lO 



ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY 



[1788. 



tended for the fettlement, on the evening of the 25th ; and in the 

 courfe of the following day, lufficient ground was cleared for encamp- 

 ing the officer's guard, and the convi&s who had landed in the morn- 

 ing. The fpot chofen for this purpofe was at the head of the Cove 

 near a run of frefh water, which, ftole filently through a very thick 

 wood, the ftillnefs of which had then, for the firlt time fmce the cre- 

 ation, been interrupted by the rude found of the labourer's axe, and 

 the downfall of its ancient inhabitants : — a ftillnefs and tranquillity 

 which, from that day, were to give place to the noife of labour, the 

 confufion of camps and towns, and the bufy hum of its new p of- 

 fer! or s. That the greater part of thefe did not bring with them 



<£ Minds not to be changed by time or place/' 



was fervently to have been wimed ; and, if it were poflible, that on 

 taking poffeflion of Nature, as they had thus done, in her fimpleft, 

 pureft garb, they might not fully that purity by the introduction of 

 vice. But this, though moft defirable, was little to be expected; — 

 the habits of youth are not eafily laid afide ; and the utmoft that they 

 could hope in their prefent fituation was, to oppofe the foft harmo- 

 nifing arts of peace and civilifation to the baneful influence of vice 

 and immorality. 



In, the evening of this day, the whole of the party then prefent were 

 aflembled at the point where they had firft landed in the morning* 

 and on which a flag-ftaff had been purpofely erected, and an union 

 jack difplayed ; when the marines fired feveral vollies; between which 

 the healths of His Majefty and the Royal Family, with fuccefs to the 

 new colony, were moft cordially drunk. The day, which had been 

 extremely fine, concluded with the fafe arrival of the Sirius and the 

 convoy from Botany Bay, — thus terminating the voyage with the fame 

 good fortune which had from its commencement beenfo confpicuoufly 

 their friend and companion. 



The difembarkation of the troops and convi&s took place from the 

 following day, until the whole were landed. The confufion that en- 

 fued will not be wondered at, when it is confidered, that every man 



ftepped 



