The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1898-04-20
BOTANY BAY HISTORY
THE TRUE STORY OF THE NoToRl-
GUS SOUTH SEA SITE.

Tho first convict fleet sailed away
from England i'll May, 1887, called ut
Rio Janeiro and arrived ut Botany Bay
early in January, 1888. In the fleet
We're 20 gun frigate, an armed tender,
three storeships and six transports, far
the largest fleet that over sailed TO tho
South sea, though tho largest vessel
measured only 400 tons and tho small.
est only 270 tons
On tho six small transports for this
long, tropical voyage We're packed con-
viets numbering 66l mon and 1872 wom-
on. There were also carried l6S marines
and 10 officers. few surgeons and mo
Chanies, the wives of 40 of the marines
and II children, tho offspring of con-
viots. approximately 1000 persons
therefore went to found tho colony in
tho newest world less than ITO years
old. Captain Philip of tho British navy
was placed in command of tho oxpedi
ton and given IA commission AZ governor
and captain general of New South
Wales
1t is easy for the visitor of today to
understand tho blank dismay that Philip
must have felt when the fleet sailed
into Botany Bay and he saw for the
first time the place which had been
recommended to him az the spot for act
tlement IL had boon selected by the all
vice of Captain Cook, whose botnnists
had been so delighted with tho profu-
sion of new plants they found there that
they had given 1t tho expressive name.
Philip found on first examination that
moro unsuitable site for now settle
ment hardly could have been chosen.
Tho bay was shallow, there was no
good anchorage, there was no good wa
ter, and the adjacent land WAS not for
tile. except for botanical specimens.
Leaving the fleet anchored In the bay
Philip started up tho coast in his tender
to hunt for IA better home. Nine miles
to tho northward ho found himself fac
ing those great gates now known M
Sydney head, which Cook had seen
from distance. and, satisfied with
Botany Bay, hid marked on his chart
~ possible harhnr for small boats
Philip rounded tho south head and WAS
amazed to seo opening before him tho
bays Of Port Jackson-Snyder harbor
HOW famed the world over as tho finest
harbor iii tho seven seas and disputed
for that distinction by few. Three days
of exploration left no possible doubt
that this was the place to be selected,
and Philip returned ut once To Botany.
The fleet Was standing out Of the bay.
when two French frigates appeared In
the otllnR They horo an exploring party
under Cumtr tie Ia Perouse, without
hostile intentions, which WAS M i'm
menee relief Ia tho oolonists. Botany
Bay was lett to the Frenchmen. They
refreshed and relitted thoro, staying UNI
! til March, and burying on shore one of
their company, thu naturalist of tho OK
petition who died of wounds received
IN an encounter with tho natives of an
island they had touched. A few months
later tho French expedition was ship
wrecked, and every ono of tho crew was
murdered by the natives of Vanikoro,
ono of the Santa CRUZ islands. In 1895
IL monument WAS erected by the French
government to tho memory of tho com.
mandor of tho expedition ut Botany
Bay.
This il all of tho story of Botany Bay,
IA name long Infamous because of its as
ISOLATION with convict transportation.
No convict over was landed there, no
settlement over was mndo there, and IL
never had anything more to do with tho
System than | have related. 1t il IA
circular bay. with an entrance 80 wide
as to leave it almost AN open roadstead.
The shores arc fiat. low. sandy and I'M
interesting,
When | went there not long ago, tho
tide waa out and tho beach was foul
with all sorts of drifts. ono peninsula,
which juts between the bay and tho
ocean, hus been reserved for noxious
TRADES. and they will elbow tho obelisk
erected to tho memory Of Captain Cook,
10 that in the future tho bay will be no
moro savnry than its name has been,
unjustly. in tho past. The French mon
umGnt IL Mt the other side Of tho en-
trance to the bay.
1t was tho 10th of January, 1888,
when tho fleet of Governor Arthur
Philip entered what is now Sydney har-
Dor. Tho settlement of tho continent Of
Australia was begun. Chicago Record.