The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1898-04-17

England's Penal system.
The first convict feet sailed away
from England in May. 1885,. called at
Bio Janeiro and arrived at Botany Bay
early ia Jannary, 1855 III the feet
were 20 gun frigata, an armed tender
three storeships and SIX transports, FAR
the largest feet that ever sailed u the
South sea, though the largest vessel
measured only 40 tons and the small
est only go tens
On the six small transports for this
long, tropical voyage were packed con-
victs Numbering s64 men and 1872 wom-
en-. There were also carried I68 marines
and 10 officers, q few surgeons and me-
chanios, the wives Of 0 Of the marines
and ! 3 children the offspring Of oomE
yicts. Approximately 1000 persons
therefore went 70 found the colony in
the newest world less than 10 years
old. Captain Philip Of the British navy
was placed in command al the expedi
ton and given commission as governor
and captain general Of New South
Wales.
tits easy for the visitor Of eay to
understand ths blank dismay that lip
must have felt when the feet lied
into Botany Bay and he saw for N
first time the place which had been
recommended to him as tho spot for set
Element. 1t had been selected b. the ad
vice Of Captain Cook, whose hotanists
had been so delighted with tie profu-
sion of new plants they found there that
they had given it the expressive name.
Philip found Gu first examination that
a more unsuitable site for q new settle
ment hardly could have been chosen.
The bay was shallow, there was no
good anchorage, there was no good wa
ter, and the adjacent land vas not fer.
tile. except for botanical specimens
Leaving the feet anchored ID the BAY.
Philip started mp fhe coast in his tender
90 hnnt for bettar homa Nine miles
TO the nortbward he found himself fac
ing those great gates now known as
Sydney head, which Cook bad seen
from a distance. and. satisfied with
Botany Bay. bad marked on his chart
s possible harbor for small boats
Philip rounded the south bead and was
amazed % SIZE opening before A.fhe
bays Of Port Jackson Snyde Nor
now-famed the world over as
harbor ia the seven seas ard diS4s
for chat distinction by few Three IN
Of exploration left no possible douH
that this was the place to be selected
and Philip returned ct once to Botany.
The fleet was standing out Of the bay,
when two French frieates appeared III
the ofdng. They hore an exploring party
under Comte do Ia parouse, without
| hostile intentions. which was an inn
mense relief to the eolonists Botany
Bay was lett to the Erenchmen. They
refreshed and ratified there. staying On
al March, and burying on shore 0H8 az
their company, the naturalist 81 tha.exs
/ petition, who died Of wounds received
in in encounter with the natives Of an
island they had tonched. * few months
later the French expedition was ship
wrecked, and every one of the crew was
murdered by the natives Of Yanikcro.
one Of the Santa Cruz islands IN 1925
q monument was erected by the French
government to the memory Of the com.
mander Of this expedition at Botany
/ Bay.
This is all Of the story Of Botany Bay,
q name long infamous because Of its as
ISOLATION with convict transportation.
No convict cvsr was landed there, no
I settlement ever was made there, and it
never had anything more to do with the
system than / have related It is a
1 circular bay. with an entrance so wide
as to leave it almost an open roadstead.
The shores are fat low, sandy and I'M
interesting
When | went there not long ago, the
tide was cut ana the beach was foul
with all sorts Of drifts One peninsula,
/ which juts between the bay and the
/ ocean. has been reserved for noxious
trades, and they viii elbow the obelisk
erected to the memory Of Captain Cook.
so that in the future the bay will be no
more savory than its name has been.
unjustly, in the past. The French mon
ument is at the other side Of the en-
trance to tho bay.
It was the goth Of january, 1883,
when the feet Of Governor Arthur
Philip entered what is now Sydney har-
Dor. The settlement Of the continent Of
1 Australia was begun. --Chicago Record.