichwere，invariablytocherishandrenderhappythosewhoshewedadispositiontoamendment;
　　andtolettherigourofthelawtakeitscourseagainstsuchasmightdaretotransgresstheboundsprescribed。Attheclosethreevollieswerefiredinhonouroftheoccasion，andthebattalionmarchedbacktotheirparade，wheretheywerereviewedbytheGovernor，whowasreceivedwithallthehonoursduetohisrank。HisExcellencywasafterwardspleasedtothankthem，inpublicorders，fortheirbehaviourfromthetimeoftheirembarkation;
　　andtoasktheofficerstopartakeofacoldcollationatwhichitisscarcenecessarytoobserve，thatmanyloyalandpublictoastsweredrankincommemorationoftheday。
　　IntheGovernor’scommission，theextentofthisauthorityisdefinedtoreachfromthelatitudeof43deg49minsouth，tothelatitudeof10deg37minsouth，beingthenorthernandsouthernextremitiesofthecontinentofNewHolland。Itcommencesagainat135thdegreeoflongitudeeastofGreenwich，and，proceedinginaneasterlydirection，includesallislandswithinthelimitsoftheabovespecifiedlatitudesinthePacificOcean。