A Narrative of the Expedition to Botany Bay | Page 4

Some have been sanguine enough to foresee the most beneficial effects
to the Parent State, from the Colony we are endeavouring to establish;
and some have not been wanting to pronounce the scheme big with
folly, impolicy, and ruin. Which of these predictions will be completed,
I leave to the decision of the public. I cannot, however, dismiss the
subject without expressing a hope, that the candid and liberal of each
opinion, induced by the humane and benevolent intention in which it
originated, will unite in waiting the result of a fair trial to an
experiment, no less new in its design, than difficult in its execution.
As this publication enters the world with the name of the author,
candour will, he trusts, induce its readers to believe, that no
consideration could weigh with him in an endeavour to mislead them.
Facts are related simply as they happened, and when opinions are
hazarded, they are such as, he hopes, patient inquiry, and deliberate
decision, will be found to have authorised. For the most part he has
spoken from actual observation; and in those places where the relations
of others have been unavoidably adopted. he has been careful to search
for the truth, and repress that spirit of exaggeration which is almost
ever the effect of novelty on ignorance.
The nautical part of the work is comprized in as few pages as possible.
By the professional part of my readers this will be deemed judicious;
and the rest will not, I believe, be dissatisfied at its brevity. I beg leave,
however, to say of the astronomical calculations, that they may be
depended on with the greatest degree of security, as they were
communicated by an officer, who was furnished with instruments, and

commissioned by the Board of Longitude, to make observations during
the voyage, and in the southern hemisphere.
An unpractised writer is generally anxious to bespeak public attention,
and to solicit public indulgence. Except on professional subjects,
military men are, perhaps, too fearful of critical censure. For the
present narrative no other apology is attempted, than the intentions of
its author, who has endeavoured not only to satisfy present curiosity,
but to point out to future adventurers, the favourable, as well as adverse
circumstances which will attend their settling here. The candid, it is
hoped, will overlook the inaccuracies of this imperfect sketch, drawn
amidst the complicated duties of the service in which the Author is
engaged, and make due allowance for the want of opportunity of
gaining more extensive information.
Watkin Tench, Capt. of the Marines.
Sydney Cove, Port Jackson, New South Wales, 10 July, 1788.

CHAPTER I

From the Embarkation of the Convicts, to the Departure of the Ships
from England.
The marines and convicts having been previously embarked in the
River, at Portsmouth, and Plymouth, the whole fleet destined for the
expedition rendezvoused at the Mother Bank, on the 16th of March
1787, and remained there until the 13th of May following. In this
period, excepting a slight appearance of contagion in one of the
transports, the ships were universally healthy, and the prisoners in high
spirits. Few complaints or lamentations were to be heard among them,
and an ardent wish for the hour of departure seemed generally to
prevail.
As the reputation, equally with the safety of the officers and soldiers
appointed to guard the convicts, consisted in maintaining due
subordination, an opportunity was taken, immediately on their being
embarked, to convince them, in the most pointed terms, that any
attempt on their side, either to contest the command, or to force their
escape, should be punished with instant death; orders to this effect were

given to the centinels in their presence; happily, however, for all parties,
there occurred not any instance in which there was occasion to have
recourse to so desperate a measure; the behavior of the convicts being
in general humble, submissive, and regular: indeed I should feel myself
wanting in justice to those unfortunate men, were I not to bear this
public testimony of the sobriety and decency of their conduct.
Unpleasant as a state of inactivity and delay for many weeks appeared
to us, it was not without its advantages; for by means of it we were
enabled to establish necessary regulations among the convicts, and to
adopt such a system of defence, as left us little to Apprehend for our
own security, in case a spirit of madness and desperation had hurried
them on to attempt our destruction.
Among many other troublesome parts of duty which the service we
were engaged on required, the inspection of all letters brought to, or
sent from the ships, was not one of the least tiresome and disagreeable.
The number and contents of those in the vessel I was embarked in,
frequently surprised me