72 THE RISDON SETTLEMENT. 



convenient, and accordingly disembarked all the men 

 and stores." He could never have written thus if he 

 had examined either Humphrey's Rivulet or the stream 

 falling- into Sullivan's Cove. Bowen's choice of Risdon 

 does not lead us to form a high opinion of his qualifi- 

 cations as the founder of a new colony. On the other 

 hand, it is only fair to take into account his difficulties. 

 Doubtless he felt himself in a great degree bound by the 

 instructions he had received from Governor King to fix 

 on a spot in the neighbourhood of Risdon Cove. ! i e 

 also knew that Bass had carefully examined both shores 

 of the I'iver and had found no place so eligible. Moreover, 

 it would be unjust to judge his choice by our present 

 knowledge. Every settlement in an unknown and thickly 

 wooded countiy must be more or less tentative, and the 

 objections to the locality were not so evident in its 

 original state as they now are. At present the Cove is 

 silted up in consequence of a causeway having been built 

 across it, but when Bowen entei'ed it it was a fairly 

 deep and commodious harbour. There was much to 

 recommend the site to a new comer. When the Albion 

 sailed up the Derwent the best valleys running down to 

 the river wei-e tull of a dense scrub, most discouraging to 

 a settler, and at that period Risdon probably presented the 

 most open land on this side Herdsman's Cove. It v/as early 

 spring, and at that season there would be a good stream 

 of water in the ci'eek, the open land of the Risdon valley 

 was covered with rich and luxuriant grass, and higher 

 up the creek was a fair amount of the good agricultural 

 land described by Bass. The unsuitability of the 

 valley as a site for a large town would never occur to 

 Bowen, who was content if he could find for his 

 handful of settlers a sufficient space for their gardens, 

 and a few cornfields to supply their immediate require- 

 ments. The small scale of the establishment with which 

 he was entrusted would inevitably limit his ideas. 

 Still, after every allowance has been made, it remains 

 evident that Lieut. John Bowen was not one of the men 

 who are born to be the successful founders of new States. 

 The site of this first settlement is on the farm so well 

 known as the home of the late Mr. Thos. Geo. Gregson, 

 M.H.A. It lies about two miles from the landing-place 

 of the Risdon ferry. A stone causeway crosses the cove 

 not far from the mouth of the creek. For some 100 or ' 

 150 yards before the little stream falls into the cove it 

 finds its way through a small marsh of some 20 acres, 

 shut in on each side by steep hills. In Bowen's time 

 this stream was fresh and clear-flowing; now it is brackish, 



