% ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY pyftgft 



hundred male and female felons- to Botany Bay, in New South 

 Wales, on the Eaftern Coaft: of New Holland ; whither it had been 

 determined by government to. tranfport them, after having foughr 

 in vain upon the African coaft for a fituation poifefling the requw 

 £tes for the eftablimment of a. colony. 



Six tranfports and three ftore-fhips* were accordingly engaged to 

 convey the perfons defigned to form the new fettlement, with the 

 ftores and provifions neceffary for their ufe and confumption. Of the 

 latter, fufficient for two years were put* on* board ; and among the 

 former, were tools, implements of agriculture, and fuch other, ar- 

 ticles as were confidered neceffary to a colonial eftablimment. 



The government of the colony was intrufted by His Majefty to Ar- 

 thur Phillip, Efq. a poft-captain in the fervice, who hoifted his pen- 

 dant on board the Sirius, a fhip which mounted only twenty guns*, 

 but which from the ftrength of her conftruction (having been built 

 for the Eaft-India Company's fervice) was judged to be well calcu* 

 lated for fuch an expedition. 



Aifociated with her in the fervice of the colony, was the Supply 

 brig, the command of which was given to Lieutenant Henry Lidg- 

 bird Ball; and it being thought neceffary to appoint another captain 

 to the Sirius, who mould command her on any fervice in which me 

 might be employed for the colony, while Captain Phillip mould be 

 engaged in his government, an order was figned by His Majefty in* 

 council, directing the Admiralty Board to appoint John Hunter, Efq. 

 then a commander in the navy, to be fecond captain of the Sirius, 

 with the rank of poft. 



Diftributed among the tranfports, and in the Sirius, was a body of 

 160 marines, with fuch a number of commhTioned and non-commif- 

 fioned officers as the fervice for which this corps was feledted required^. 



* The Alexander, Scarborough, Charlotte, Lady Penxhyn, Prince of Wales,, and Friend- 

 /hip, tranfports : the Fifhburn, Borrowdale, and Golden Grove, llore-mips,. 



f One major commandant, 4 captains, 12 lieutenants, 12 ferjeants, 12 corporals, 8 drummers, 

 and 1 60 privates, with an adjutant and quar ter-raafter. 



The 



