18 



DEPORTATION TO THE DERWENT. 



Dairymple in Bass Strait rendered it particularly necessary, 

 from a political point of view, that an establishment should be 

 placed there, and directed him for that purpose to remove from 

 Norfolk Island a portion of the settlers and the convicts, and 

 send them to Port Dairymple under the command of Lieut-Col. 

 Paterson, at the same time recalling Major Foveaux to Sydney. 

 Lord Hobart's despatch did not arrive at Port Jackson until 

 May, 1804, nearly 12 months after it was written. Collins 

 having in the meantime abandoned Port Phillip for the Der- 

 went, the importance of occupying a station in Bass Straits 

 became more urgent, and King at once applied himself to carry 

 out his instructions respecting the settlement of Port Dai- 

 rymple, which was eventually accomplished by Paterson 

 settling at George 1'own in November, 1804. 



King did not show the same alacrity in complying with the 

 instructions respecting Norfolk Island. There is little doubt 

 that they were distasteful to him. He contented himself with 

 writing to Foveaux (23 June, 1804) that the establishment 

 was to be reduced, and that towards the end of the year he 

 would send a vessel or vessels to remove any settlers who 

 were inclined to go to the new colony at Port Dairymple. 

 At the same time he said that he did not wish to force removal 

 on any settlers who were valuable and industrious, and who 

 might be ruined by having to give up their land after the 

 expenditure of so much labour and the endurance of so much 

 hardship. Nor, on the other hand, did he want the useless and 

 idle, who might be only too willing to move. Still, out of the 

 33 larger landholders there might be some who would be 

 willing to go, and they should be encouraged by the offer of 

 liberal terms. They and their stock would be removed at the 

 public expense, and what was necessarily left behind would be 

 taken by the Government at a valuation. On surrendering 

 their grants they were to have four acres for every acre cultivated 

 at Norfolk Island, and two acres for every acre of waste land. 

 They were to have rations for twelve months for themselves and 

 their households, and be allowed the labour of two convicts 

 for the same period. Of the 180 little occupiers there might 

 be a few who were worthy of encouragement and removal. 



On receipt of the Governor's instructions Foveaux assembled 

 the settlers (19th July, 1804), and laid the proposal before 

 them. It was well received, and some 40 at once gave in 

 their names as ready to try their fortunes in Van Diemen's Land. 

 These 40 were free settlers, most of them being mea who had 

 been either in the army or the naTy. A considerable propor- 

 tion held grants of from 30 to i20 acres each. A few had 

 flocks of sheep ; one, George Guest, as many as 600. Amongst 

 those who were strongly recommended by Foveaux as the 

 most industrious and fittest for selection we find the names of 



