s 2 AUSTRALASIA ILLUSTRATED. 



In the meantime the over-crowded condition of the gaols was constantly forced upon 

 the attention of the authorities, and the official plan already alluded to for disposing of 

 the convicts was drawn up and approved by Lord Sydney, who presided at the Home 

 Office. Matra and Sir George Young again persistently urged the claims of the distressed 

 American colonists ; but the colonization of Australia by free settlers had to give way to 

 the necessities of the time, and by an Order in Council, made on the 6th of Decem- 

 ber, 1 786, " the eastern coast of New South Wales was declared and appointed to be 

 the place to which certain offenders should be transported." 



The decision of the Cabinet produced a feeling of great interest. The imaginations 

 of people were singularly fired by this idea of founding so novel a colony so far from 

 Home, on a shore which it was well known would provide but little by its own fruitful- 

 ness, whatever it might give in return for the industry of the settlers. In 1786 

 advertisements appeared in the English papers for a number of ships to be chartered 

 for this unusual service. They were required to carry about a thousand persons, with 

 all the implements that a colony could want, as well as provisions for two years. 



Preliminaries were soon arranged for giving effect to the decision of the Govern- 

 ment, but much care was necessary in the selection of a Commander, and the choice 

 happily fell on Captain Arthur Phillip a man whom long training in the Navy had 

 accustomed to discipline and method, and yet one whose gentle heart could feel for the 

 misfortunes of the poor exiles under his care. How much of the ultimate success of 

 the plan was due to the calm and even mind, the hopeful and generous disposition, 

 that lay behind the sweetness of those features, so pinched and pale with illness, it is 

 difficult even now to estimate. 



The Government wisely resolved to trust a great deal to the discretion of the 

 leader of the expedition, and while giving him a commission as Captain-General and 

 Governor-in-Chief over the eastern part of Australia, all the rest of that Continent being 

 claimed by the Dutch, they allowed the utmost latitude to his own judgment, although 

 careful instructions were forwarded to him as to the aims and purposes of the expedition. 



An East Indiaman, the Berwick^ was bought, and re-christened the Sir ins ; she was 

 armed with twenty guns, and fitted out to act as frigate to the expedition, and it was 

 intended that she should remain in the service of the future colony. Captain John 

 Hunter was appointed to the command of this vessel, and a smart little brig, called the 

 Supply, was added as tender. Colonel David Collins was sent out to act as Judge- 

 Advocate in the new settlement, and also to perform the duties of Secretary. 



The .squadron gathered at the Isle of Wight, and there, on thfe i3th of May, 1787, 

 Captain Phillip hoisted the signal for sailing, and the Fleet swept down the Channel, the 

 Sinus leading the way. The Hyei-na, a frigate of twenty-four guns, accompanied the 

 expedition to convoy it safely past European shores. The wind was fair and was 

 blowing freely, as with plunging prows and swelling sails they pursued their track to 

 the coast of Spain. Behind the sprightly Supply came three store-ships, the Golden 

 drove, the Borradale, and the Fishburn, all small craft according to our modern notions 

 -square-built barques of from two hundred and seventy-five to three hundred and 

 seventy-eight tons. Next came four transports, the Prince of Wales, the Scarborough, 

 the Alexander and the Friendship, of which the largest was about four hundred and 



