1813. 19 Aug. Report on French plan for attacking the colony. Kingdom, a person wrote a letter to Mr. York, then first Lord of the Admiralty, informing him that there were about that time several french agents in this kingdom endeavo'g to forward the Escape of several officers of Distinction, and the Writer advised that in the outposts such a look-out should be kept, that it should not be easy for any person to escape unnoticed, and moreover that proper officers should be appointed to muster the Crews of foreign licensed Vessels, and to inspect into the hands of the people on board, so, by their hardness or softness, to ascertain whether the persons on board were really seamen or such as they were represented to be; this Information however was disregarded, and Mr. York suffered Count Lefevre to escape with many Documents and much Information. There are now four French frigates fitting out, and almost ready for Sea, lying in a port of France belonging to the Rochefort Squadron, mostly commanded by those Officers who attended Captain Baudin on his Expedition to the South-Seas. It is determined that they shall sail from their port about the Month of November, the Winter Season being by far the most favorable for making an escape unnoticed. Each frigate will take on board 250 soldiers, and in all 25 horse. Thence they are to proceed with all speed towards the Falkland Islands, near the Straits of Magellan, there to await the arrival of an American frigate and a Storeship, which will leave America about the same time to join the French. The French frigates are accompanied by two Americans, named Kelly and Coleman, who have for years been engaged in South Sea Whalers, and who know the South Seas and the Coasts very well. Being joined by the Americans the whole Squadron will proceed Round the Cape of Good Hope keeping well to the Southward, for fear of the Cruizers from that place, and make for Basses' Straits; In case of Separation Two fold Bay on the Coast of New Holland is destined to be the place of Rendezvouz, either to meet or to recruit the troops in case of Sickness. The American frigate will take on board 300 men. After recruiting the Troops in Two fold Bay, the Expedition is immediately to proceed for Port Jackson and attack that place: but as there is a large battery on the North Shore of Port Jackson, and a battery on the point going into Sydney Cove, it is deemed adviseable for the Squadron to proceed to Broken Bay, there to anchor, and proceed up with the Troops horse, and Artillery, the River Hawkesbury, to effect a landing, so to cut off the Settlers on the River from Sidney, and to obtain possession of the Wheat and Grain; Parramatta of course must fall. 1,500 Stand of Arms are to be delivered into the hands of such First Convicts 1813. 19 Aug. the colony. who are willing to join the French. It is also proposed that, if circumstances will permit it, a detachment of 250 men should be landed in Botany Bay, to make a diversion in favor of the Main Report on French plan division; but as there are many marshes about that place much for attacking care is to be taken to run no risk, and rather than to do that, all the troops are to be landed up the River Hawkesbury. Immediately after capturing the place several of the frigates are to proceed to sea: one will visit the friendly and Society Islands, and bestow many fine presents on the Chiefs, to display much power and to endeavour to give the Natives very mean Ideas of the English and exalted notions of the French Emperor. Two or Three frigates are to proceed without delay to South America, where they are to endeavour to persuade the Insurgents to declare for Joseph, but if they cannot succeed in that, to deliver them 6,000 Stands of Arm, so at all events to enable them to revert King Ferdinand's power. All the Whalers in the SouthSeas are to be destroyed or burnt, unless they should prove of Service to the French. GOVERNOR MACQUARIE TO EARL BATHURST. (Despatch* marked "No. 10 of 1813," per whaler Phoenix.) My Lord, Sydney, New South Wales, 20th August, 1813. The new Arrangement of our Courts of Justice here, which I am happy to find is in Such a State of forwardness as that its Completion may be Expected at an Early Day, has suggested to Me the Necessity of getting Speedily Erected a Suitable Building for the Accommodation of the Members of the new Courts, and of the Public at large. This Object, My Lord, is absolutely necessary to be Effected, as the present Court House Consists merely of One Small Room, Attached to the Judge Advocate's Dwelling House, which is totally inadequate in Size and accommodation to the Important purpose to which it has been, pro tempore, assigned. 20 Aug. Necessity for erection of a court-house. list opened I have now the Honor to Inform Your Lordship that in Subscription Consideration of these Circumstances, some Progress has been to erect made in raising a Fund by Voluntary Subscription for the court-house. Erecting of a Court House, and I have Subscribed, on the part of Government from the Colonial Funds, the Sum of Five Hundred Pounds which I trust will meet Your Lordship's Approbation. These Subscriptions however will fall far Short of what will be requisite for the Completing a plain Substantial Building of Suitable Size and of respectable Exterior Appearance, without aiming at the Expensive Ornaments of Architecture. No *Note 1. 1813. 20 Aug. Estimates of cost and subscriptions. Proposed government grant. Necessity for the new building. Recommendation of prayer of Hannam. Minute or regular Estimate of the Expense has yet been made. but it is generally Considered that Five thousand pounds will be sufficient; the present Subscriptions, including that of Government and what may be Yet Collected in the Country will Certainly not exceed £3,000, leaving the Sum of two thousand pounds unprovided for. In these Circumstances I have to Solicit Your Lordship to procure a further Aid from His Majesty's Government either by the Obtaining a Parliamentary Grant of Two thousand Pounds, or by Authorizing me to Contribute that further Sum from the Colonial Funds. The total Inadequacy of the present Building to the Objects of a Court House renders such a One as is now in Contemplation indispensably Necessary, and I trust Your Lordship will Accordingly favor it with Your Approbation and enable me by the Appropriation of Funds from Government, in either of the Ways I have pointed out, to get their Building Constructed in good time to receive the Members of the New Modelled Court, when it shall be finally determined on. By the next Dispatch I shall have the Honor of addressing to Your Lordship, I shall transmit for Your Lordship's Consideration a Plan of the proposed Court House, and an Estimate of the Expence Attending it. I have, &c., L. MACQUARIE. GOVERNOR MACQUARIE TO UNDER SECRETARY GOULBURN. Sir, (Despatch* per whaler Phoenix.) Sydney, N. S. Wales, 20th August, 1813. An Application having been made to me by the Revd. Mr. Cowper, Chaplain of the Town of Sydney, in behalf of a very well behaved Man named Reuben Hannam, a Convict, who came out two years since in the Ship Admiral Gambier Transport, and who is particularly anxious to have his Wife and Children sent out to him to this Country; I take the liberty of transmitting to you the Memorial of Reuben Hannam. addressed lately to me on this Subject, together with two Letters addressed to his Wife, and to the Clergyman of the Parish where She resides, and also a Certificate signed by the Revd. Mr. Cowper and Principal Superintendant of Convicts here; requesting you will be kindly pleased to Submit the Same to the favorable Consideration of Earl Bathurst, and move His Lordship to Order a Passage for the Wife and Children of the said Reuben Hannam in one of the first Convict Ships coming out to this Colony. *Note 1. With the view to their greater safety I have taken the liberty to forward my Dispatches* for the other Public Officers at Home in the same Box with those for the Secretary of State, and I indulge a hope His Lordship will be kindly pleased to excuse my taking upon myself so to do. I have, &c., L. MACQUARIE, Govr. in Chief of N. S. Wales. [Enclosure No. 1.] THE HUMBLE MEMORIAL OF REUBIN HANNAM. 1813. 20 Aug. Transmission of despatches. Reubin To His Excellency Brigadier General Macquarie, Governor in Memorial of Chief in and over His Majesty's Territory of New South Hannam. Wales, its dependencies, &c., &c. Respectfully Sheweth, That the Memorialist is a Prisoner in this Colony, and arrived in the Ship Admiral Gambier, having much reason to consider that his Term of Transportation is during his natural Life. That the Memorialist left in England, a Wife and Children, for whom he has entertained a Serious affection, and whom, he has most lamentably to reflect, must be under extreme hardships in their native Country as they are bereft of their only Succour a Husband and a father. That the great and compassionate goodness of His Most gracious Majesty extended to your poor Memorialist that Mercy which continues to Him a blessing of existence, so that he might cordially repent of his past Errors, and regenerate in this distant Region, under your Excellency's benign Authority, wherefore your Memorialist, conscious that the power which interposed in lengthening the days, had no less in view the promotion of the happiness of your Memorialist, should his conduct render him worthy of the favourable charge, he entertains a hope that through the Medium of Your Excellency's humane Representation and interposition his Wife and family may be permitted to follow his footsteps and to share his Destinies; which Memorialist is 'assured his forlorn partner would very gladly do. The Memorialist therefore supplicates your Excellency in this behalf; that he may share in the bounty which has extended itself so generally for the good of the Unfortunate, Most Humbly prays, as the greatest blessing he can derive on Earth to see his Dear Wife and children once again, and believe great and good Sir, that his tears and theirs gratefully flow in praise of your goodness &c. REUBIN HANNAM. * Note 13. 1813. 20 Aug. Certificate in favour of Hannam. 27 Aug. Advantages of a brewery and distillery. Memorial of [Enclosure No. 2.] CERTIFICATE IN FAVOUR OF REUBEN HANNAM. Sydney, 14th August, 1813. THESE are to certify that Reuben Hannam has conducted himself with the utmost propriety since his arrival in this colony. JN. WM. LEWIN, I believe the above mentioned Reuben Hannam to be an industrious and sober man. WILLIAM COWPER, Asst. Chaplain, N. S. Wales. ISAAC NICHOLS, Prin'l Superdt. Coroner. } GOVERNOR MACQUARIE TO EARL BATHURST. (Despatch* marked "No. 11 of 1813," per whaler Atalanta.) My Lord, Sydney, New South Wales, 27th August, 1813. 1. Having already Conveyed to Your Lordship my Sentiments on the Expediency of Authorizing the Distillation of Spirits and the Brewing of Malt Liquors in this Colony, as the most effectual Means of Inducing the Settlers to Cultivate their Lands, and to raise an Adequate Supply of Grain to meet the necessary Consumption of the population at large, I have now the less Difficulty in recommending the Prayer of the accompanying Memorial of Mr. Joseph Morris to Your Lordship's most favorable Consideration. 2. Mr. Morris (as Stated in his Memorial) Commands at present the South Sea Whaler Atalanta of London, and having been here repeatedly since my taking Charge of the Government, I have had some Opportunities of being informed of his general Conduct and Character; from these I am led to believe that he would Shew a good Example of Industry and Propriety of Conduct, were he to be permitted to return to this Colony as a Settler. Whilst the Production of so wholesome a Malt Beve rage, as that proposed by him, would be of Material Advantage to the Settlement. 3. Bred to the Brewing Trade, and Consequently Conversant with it as Mr. Morris represents himself, and possessed of very Considerable Property as I have been informed, Such an Establishment, as that proposed by him, Could not fail of being a very great Public Benefit. From these Considerations I beg Leave to recommend his Memorial to Your Lordship's favorable Consideration, and that You will Authorize his proceeding with the Usual Indulgences, as a Settler to Van Diemen's Land. I beg further to request that Your Lordship will be pleased to permit Mr. Morris to Carry out with him an Assortment of Such Implements and Materials as he may Consider requisite for the *Note 1. |