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The First Fleet
CEREMONY AT SYDNEY COVE ON 7 FEBRUARY 1788 TO HEAR
GOVERNOR PHILLIP’S COMMISSION
Introduction
The following record from the Historical Records of New South Wales, Volume
2, is reproduced (with minor editorial amendments) to document the Ceremony
held at Sydney Cove on 7 February 1788 to hear the Commission that appointed
Captain Phillip as Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief. The Ceremony was
held on the thirteenth day after the first fleet arrived at Port Jackson on 26
January 1788.
Description of the Ceremony
On 7 February 1788, about 10 o’clock a.m., everyone who could leave the ships,
and every other person on shore, were summoned to hear the Governor’s Commission
read, as also the Commission constituting the Court of Judicature. The soldiers
were all under arms, and received the Governor, the Surveyor-General [and
others], with colours flying and a band of music playing. After complimenting
the general officers, and being complimented in return, the soldiers marched
with music playing, drums and fifes, etc., and formed a circle round the whole
of the convicts, who were all ordered to withdraw a short distance. All
gentlemen present were desired to come into the centre, were stood the Governor,
Lieutenant-Governor, Judge-Advocate, Parson, Surveyor-General,
etc., and a camp-table was fixed down, and two red leather cases laid thereon
containing the commissions, etc., which were opened in the sight of all present,
and read by the Judge-Advocate (Captain Collins), constituting Arthur Phillip,
Esq., Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief over all those territories
belonging to his Britannic Majesty George III, etc., called New South Wales, and
parts adjacent, with full power and authority to build forts, castles, towns,
erect batteries, etc., as shall seem to him necessary, with power also to
constitute and appoint officers, etc., as shall be judged proper – in short, his
power is unlimited.
After the Commission was read, the convicts were ordered to
sit down, and the Governor made an harangue to them, telling them that he had
tried them hitherto to see saw they were disposed, that he was thoroughly
convinced they were many of them incorrigible, and that he was convinced nothing
but severity would have any effect upon them to induce them to behave properly.
He also assured them if they attempted by night to get into the women’s tents
there were positive orders for the sentry to fire upon them; that they had been
very idle, wandering about the country, and that not more than 200 out of 600
convicts were at work; that the industrious should not labour for the idle; if
they did not work they should not eat; that in England if thieving poultry was
to be punished with death in consequence of their being so easily supplied, but
a fowl was of the utmost consequence to the settlement, as well as every other
species of stock, as they were reserved for breed, therefore stealing the most
trifling article of stock or provisions should be punished with death; that
however such severity might militate against his humanity and feelings, yet
justice demanded such rigid execution of the laws, and they might implicitly
rely upon justice taking place.
Their labour would not be equal to that a husbandman in
England endures who has a wife and family to provide for; they would never be
worked beyond their abilities, but everyone should contribute his share in order
to render himself and the community at large happy and comfortable; as soon as
the nature of the settlement would admit of, that they should be employed
erecting houses for the different officers, the soldiers, and afterwards for
themselves.
After this harangue they were dismissed in the same form in
which they were assembled. The Governor had a cold collation under a large tent,
to which the general officers were invited.
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