22 



DEPORTATION TO TUB DERWENT. 



climate and fertility. It was now evident to the Government 

 that no advantage could arise from the partial evacuation of 

 Norfolk Island, and he therefore gave orders that measures 

 were to be taken forthwith for tbe withdrawal of all settlers 

 and stock and their removal to the new settlements in Van 

 Diemen's Land, on the terms recommended by Foveaux nearly 

 two years before, with certain modifications. The settlers 

 were to be compensated for what they had to leave behind, the 

 money compensation not to exceed ,£1000, and they were to 

 have grants in the proportion of two acres only to one acre of 

 cultivated land surrendered. On the other hand they were to 

 have houses erected of value equal to those given up ; were to 

 be victualled for two years at the public cost; those of the 

 better class were to be allowed the labour of four convicts for 

 nine months and of two for fifteen months, those of less desert 

 being allowed lesser privileges. 



The deportation now began in earnest. H.M.S. Porpoise, 

 the armed tender Lady Nelson, and the Estramina were to 

 remove the people and their stock. Governor Bligh gave the 

 settlers their choice between Port Dalrymple and the Derwent. 

 Most of them chose the latter settlement. He then gave 

 Collins notice to be ready to receive 120 settlers and their 

 families, 386 souls in all, and at the same time sent him seven 

 months' supplies. 



The first vessel to arrive (28th November, 1807) was the 

 armed tender Lady Nelson. She was already well known at 

 the Derwent. In 1803 she had brought to Ilisdon a portion of 

 Bowen's party, and had assisted at the founding of Hobart by 

 Collins in February, 1804, and she now brought the first 

 detachment of settlers deported from Norfolk Island. They 

 consisted of 15 families, comprising 34 persons. Three months 

 later (17th January, 1808) came the Porpoise with 43 families, 

 altogether 187 persons, and on tbe 2nd March the Lady Nelson 

 brought a further instalment of 50. Another three months 

 saw the Estramina arrive with an additional 62. Thus in 

 little more than six months Collins had had 330 people thrown 

 on his hands with but little means to provide for their wants. 

 Many of them were in a most wretched condition, and 

 immediately applied to Collins for clothing and bedding which 

 it was not in his power to give them. They had come with the 

 expectation that all their wants would be provided for by the 

 Government. All Collins could do was to billet the majority 

 amongst the inhabitants. Some few he assisted to build houses 

 for themselves. Some few he found sufficiently skilful to be 

 employed at wages on the works he had then in hand, the principal 

 of which was the large brick store which still stands at the bottom 

 of Macquarie-street. Some of the new arrivals received their 

 grants of land in the neighbourhood of the settlement at Sandy 



