160 TASMANIAN STATE RECORDS, 



Buffalo, but that ship dragged her anchor during the night 

 in a strong gale from the North-West, and went aground. 

 As a consequence, seven days were lost before Col. Paterson 

 came to a safe anchorage, and on November 11th, 1804, 

 effected the beginning of Settlement in the North of this 

 Island, which he named George Town. 



To these three names, or perchance more fairly to the- 

 Navigators of the Discovery Period, should be added the: 

 name of William Collins. This officer (later Hobart's firsts 

 Harbour Master), who came out with Governor Collins toj 

 engage in the Seal Fishing, was despatched from Port 

 Phillip to examine Port Dalrymple, and landed there from, 

 that famous ship in Tasmanian history, the Lady Nelson^^ 

 qn January 1st, 1804, three and a half months after Bowen 

 Had landed at Risdon. Wm. Collins spent three weeks, 

 examining the Tamar, and was much impressed, claiming, 

 its beauty to be ''not surpassed in the world." The credit^ 

 of this voyage, however, must be shared between Wm. Collins 

 and Lieut. Symons, who commanded the Lady Nelson. 

 t Of this period, too, Tasmania possesses no written. 

 Records. We have at our disposal only the Records of other. 

 States, which, however, are sufficient to give us a fairly clear 

 view of all the leading events. But thes6, even the official 

 Reports .and Despatches, are lamentably lacking in those 

 details which the Historian finds so necessar'yto enable him 

 to obtain, correct colour and evolve an accurate perspective. 



(c) Occupation, 1804-1824. It is a period of marked 

 laxity in almost every Department of Government, a laxity 

 in none more marked than in that designed for the pre-, 

 servation of official Records. I do not desire to placed 

 individual blame, for that would be manifestly unfair^ 

 Circumstances fortuitously guided to an unfortunate end.; 

 Official jealousies, the lack of instructions, personal weak-' 

 ness, the vacillations of the Home Government, and many^ 

 other forces active and passive, combined to the unhappy^ 

 result, the which it is no part of my purpose to enter into, 

 here. ' Our Records, official and private, of this period are 

 hopelessly inadequate, especially when we reflect that it is* 

 the real foundation on which the fabric of Tasmanian 

 History should be built. A few Garrison Orders of Collins,- 

 the Journal of that worldly divine, the Rev. Robt. Knopwood,' 

 some transcripts of letters and despatches by Governor 

 Sorell, some ^ second-hand statements, generaH^r garbled, 

 concerning Commandants Giel, Murray, and -Others, the"' 

 incidental light shed by Despatches from the Governor in:' 



