7th February 1788 - Arthur Phillips Instructions From King George III, And The NSW Enabling Act
The Colony Of New South Wales Was Set Up Through An Act Of Parliament (Of The Kingdom Of Great Britain) Before Phillip Left With The First Fleet in 1787, In The 24th Year Of The Reign Of King George III.
This Was called "A Royal Commission" & I Guess That's Where The Term Comes From As We Hear About It Today.
I've Always Wondered If This Was Like. In A Sealed Envelope With Red Wax.....
Just Like In The Movies....
Did Arthur Phillip Know Of The Exact Contents???
Or Did He Only Have an Idea of What King George III, Lord Sydney, & The Privy Council Had Laid Out For Him....
I Bet There would've Been Some Bitterness And Jealousy Between Him And His Officers. From What I've Read About Arthur Phillip, He Was A Very Humble, Thoughtful, Caring Man.
He Was In Charge Of The First Fleet, Which Let left Portsmouth in 1787, eight months Before They Finally Made It To Botany Bay. He Made Sure All men Women And Childrwn Were Catered For And Hardly Anyone Was Sick Or Died On The Voyage Itself.
Had It Not Been For All The Preparations and All The Little Things Right Down To Bringing Tools to Use For Building etc Were All His Actions. It Appears That England Just Wanted To Get Rid Of Their Prisoners. The Prisons Were Overflowing. I Get The Feeling They Wpuldve Been quite Happy Ti Send These Prisoners On A Suicide Voyage.... Never To Be Heard If Again
It was on The 7th Of February That The Royal Commission From Emgland Was Read To All Convicts
The colony of New South Wales was established by an Act of the Parliament (of the Kingdom of Great Britain) in 1787 and in the 24th year of the reign of King George III[1]:
"And whereas his Majesty, by two several Orders-in-Council, bearing date respectively on the sixth day of December, 1786, hath judged fit, by and with the advice of his Privy Council, to declare and appoint the place to which certain offenders, named in two lists to the said several Orders-in-Council annexed, should be transported for the time or term in their several sentences mentioned, to be the eastern coast of New South Wales, or some one or other of the islands adjacent."
The 7th of February, 1788, was the memorable day which established a regular form of Government on the coast of New South Wales. For obvious reasons, all possible solemnity was given to the proceedings necessary on this occasion. On a space previously cleared, the whole colony was assembled; the military drawn up, and under arms; the convicts stationed apart; and near the person of the Governor, those who were to hold the principal offices under him. The Royal Commission was then read by Mr. D. Collins, the Judge Advocate. By this instrument Arthur Phillip was constituted and appointed Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over the territory, called New South Wales; extending from the northern cape, or extremity of the coast, called Cape York, in the latitude of ten degrees, thirty-seven minutes south, to the southern extremity of the said territory of New South Wales, or South Cape, in the latitude of forty-three degrees, thirty-nine minutes south, and of all the country inland to the westward, as far as the one hundred and thirty-fifth degree of east longitude, reckoning from the meridian of Greenwich, including all the islands adjacent in the Pacific Ocean, within the latitudes aforesaid of 10°. 37'. south, and 43°. 39'. south, and of all towns, garrisons, castles, forts, and all other fortifications, or other military works which may be hereafter erected upon the said territory, or any of the said islands. The act of Parliament establishing the courts of judicature was next read; and lastly, the patents under the great seal, empowering the proper persons to convene and hold those courts whenever the exigency should require. The Office of Lieutenant Governor was conferred on Major Ross, of the Marines. A triple discharge of musquetry concluded this part of the ceremony; after which Governor Phillip advanced, and addressing first the private soldiers, thanked them for their steady good conduct on every occasion: an honour which was repeated to them in the next general orders. He then turned to the convicts, and distinctly explained to them the nature of their present situation. The greater part, he bade them recollect, had already forfeited their lives to the justice of their country: yet, by the lenity of its laws, they were now so placed that, by industry and good behaviour, they might in time regain the advantages and estimation in society of which they had deprived themselves. They not only had every encouragement to make that effort, but were removed almost entirely from every temptation to guilt. There was little in this infant community which one man could plunder from another, and any dishonest attempts in so small a society would almost infallibly be discovered. To persons detected in such crimes, he could not promise any mercy; nor indeed to any whom, under their circumstances, should presume to offend against the peace and good order of the settlement. What mercy could do for them they had already experienced; nor could any good be now expected from those whom neither past warnings, nor the peculiarities of their present situation could preserve from guilt. Against offenders, therefore, the rigour of the law would certainly be put in force: while they whose behaviour should in any degree promise reformation, might always depend upon encouragement fully proportioned to their deserts. He particularly noticed the illegal intercourse between the sexes as an offence which encouraged a general profligacy of manners, and was in several ways injurious to society. To prevent this, he strongly recommended marriage, and promised every kind of countenance and assistance to those who, by entering into that state, should manifest their willingness to conform to the laws of morality and religion. Governor Phillip concluded his address, by declaring his earnest desire to promote the happiness of all who were under his government, and to render the settlement in New South Wales advantageous and honourabe to his country.
This speech, which was received with universal acclamations, terminated the ceremonial peculiar to the day. Nor was it altogether without its proper effect: For we are informed, that in the course of the ensuing week fourteen marriages took place among the convicts. The assembly was now dispersed, and the Governor proceeded to review the troops on the ground cleared for a parade: after which, he gave a dinner to the officers, and the first evening of his government was concluded propitiously, in good order and innocent festivity, amidst the repetition of wishes for its prosperity.
A rising government could not easily be committed to better hands. Governor Phillip appears to have every requisite to ensure the success of the undertaking intrusted to him, as far as the qualities of one man can ensure it. Intelligent, active, persevering with firmness to make his authority respected, and mildness to render it pleasing, he was determined, if possible, to bring even the native inhabitants of New South Wales into a voluntary subjection; or at least to establish with them a strict amity and alliance. Induced also by motives of humanity, it was his determination from his first landing, to treat them with the utmost kindness: and he was firmly resolved, that, whatever differences might arise, nothing less than the most absolute necessity should ever compel him to fire upon them. In this resolution, by good fortune, and by his own great address, he has happily been enabled to persevere. But notwithstanding this, his intentions of establishing a friendly intercourse have hitherto been frustrated. M. De la Peyrouse,* while he remained in Botany Bay, had some quarrel with the inhabitants, which unfortunately obliged him to use his fire-arms against them: this affair, joined to the ill behaviour of some of the convicts, who in spite of all prohibitions, and at the risque of all consequences, have wandered out among them, has produced a shyness on their parts which it has not yet been possible to remove, though the properest means have been taken to regain their confidence. Their dislike to the Europeans is probably increased by discovering that they intend to remain among them, and that they interfere with them in some of their best fishing places, which doubtless are, in their circumstances, objects of very great importance. Some of the convicts who have straggled into the woods have been killed, and others dangerously wounded by the natives, but there is great reason to suppose that in these cases the convicts have usually been the aggressors.
George III, By The Grace If God. King Of Great Britain, Ireland Abd France, Defender Of The Faith
We Reposing A Special Trust In You, The Said Arthur Phillip, Have Thought Fit To Constitute And Appoint You As Governor General Or Commander In Chief, In And Over Our Territory New South Wales, From The Northern Point Or Coastal Extremity Called Cape York Latitude 10 Degrees 37 minutes, To The Southern Coastal ExtremitybIn Latitude 43 Degrees 39 Minutes South, & All The Country Westward To The 135th Degree Of East Longitude, Including All The Islands In The Pacific Ocean, Within The Latitude Name.
Our Will & Pleasure IsbThat You Take The Oath For The Office Of leautenant General Or Commander In Chief, In And Over Our Territory Called New South Walles
