BY JAMES BACKHOUSE WALKER. 



163 



threw him into a difficulty as to his course of action. It 

 was probable that Lord Hobart's directions were the 

 result of a despatch of his own, dated 23rd November 

 1802, in which he had strongly urged a settlement at 

 Storm Bay Passage, Port Phillip, or King's Island, to 

 counteract any intention of the French intruding a claim 

 within the limits of his government. But if so, it might 

 be " respectfully presumed" that a mistake had been made 

 in naming Port Dalrymple as on the south coast of Van 

 Diemen's Land, and then the inference was that Storm 

 Bay Passage was really intended. If this construction 

 were right, then Colonel Collins's removal to the Dei-went 

 had anticipated the Minister's wishes.- Furthermore, as 

 Lord Hobart when writing had supposed Port Phillip to 

 be already occupied by Collins, would his commands be 

 best fulfilled by settling Port Dalrymple or re-settling 

 Port Phillip ? Or, if the despatch were literally obeyed, 

 and Port Dalrymple occupied, would it not be advisable 

 to send also a small post to Port Phillip or Western 

 Port ? 



The Governor propounded these questions to his 

 principal officers, Lieutenant-Governor Colonel Paterson 

 and Major Johnston of the New South Wales Corps, 

 for their consideration and advice. They were 

 unanimously of opinion that the commands of the 

 Secretary of State to occupy Port Dalrymple, " with a 

 political view," were too explicit and peremptory to 

 admit of hesitation, and that they must be immediately 

 carried into effect. They thought that the north side of 

 the Straits should also be occupied, and a post established 

 either at Port Phillip or Western Port, whichever might 

 be found the more eligible situation. They recom- 

 mended that Colonel Paterson should forthwith be de- 

 spatched to Port Dalrymple with a small establishment, 

 and a guard of not less than 20 soldiers. 



Having thus settled his course of action, the Governor 

 lost no time in taking steps to send a force to occupy the 

 post pending the transference of the colonists from 

 Norfolk Island. The armed colonial cutter Integrity, 

 56 tons, was at once fitted for sea, and a small private 

 vessel of 25 tons, called the Contest, was chartered to 

 assist. The two ships were to take 20 convicts and a 

 force of 34 soldiers, in all 56 persons. On the morning 

 of the 7th June the New South Wales Corps was 

 drawn up on the Government wharf as a guard of 

 honor, and Lieutenant-Governor Paterson embarked in 

 the pinnace to go on board his vessel. The pinnace left the 



Opinion of 



Officers, 



18 May, 1804. 



King to 

 Hobart, 



15 May, 1804. 



King to 

 Hobart, 

 14 Aug., 1804. 



Sydney 



Gazette, 



10 June, 1804. 



