208 EXPEDITION UNDER LIEUT.-GOV. COLLINS. 



Downing- 

 street to 

 Admiralty, 

 Jan. 1803. 



" From a due consideration of all these circumstances, 

 it is proposed to adopt the recommendation of Governor 

 King, and to appoint a competent person to proceed in 

 the Calcutta, direct for Port Phillip, for the purpose of 

 commencing the establishment there, by means of a 

 certain number of settlers and male convicts, now ready 

 to be embai'ked in that ship, and, further, that the 

 establishment shall be placed under the control of the 

 principal Government at Port Jackson, upon a similar 

 footing to that on Norfolk Island. 



" The expense of this nevr settlement, beyond what 

 would necessarily attend the conveyance and supplies for 

 the convicts if sent to Port Jackson, may be calculated 

 at a sum not exceeding ^15,000 a year, subject to a 

 small additional charge, if circumstances should render it 

 advisable to send some of the convicts under a sufficient 

 guard to secure the possession of King's Island. 



" With a view to this service, and for the purpose of 

 keeping open the communication between the two settle- 

 ments and with Port Jackson, it is thought necessary 

 that a small vessel should be stationed in the Straights, 

 to be employed in such manner as the Lieut.-Governor, 

 acting under the orders of Governor King, may point out. 



" Experience having proved the great inconvenience 

 arising from the establishment of the New South Wales 

 Regiment at Port Jackson, it is conceived that consider- 

 able benefit would result from selecting a detachment of 

 the Royal Marines for this service. 



"With a view of exciting the convicts to good 

 behaviour, it is proposed that such of them as shall 

 merit the recommendation of the Governors abroad shall 

 be informed that their wives and families will be permitted 

 to go to them at the public expense as indentured 

 servants; and, to render this act of humane policy as 

 conducive to the benefit of the Colony as the circum- 

 stances of the case will permit, it will be necessary that 

 these families shall on no account be sent upon ships on 

 which convicts shall be embarked, and that they shall be 

 informed their reunion with the objects of their regard 

 would depend upon their own good behaviour, as well 

 as upon that of their husbands." 



The recommendations of the memorandum were 

 adopted by the Cabinet. Early in January, 1803, it 

 was ordered that the destination of the Calcutta should 

 be changed, and that the convicts, with a detachment 

 of 100 Royal Marines as guard, should proceed direct to 

 Port Phillip, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel 



