April

The Governor's Diary & Memorandum Book Commencing on and from Wednesday the 10th. Day of April 1816. — At Sydney, in N. S. Wales.

Wednesday 10. April 1816 !!!
The Aborigines, or Native Blacks of this Country, having for the last three years manifested a Strong and Sanguinary Hostile Spirit, in repeated instances of murders, outrages, and Depredations of all descriptions against the Settlers and other White Inhabitants residing in the Interior and more remote parts of the Colony, notwithstanding their having been frequently called upon and admonished to discontinue their hostile Incursions and treated on all these occasions with the greatest kindness and forbearance by Government; — and having nevertheless recently Committed several cruel and most barbarous murders on the Settlers and their Families and Servants, killed their Cattle, and Robbed them of their Grain and other Property to a considerable amount, it becomes absolutely necessary to put a stop to these outrages and disturbances, and to adopt the strongest and most coercive measures to prevent a recurrence of them, so as to protect the European Inhabitants in their Persons & Properties against these frequent and sudden hostile and sanguinary attacks from the Natives. — I therefore, tho, very unwillingly felt myself compelled, from a paramount Sense of Public Duty, to come to the painful resolution of chastising these hostile Tribes, and to inflict terrible and exemplary Punishments upon them without further loss of time; as, they might construe any further forbearance or lenity, on the part of this Government, into fear and cowardice.

In pursuance of this resolution, and on the grounds of the most imperious necessity, arising from their own hostile, daring, outrageous, and sanguinary Proceedings, I have this Day ordered three Separate Military Detachments to march into the Interior and remote parts of the Colony, for the purpose of Punishing the Hostile Natives, by clearing the Country of them entirely, and driving them across the mountains; as well as if possible to apprehend the Natives who have committed the late murders and outrages, with the view of their being made dreadful and severe examples of, if taken alive. — I have directed as many Natives as possible to be made Prisoners, with the view of keeping them as Hostages until the real guilty ones have surrendered themselves, or have been given up by their Tribes to summary Justice. — In the event of the Natives making the smallest show of resistance – or refusing to surrender when called upon so to do – the officers Commanding the Military Parties have been authorized to fire on them to compel them to surrender; hanging up on Trees the Bodies of such Natives as may be killed on such occasions, in order to strike the greater terror into the Survivors. — These Military Detachments consist of the two Flank Companies of the 46th. Regt., Commanded severally by Capt. Schaw, Capt. Wallis, and Lieut. Dawe of the same Corps, and marched this forenoon from Sydney for Windsor, Liverpool, and the Cow Pastures respectively; furnished with proper Guides of Europeans and friendly Natives, Ammunition, Provisions &c. &c., the Officers Commanding these Detachments respectively being directed by their Instructions to commence their Operations at and from the several Points herein mentioned of Windsor, Liverpool, and the Cow Pastures; exploring and scouring the whole of the Country on the East side of the Blue Mountains from the Kurry-Jong Brush on the North side of the River Hawkesbury, to the Five Islands, alias Illawarra, on the South and Eastward of the Cow Pastures and River Nepean. — I have sent an Orderly Dragoon (mounted) – and a light Cart with each of the two large Detachments Commanded by Capts. Schaw and Wallis the Detachment commanded by Lieut. Dawe being intended to remain Stationary in the Cow Pastures for some time. —

L. M.

I have this day granted a Victualling order to Alexr. Mason, one of the two Pilots of this Port, for himself, his wife, and two Children, to be Victualled from the King's Store from the 6th. Inst. till further orders; as a remuneration for Piloting the Government Vessels in and out of Port Jackson. —

L. M.

Thursday 11. April 1816 !
Mr. Secretary Campbell went on board the Ship Guildford Transport early this morning for the purpose of inspecting and mustering the whole of the Male Convicts recently arrived here from Ireland on board of that Ship, and has made a very favourable report of their present good state of Health, and good treatment during the voyage. —

L. M.

I have this day granted an Order to Robert Murray, 2d. Pilot of this Port, to be himself victualled from the King's Store at Sydney, and also his wife and one child, from Saturday next the 13th. Inst. till further orders; as a remuneration for Piloting the Government Vessels into and out from Port Jackson.

L. M.

Sunday 14. April !
H. M. Colonial Brig Kangaroo Commanded by Lt. Chas. Jeffreys, sailed early this morning for Hobart Town in Van Diemen's Land, having 40 Male and 60 Female Convicts on board for the use of that Settlement; together with Mr. Tims and several other Passengers for the Derwent; but after getting out and clearing the Heads, the Kangaroo returned in consequence of contrary winds and anchored within the Heads again.

L. M.

Monday 15. Apl. 1816 !
The whole of the Male Convicts recently arrived from Ireland on board the Ship Guildford Transport, were disembarked early this morning at Sydney; and after the usual Inspection of them by myself in Person, they were distributed in proportion to the demands made for them; 60 having been sent to Windsor, 40 to Parramatta, and 25 to Liverpool; — the residue having been assigned to Individuals at Sydney – or for the Government Public works. — These men appeared to be in good Health, and spoke well of their treatment during the Voyage by the commander and Surgeon of the Ship. —

L. M.

Tuesday 16. Apl. !
I granted an Order on the King's Store to Robert Lack for 25 Gallons of Spirits, in payment of his last Instalment for keeping the Turnpike Road between Parramatta and Windsor in good repair; thus liquidating finally the whole of his Claim on Government on account of his Contract for repairing the said Road. —

L. M.

Wedy. 17. Apl.
H. M. Colonial Brig Kangaroo sailed from the Heads of Port Jackson this morning finally for the Derwent.

L. M.

Thursday 18. April 1816 !
I went up in my Carriage, accompanied by Capt. Antill, early this morning to Parramatta to view the Public Works and Improvements carrying on at that Place — and returned again to Sydney between 2 and 3,O'Clock. — The Supdt. of Govt. Works at Parramatta promises to have the whole of the additions and improvements now making and in progress at the Govt. house and Offices there entirely completed in two months from this date !

L. M.

Saturday 20. Apl. !!!
I this day paid Mr. Lawrence Butler, Cabinet Maker at Sydney, by a Draft on the Police Fund, the sum of £214. 10. Sterling; being the amount of sundry articles of Furniture, Desks, Book Presses, Writing Tables &c. &c. &c. made and furnished by him some time since for the use of the new Supreme and Governor's Court Rooms & Retiring Rooms, including Furniture for the Chambers of the Judge of the Supreme Court. —

L. M.

I also drew Drafts of this days date on the Police Fund, in favor of Jno. Kennedy for £19. 5. do. Currency; being the amounts of their respective Bills for taking Stumps out of the Government Domain at Parramatta. —

L. M.

Saturday 27. April 1816 !
Arrived early this morning in Sydney Cove, the Brig Tweed, Commanded by Capt. William Eddis, from Bengal, ladened with sundry India Goods for the use of this Colony; having on her way hither touched at the Derwent to trade, and where She has remained since February last. —

L. M.

Source
Macquarie, Lachlan. Diary 10 April 1816 - 1 July 1818..
Original held in the Mitchell Library, Sydney.
ML Ref: A773 pp.1-8. [Microfilm Reel CY301 Frames #237-245].