 |
Governor Macquarie’s Interest
in the Civilisation of Aborigines
Dispatch of Governor Macquarie to Earl Bathurst –
Dated 24/2/1820
The subject of the Native Institution, some years since established by me at
Parramatta, which has excited a very considerable interest generally on its
behalf, as well from the principle of humanity, which first gave rise to it, as
also from the degree of success with which it has been heretofore attended,
having also particularly attracted the attention of the Reverend Cartwright one
of the Colonial Chaplains, who is a most exemplary and benevolent man, he has
turned his thoughts seriously towards the means of ameliorating the situation of
the natives and of conveying education and habits of industry to the young of
both sexes among them, by extending the scale of benefit and improvement
derivable from the present institution; and for this worthy purpose has lately
furnished me with the prospects of such a plan for a native establishment as he
deems adequate to the contemplated objects.
Having perused Mr. Cartwright’s plan with much attention, I am inclined not only
to yield him the highest praise for the zeal which has actuated him on the
occasion, but, feeling also fully satisfied with the justness of his hints and
observations, have been led so far to approve of it, as to sanction it being
carried at an early day into effect.
I do myself the honour to transmit Your Lordship herewith copies of the letters,
addressed to me on this humane subject by Mr. Cartwright [see excerpts in the
following letter], which I trust will induce Your Lordship also to sanction and
approve of the proposed establishment on the grounds urged by Mr. Cartwright.
The rapid increase of British population, and the consequent occupancy of the
lands formerly dwelt on by the natives having driven these harmless creatures to
more remote situations, it is my purpose to form the proposed establishment in
the distant tract of country, lately discovered by Mr. Throsby [in the
neighbourhood of Moss Vale and Sutton Forest], which will bring it nearer to
their present place of inhabitation and at the same time render it less subject
to be disturbed by vagrants, than if it were placed in the settled districts;
and it will have a further advantage from the circumstances of the lands in this
new country not being appropriated, whereby I will be enabled to assign a
suitable portion of land for the necessary buildings and the great object of
cultivation in which these natives are to be instructed.
For the purpose of erecting a village, and holding out ample encouragement to
the industry of the natives, who are expected to enter into the institution, I
propose a proportion of land to the extent of ten thousand acres for their
permanent benefit; and I beg to express the confident hope that Your Lordship
will approve of this measure, as one worthy of British feelings to a harmless
race, who have been without struggle driven by the progress of British industry
from their ancient places of inhabitation.
Back to Governor
Macquarie’s Interest in the Civilisation of Aborigines - Index of Resources
Back to Index of Resource Materials
History Services NSW will consider undertaking further searches of its databases to accommodate any special research requests. Please email your request.
Kevin McGuinness
© HISTORY SERVICES NSW