Governor Macquarie’s Interest in the Civilisation of Aborigines

Proposals of Reverend Robert Cartwright to Ameliorate Condition of Natives
Letter from Reverend Robert Cartwright to Governor Macquarie – Dated 18/1/1820 [excerpts only]
 
I confess I should be proud of the honour of being appointed the first Chaplain to such establishment.... I am persuaded the Native Institution has suffered materially since Mr. Shelly’s death for want of a proper Superintendent, who could feel a real interest in its welfare.
  
I now beg leave to make a few remarks to the tenth rule of the institutions, and observe the most frugal and beneficial mode of locating lands for the use of the adult natives is to apportion small allotments in a town to such as are inclined to settle, when I am persuaded everything at first must be done for them. On this plan, a few of every tribe may be induced to sit down together in small adjoining allotments or in one general square appropriated for the use of that particular tribe, and whenever any of the families belong to such tribe are inclined to settle, it would be proper to assist in separating a small portion of such land for their particular use.
  
Although there may be difficulties attending this plan of settling the adults, from all that I have seen, I am persuaded it is the only practicable one. Indeed I have my doubts whether any of those natives, which Your Excellency has settled even in their own native districts, will turn out well. At all events I expect to see little good result from such a mode of settling them amongst the white people. Whenever one or the other of these natives settle, as in the instance of the South Creek Chief [Nurragingy alias Creek Jemmy], who is one of the best, the rest forsake him, which is a trial too great for these savages who have ever been accustomed to wander about in companies; but should an individual belong to any distant tribe be induced to settle in a town composed almost exclusively of their own people, and where perhaps they or their friends have children in the establishment, this would be inducement enough to encourage him to remain there at least the greatest part of the year. And it is probable he may in time be completely weaned from his roving habits, and glad to avail himself of such asylum in his old age.
  
In thus preparing for such savages, I would not in the first instant build houses or huts for them; but only clear and enclose the proposed square for each tribe. Having to provide food for them, at least for a time, I should do no more than what may be absolutely necessary to attach them to the place, or excite them to industry and virtue. I should rather leave them to find out and supply their other wants and thereby learn to know the value of civilized life. It is to their children I would direct my chief attention, and, by teaching them to provide the necessaries and comforts of life for their parents, endeavouring to unite the whole of this glorious fabric by a cement which cannot be broken.

Reverend Robert Cartwright
(1771 - 1856)


  

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