Letters Tell Story Of Australia's First Colony

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 152, 30 June 1938, Page 11

Letters Tell Story Of Australia's First Colony

SYDNEY—Two letters written from Sydney Cove in July and November, 1788, a few months after the landing of Gov. Arthur Phillip with the first white settlers of Australia, have been received by tho Mitchell Library, Sydney, treasure-house of original manuscripts and historical record relating to Australia.

The letters were written by Capt. James Campbell, an officer of the Marine Corps of tho First Fleet. One of the most disgruntled officers in the fleet, he was a severe critic of Governor Phillip, and described the first settlement as a “scene of confusion," predicting its failure. He thought that the “vile" country could never support the colony.

Tho letters, received from tho Earl of Ducie, were written to the Earl of Ducie's ancestor, the third Baron Ducie. Officials of the Mitchell Library regard them as very important, emphasizing the extraordinary naturo of Governor Phillip's achievement in laying firm foundations of Australian settlement despite the opposition of many of his officers. They were among the first letters sent home from tho colony and form a valuable addition to the journal:* and other letters of officers of tho First Fleet previously in the possession of tho library. Major Ross Hindered Major Ross, Commandaut of the Marine Corps and Phillip’s second-in-command, constantly hindered, rather than helped, has Chiof, and Captain Campbell seemed to have taken pleasure in echoing his views, it not even outdoing him. In the first of tho letters, a long one of 11 foolscap pages, Captain Campbell j wrote of the first days following tho |landing: “All hands wero then set to | work, but without order or regularity—nobody could know what was, or ought, to bo done but our Principal. Everything must bo done at the same time, and, of course, nothing is doue but w hat we ought to be ashamed of. A sceno of confusion ensued which we have not yet got out of, and, I much fear, never will. Is it not most extraordinary how such a man as this could have got himself talked of as ho is at home!" I “Surely," Captain Campbell wrote, “administration will never persist in so remantick a scheme as the forcing of a settlement in such a country as this at present appears to be. Not one thing can be found that ever I promises to be an object of commerce or worthy the attention of a commercial nation. lam myself fully convinced that the Nation would save money by feeding their convicts at home . . clothing them in purple and gold, rathe* than provide for them here the worst fare that can be thought of."