The Logbooks of the Lady Nelson Part 15

"Wednesday, 20th June. P.M. At 5 Norfolk island distant 6 leagues. At 8 Norfolk island distant 4 leagues.

"Thursday, 21st June. P.M. At 4 Norfolk Island distant 5 leagues: at sunset Norfolk Island distant 5 leagues: at 8 Norfolk Island S.E.E. 3 leagues: at 9 fired 3 guns as signal for a boat.

"Friday, 22nd June. P.M. A boat from Cascade boarded us and took on board the officers of New South Wales Corps and baggage and left a pilot on board: at 10 A.M. a boat came and took on sh.o.r.e more baggage belonging to officers of New South Wales Corps.

"Sat.u.r.day, 23rd June. P.M. Stretched off land to get round to Sydney (Norfolk Island) but the wind and weather not permitting stretched off and on all night: at 6 close in with the land: at 8 A.M. tacked ship and stood off from the land: at 10 A.M. lowered the boat and sent her with second mate and four men on sh.o.r.e.

"Sunday, 24th June. P.M. Stretching off and on the land to the windward.

At 8 A.M. a boat arrived from the sh.o.r.e with a cask of pork and biscuits, the 2nd mate and 2 men brought the account that the boat was lost and that 1 man George c.o.c.kswain was drowned. At 10 loaded the boat with sundries for the sh.o.r.e but not being able to make good her landing returned to the ship. We stood off for Governor King's island with the boat towing astern.

"Monday, 25th June. P.M. Fresh breezes. At 4 P.M. stretched under Nepean island and left the boat waiting to land at Sydney if the swell abated: stretched off with ship to windward between 2 islands to keep her ground: at 10 A.M. got under Nepean Island and boat came on board with water which was loaded with iron and sent ash.o.r.e.

"Tuesday, 26th June. P.M. At 2 loaded the boat with flour and sent her on sh.o.r.e: at 8 A.M. towed in for Nepean Island and the boat came on board.

"Wednesday, 27th June. P.M. Employed landing goods and getting water: at 8 A.M. got under the land and fired a gun: at 9 A.M. the boat came on board with baggage for officers of New South Wales Corps for Port Jackson.

"Thursday, 28th June. P.M. Received orders and pa.s.sengers on board: made sail for Port Jackson.

"Wednesday, 4th July. P.M. Light breezes and clear weather. Punished J.

Druce with 24 lashes for theft.* (* Druce subsequently deserted.) Sold clothes and bedding of George c.o.c.kswain.

"Thursday, 5th July. P.M. Light airs and clear weather. Exercised guns and small arms.

"Friday, 6th July. P.M. north-north-east. Light winds and cloudy: small breezes with some rain and from then until noon calm with some rain.

"Sat.u.r.day, 7th July. P.M. Strong breezes: at 6 A.M. saw the land, Port Stephens bearing north by east 5 leagues: at 11 A.M. off the Coal River, fired 2 guns, hoisted out boat and sent her on sh.o.r.e. Light winds and cloudy weather.

"Sunday, 8th July. P.M. Small breezes: at 2 tacked ship: at 6 the boat came on board: hoisted her in and made sail for Port Jackson. At 12 A.M.

light winds: at 7 made the North Head of Port Jackson: at 12 came to with the kedge between the Heads.

"Monday, 9th July. P.M. At 3 got under weigh and at 6 arrived in Sydney Cove, hauled alongside the Supply and made fast. The officers of New South Wales Corps went on sh.o.r.e. At 8 A.M. cast off from the Supply and anch.o.r.ed off the dockyard with the Bower, sent pa.s.sengers on sh.o.r.e.

"Tuesday, 10th July. P.M. Small breezes and showery. Employed clearing decks and putting things to rights and sending things on sh.o.r.e belonging to the officers of the New South Wales Corps.

"Wednesday, July 11th. Overhauling ship at the dockyard and refitting, etc. until September 7th.

Sydney Cove to the Hawkesbury River.

"Friday, September 7th. P.M. Employed getting on board water and getting ready for sea.

"Sat.u.r.day, September 8th. At 12 A.M. got clear of the Heads.

"Sunday, 9th September. At 4 stood in between the Heads and came to off Camp Cove: at 8 A.M. got under weigh for the Hawkesbury.

"Monday, 10th September. P.M. Came to between South Head of Broken Bay and Ballinjoy*: (* Barrenjoey.) at 12 came to off Mount Elliott. At noon under weigh.

"Tuesday, 11th September. P.M. Came to off Britannia's beach at 2: at 5 came to with the kedge in Barr's Reach--at 10 under weigh.

"Wednesday, 12th September. P.M. Came to at 3 in Freshwater Bay: at 9 winds more moderate: Got under weigh and towed ship up river to Seven Reaches: at 10 A.M. got under weigh.

"Sunday, 16th September. P.M. Came to anchor off the Greenhills.

"Monday, 17th September. P.M. Fine pleasant weather. Got out flour and bricks: 3 carpenters came on board to work.

"Tuesday, 18th September. P.M. At 8 hard gusts wind with rain: at A.M.

more moderate.

"Wednesday, 19th September. P.M. At 9 got under weigh for Cornwallis Farm. At 1 came to anchor: at 8 A.M. hauled in sh.o.r.e and got out remainder of flour and cleaned hold to receive wheat.

"Thursday, 20th September. P.M. Received wheat and dropped down river: at 9 came to anchor: at 6 weighed: at 7 ran aground.

"Friday, 21st September. P.M. At 2 got off and towed down river: at 5 moored off Greenhills: at 7 A.M. received wheat on board.

Greenhills to Sydney Cove.

"Sat.u.r.day, 22nd September. P.M. Moderate breezes. Fired a Royal Salute in commemoration of the King's Coronation: received remainder of wheat: at 5 A.M. unmoored and went down the River.

"Monday, 24th September. P.M. Small breezes and moderate: half-past 3 got under weigh: at 10 came to with the kedge in Pugh's Reach: at 5 A.M. got under way: at 11 A.M. came to in Sackville's Reach.

"Tuesday, 25th September. P.M. Small breezes: at 4 endeavoured to weigh anchor: parted hawser: lost kedge and 116 fathoms of it: proceeded down the River. At 11 came to anchor: at 5 under weigh: at 12 we came to anchor in reach above Sentry Box and went up a creek in a boat 5 miles.

Discovered at the head of the creek a fine spring of water; brought on board a Gigantic Lily of a species unknown.

"Wednesday, 26th September. P.M. Fresh breezes: at 4 got under weigh; at 11 came to anchor above the Bar: at 5 A.M. weighed; at 8 pa.s.sed Mullett's Island: at 10 spoke a sloop of Ballinjoy bound for Hawkesbury: at 11 cleared the Head of Broken Bay and stood off for Port Jackson.

"Thursday 27th September. P.M. Fresh breezes: at 2 made Heads of Port Jackson and proceeded up the Harbour: at 3 P.M. came to anchor in Sydney Cove: at 6 A.M. hauled into the wharf: at 9 discharged cargo."

[Facsimile signature James Symons]

Commander.

CHAPTER 10.

THE LADY NELSON IN TASMANIA.

THE FOUNDING OF PORT DALRYMPLE.

The beginnings of Hobart and Launceston are singularly alike. The first attempt of the newly appointed Commandant of Port Dalrymple to reach the site of his intended settlement in the colonial cutter Integrity, having "ended in failure owing to adverse winds," Lieutenant-Governor Paterson left Sydney on October 15th, 1804, in H.M.S. Buffalo. The Lady Nelson went with her as tender, as the Navy Board had notified Governor King that their Lordships wished the brig to accompany the Buffalo while on survey, and for this reason 15 supernumerary seamen were allowed to the flagship in order to provide a crew for the Lady Nelson.* (* In consequence of this order the Lady Nelson, after October 16th, was discharged from the list of colonial vessels.) The colonial schooners Integrity and Francis also received orders to sail with Captain Kent to Port Dalrymple.

On Sunday morning, the 14th, Lieutenant-Governor Paterson went on board the Buffalo with Ensign Piper and Mr. Mountgarrett under a salute of 11 guns from the Fort, which was returned. Forty-six officers and men of the New South Wales Corps had previously been embarked and twenty prisoners, while the Lady Nelson also carried troops and settlers to the settlement.

That evening the fleet came to at the entrance of the harbour, being unable to clear the Heads until the following morning. Outside a high sea was running, and as the ships voyaged southwards the bad weather increased. It is recorded that on the night of the 20th a heavy gale almost "blew the ships back to Port Jackson." A few hours before this gale commenced the Francis had parted company with the Buffalo, but the Lady Nelson and the Integrity remained with the king's ship until the end of the storm, when both vessels lost sight of her. The Lady Nelson, having split her fore-and-aft mainsail, bore up for Twofold Bay to refit.

On the 21st she again put to sea only to meet with another storm of still greater violence, which stove in her bulwarks, washed overboard her boats, compa.s.ses, and many articles belonging to the Government. The ship consequently returned once more to Twofold Bay to effect repairs. In lieu of a boat, a raft was rigged up to carry the men on sh.o.r.e to obtain water, and at the same time the carpenter was sent to cut spars from "Ruff trees." On November 3rd, after having made a fruitless attempt to face the gale, she weighed and sailed out of the bay. At the entrance she met the George, schooner, from Sydney bound to the Derwent, and was supplied by the master with a boat's compa.s.s and other much-needed articles. Bad weather continuing until Flinders' Island was sighted, Symons decided to beat up through the narrows into Kent's Bay, where he found the Francis also seeking shelter. On the 13th the two vessels left Kent's Bay in company to try and reach their port of destination, but as the storm had not yet abated they bore away for Waterhouse Island and took refuge there. Finally, on November 21st, the two little ships with torn sails and splintered masts arrived at Port Dalrymple, both in a thoroughly disabled condition, but those on board, in coming into the harbour, saw with satisfaction the British colours flying on sh.o.r.e, and the Buffalo and the Integrity lying safely at anchor.

Lieutenant Symons learned that the Buffalo had arrived alone on the evening of November 3rd and had moored four miles within the port. Next day she dragged her anchors, and in spite of every exertion, touched, fortunately, upon a flat rock. By a spirited effort on the part of the crew she was floated undamaged, her anchor was slipped, and she was taken three miles higher up the harbour. On the 4th the Integrity arrived, and on the 10th possession was taken of the country on behalf of Great Britain with the usual formalities.* (* Captain Flinders had already taken possession of this port and Governor Hunter had named it after Alexander Dalrymple.) The Lieutenant-Governor was saluted with 11 guns by the flagship as he landed, and a Royal Salute was fired when the Union Jack was hoisted. On the 13th the general disembarkation took place from the Buffalo and Integrity at a spot called Outer Cove, where Lieutenant-Governor Paterson had fixed his camp. Its surroundings were delightful, the harbour extending inland for many miles without interruption. A party of Tasmanian natives on the 14th were encountered by some of the colonists in the bush. At the sight of the white men they gave a furious shout and 200 of their number followed the British back to their camp. Here overtures were made, and they grew somewhat more conciliatory. But Paterson's friendly endeavours were now and then interrupted "by an indignant clamour which, beginning with a single individual, ran rapidly through their lines accompanied by excited gesticulations," the natives "biting their arms as a token either of vengeance or defiance.* (* Letter describing the founding of the Port Dalrymple settlement. Sydney Gazette December 23rd, 1804.) The blacks withdrew peaceably, but were positive in forbidding us to follow them."

On November 22nd the officers, soldiers, and prisoners were sent on sh.o.r.e from the Lady Nelson, and on the following day the baggage as well as the bricks brought from Sydney to build the houses of the settlers. On November 29th the Buffalo and the Integrity left Port Dalrymple. The Lieutenant-Governor, Ensign Piper and Mr. Jacob Mountgarrett then went on board the Lady Nelson and proceeded to examine the harbour and the upper reaches of the river. On this expedition Colonel Paterson occasionally went on sh.o.r.e, sometimes taking Lieutenant Symons with him, and penetrated some distance into the surrounding country. Several places were named, and land suitable for cultivation was seen. The pasturage was very luxuriant. Fresh water too was found in sufficient abundance and, added to these natural advantages, good stone and timber were plentiful, the latter growing on the high ground. In surveying the country the Lieutenant-Governor found a more suitable site for a settlement "at the head of the Western Arm" between two "runs " of fresh water which were named by him Kent's Burn* (* Discovered by Captain Kent.) and M'Millan's Burn.* (* Called after Mr. M'Millan, Surgeon of the Buffalo.) He decided to move the people to this spot without delay,--giving the place the name of Yorktown.* (* Yorktown settlement soon gave place to Georgetown, and in 1806 the settlers were moved to the spot where Launceston now stands.) The main river he called the Tamar, two other streams the North Esk and the South Esk, a neighbouring mountain, Mount Albany, and the hills to the westward, the Rothesay Hills.* (* Sydney Gazette, January 6th and 25th, 1805.)

On the return of the expedition to Outer Cove the bricks and other articles which had been left at the camp there, were removed to the Western Arm. The mud flats proved rather an obstacle in the way of the vessels' progress, and we read that more than once the Lady Nelson ran ash.o.r.e during the undertaking; however, eventually the pa.s.sengers, bricks and baggage were safely landed.