EARL BATHURST TO GOVERNOR MACQUARIE. (Despatch No. 23, per transport Windham; acknowledged by Governor Macquarie, 28th April, 1814.) Downing Street, 19 August, 1813. 1813. 19 Aug. of Molle as Sir. The Ships named in the Margin,* being now under Appointment Dispatch for New So. Wales, I avail myself of their departure lieutenantto acquaint you that H.R.H. The Prince Regent has been governor. pleased to appoint Lt. Col. Molle, of the 46th Regt. to be Lt. Govr. of the Colony, and I inclose a Copy of his Commission, for your information. Clarkson in The Store Ships "Mary and Clarkson have arrived in Arrival of the the River from Port Jackson as well as several South Sea Mary and Whalers, but no Dispatches from the Colony by these Ships have the Thames. reached this Department. A Certificate with your Signature has been presented to the Payment of Colonial Agent for the purpose of obtaining payment of Salary, acting provost salary to as Acting Provost Marshal of the Colony, in favour of Mr. marshal. G. T. Palmer, for the period from the 7 May, 1810, to 7th Novr., 1811, during the absence of Mr. Gore. But as Mr. Gore received the full Salary of the office, he having come over as a Witness for the Crown on the Court Martial which tried Lt. Col. Johnstone, there is no fund here out of which any Remuneration can be made to Mr. Palmer. If that Gentleman however has executed the duties of Provost Marshal without receiving any of the Fees, or any Emolument whatever, it is but reasonable that he should be paid for his Services: And I am therefore to desire that if you shall find, on Enquiry in the Colony, that Mr. Palmer has drawn no Emoluments from the office, nor received any fees attached to the appointment, a Sum equal to one Moiety of the Provost Marshal's Salary should be paid to him out of the Colonial Funds for the period during which he continued to perform the duty. I have, &c., [Enclosure.] BATHURST. COMMISSION OF LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR MOLLE. Commission of lieutenant In the Name and On the Behalf of His Majesty, George, P.R. governor Molle. GEORGE The Third, by the Grace of God of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, To Our Trusty and Well beloved Lt. Col. George Molle Greeting; We, reposing special Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Integrity and Ability, do by these Presents constitute and appoint you to be Lieutenant Governor of Our Territory called New South Wales and its Dependencies, To have, hold, Exercise, and Enjoy the said Place and office during Our Will and * Windham; Genl. Hewitt; Three Bees; Catharine; Wanstead. 1813. 19 Aug. Commission of lieutenant Pleasure, With all rights, Privileges, Profits, Perquisites, and Advantages to the same belonging or appertaining; And farther in Case of the death or the absence of Our Captain General and governor Molle. Governor in Chief of Our said Territory called New South Wales for the time being, We do hereby authorize and require you to Exercise and perform all and singular the Powers and directions contained in Our Commission to Our Captain General and Governor in Chief of Our said Territory, according to such Instructions as he hath already received from Us, and to such further Orders and Instructions as he or you shall hereafter receive from Us, And we do hereby Command all and Singular Our officers Ministers and loving subjects in our said Territory And all others whom it may concern to take due Notice hereof and give their ready obedience accordingly. Given at Our Court at Carlton House, the Twentieth day of June, 1813, In the Fifty Third Year of Our Reign, Reported plan of attack by the French on the colony. By the Command of His Royal Highness The Prince Regent, EARL BATHURST TO GOVERNOR MACQUARIE. (Despatch marked Separate and Secret," per transport Windham; acknowledged by Governor Macquarie, 30th April, 1814.) Downing Street, 19th August, 1813. Sir, I cannot close my Dispatches by the present Ships without communicating to you a Paper of information respecting a Plan said to be entertained by the Enemy of attacking the Settlements under your Government. * The Person who has given this information is a Dane named Jorgensen, who has been much in the South Seas, and must be known at Port Jackson, having served as Master's Mate in "The Lady Nelson" under L't Grant, when that Vessel was employed in surveying part of the Coast of New Holland. It is believed that Jorgensen then went under the Name of Johnson or Jansen. The doubtful Character of this Individual, the great improbability of the plan itself, and the still greater improbability of such a Person being minutely acquainted with its Details, supposing it to be in Agitation, have led H.M.'s Government to refuse any Credit to the information. They have nevertheless thought it proper to communicate it to you, in order that you may not be ignorant of any thing which may possibly affect the Welfare and Security of the Colony under your Charge. I have, &c., Note 12. BATHURST. [Enclosure.] INFORMATION RESPECTING A PLAN* FOR ATTACKING THE COLONY. 1813. 19 Aug. Report on for attacking MR. J. JOYMEN, who gives the accomp'g information, adds that French plan the fr. Troops will be under the orders of a Ct. Dillon, and the colony. Col. Degraieres, nephew of Gen. Lefebre who is now in America: Dillon he says came to England in disguise some time ago in the Weymouth, Store Ship: He has also a Relation, who is soon going to france, and who is likewise aware of the Scheme and he proposes to write by him to france, to advise them that the Br. Govt. have got some Suspicions of the Expedition, and have Encreased the defence of the Colony, wh. he recommends also to be done. He is ready to give any further infor'n if called on-lives at No. 26 Stower Str. Bedford Square-Is going to return to Denmark. Previous to my making any mention of the Instructions given to the Commanders of several French Ships of War, now destined for an Expedition to the South-Seas, I shall say a few Words on the Causes which have induced the French government to turn their attention to a distant Quarter of the Globe. The first person who contemplated or proposed the founding Settlements or Colonies on the Southern and Eastern Coasts of New-Holland must have been endowed with no common Share of Sagacity and foresight. The Situation of Port Jackson holds out vast and numerous advantages to its present possessors. Within a few Weeks Sail either of the East Indies or Peru, this Place may carry on an easy trade with either of those Countries, and in case of war prove of great detriment to the Spanish commerce between the Philipine Islands and America. The Distance from the Cape of Good Hope to any part of New South Wales may be run in a Month, and the navigation has lately been much shortened and facilitated by the Discovery of Basses' Straits. The Navigation between Port Jackson, Peru, and the Indies is easy and safe, and may generally be performed in fine Weather and smooth Water. The English, by having possession of colonies in the South Seas, have obtained great advantages in point of the fisheries: The Coast of New Zealand abounds with Sperm Whale, and the Men, employed in this trade, are able to procure supplies of Naval Stores and fresh provisions from Port Jackson or Norfolk Island the want of which proved formerly of vast disadvantage to the South Sea Whalers; this year alone we know of more than thirty sail of Shipping which proceeded for the Coast of New Zealand and Peru, and other Banks of Note, in the Pacific * Note 12. 1813. 19 Aug. Report on French plan for attacking the colony. Ocean for the sole purpose of procuring Sperm. Independant of these, several have gone in Search of black and right Whale. A cargo of Sperm Oil may be estimated to be worth about 20,000 pounds: thus a clear gain will accrue to England of 600,000 pounds by this branch of trade. Again daily discoveries are making about the South Extremities of Van Dieman's land and New Zealand of Islands abounding in Seal, the Skins of which contain the most valuable and finest fur. New South Whales produces all kinds of Excellent timber for Ship-Building, and the Pines of New Zealand and Norfolk Island afford the best Materials for Masts, Yards, Boats and Oars. The innumerable fruitful Islands in the South Seas open a large field for Speculation, and the enterprising Navigator and Merchant will find ample Scope for exercising his Industry or his talents in seeking the various produce of the Countries bordering on the Pacific Ocean, and bringing them to a profitable Market. Othaheite produces Abundance of Sugar Cane, and other roots equally valuable. Tongataboo abounds in Pearl; and the great quantities of Sandle-Wood on many Islands will find a ready and easy Sale in China. I entertain no doubt that Copper Mines are to be found in New Zealand. The distance between New South Wales and the North-West coast of America is certainly much shorter than the Distance from any part of Europe and the United States: the Inhabitants of New South Wales therefore have a decided superiority over all other traders in this branch of Commerce, more especially so on their near Situation to China. Independent of all these vast commercial advantages, the fertility of the lands about the River Hawkesbury and other parts of New South Wales, cultivated by industrious Settlers, insure an easy Supply of Grain and other Provisions to the Inhabitants of the New Colonies. From a Combination of such causes above enumerated, we may fairly presume that within a very few years, if no fatal accidents intervene, New South Wales will be the Chief Seat of Commerce and Industry in the South Seas. I believe however that some small Inconvenience has been felt by the persons in Port Jackson, interested in the Whale fisheries, on account of this place being within the limits which are claimed by the East India Company. Bonaparte, ever attentive to all that can in any shape prove injurious to British commerce, sent two French Brigs of War, the Geograph and the Naturalist to the South Seas under a pretence of making Discoveries, but in reality to espy the 1813. 19 Aug. French plan the colony. Situation of the English Colonies in New South Wales. Captain Baudin commanded the Expedition: he was no Seaman, but excellently skilled for the Duty he was sent upon: he was a good Report pla natural historian, and well qualified to judge of the real situa- for attacking tion, political and Commercial, of any country. He proceeded straight to Port Jackson, where he met with very liberal treatment from the Governor who had orders to afford him every assistance in his Discoveries. Commodore Baudin had expected to see nothing but a few miserable huts, and a people destitute of all the Conveniences and pleasures of life, laboring under all the disadvantages of Slavery, and a long Distance from the more civilized parts of the World. He was deceived, nothing could exceed his Astonishment, when instead of finding huts he observed Palaces and good buildings everywhere. The farm houses were well and strongly built, and the Banks on the River Hawkesbury presented for many miles the Sight of fertility and cultivation. He observed every thing with the curious Eye of an Observer. In Sydney, he saw a vessel of 200 tons burthen on the Stocks intended for a Whaler, and no less than 12 or fourteen smaller Vessels were engaged in the Seal fisheries. The colony had not then been established for any greater length of time than twenty years, and yet it presented a picture of increasing wealth and prosperity. These circumstances with the Excellent Situation of New South Wales for trade and commerce could not escape the penetrating Eye of Captain Baudin. The Statement, which was afterwards laid before Bonaparte relative to the English Colonies in the South-Seas, contained an exact and true account of all the above circumstances, whilst Baudin's discoveries and remarks on natural history were slightly noticed. Bonaparte heard with astonishment and was vexed to learn that, whilst he made every attempt to destroy British Commerce in Europe, new resources were open to the trade of Great Britain, and colonies established, which might at no very distant period become an Empire powerful enough to exclude all other nations from the fisheries, trade, and commerce of the vast and extensive Seas beyond Cape Horn. Bonaparte contemplated an Expedition against the South-Seas, but at that time so many cbstacles presented themselves to his Schemes on this head, that nothing could be done with any reasonable prospect of Success. The case is now much altered; the War with America, the Insurrection in South America, and other causes favorable to his views, point out this as the most favorable moment for executing his plans. Count Lefevre had directions, whilst in this Country, to procure every information on the subject alluded to in his power. Sometime previous to that Nobleman's Escape from this |