The History of Tasmania, Volume I

Volume I.

Tasmania: Henry Dowling, Launceston. 1852.

Tasmania: Printed By J. S. Waddell, Launceston

Facsimile edition 1966

TO HENRY HOPKINS, OF HOBART TOWN, ESQ.,

THE

HISTORY OF TASMANIA,

UNDERTAKEN AT HIS REQUEST, IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED

THE AUTHOR.

LAUNCESTON, SEPTEMBER, 1852.

ADVERTISEMENT.

The author takes this opportunity to thank the gentlemen who have allowed him, for several years, the use of their works on the colonies, and valuable original papers; especially the trustees of Lady Franklin's Museum, Messrs. R. Lewis, Hone, Gunn, Joseph Archer, Henty, P. Roberts, Wooley, and Pitcairn.

The public are indebted to Ronald Gunn, Esq., for the section on Tasmanian Zoology; and to Mr. F. Wales for a useful list of the chief places in this country.

CONTENTS--VOL. I.

DISCOVERY.

Section I. P. 1.

Anthony Van Diemen, governor of Batavia--Sir Joseph Banks obtains Tasman's charts and journal--brass hemispheres at Amsterdam--discovery of Van Diemen's Land--Maria Island--visit of Captains Marion, Furneaux, Cook, Clerke, Cox, Bligh, D'Entrecasteaux--discovery of Bass' Straits by Bass and Flinders--Flinders' misfortunes and death--Baudin--misfortunes of our eminent navigators--monument erected by Sir John Franklin to Flinders.

Section Ii. P. 20.

Colonel Purry's project--opinion of Dalrymple--Cook's account of New South Wales--fleet assemble at Motherbank--Phillip governor--various opinions of the prospects of the colony.

FROM 1803 TO 1824.

Section I. P. 27.

Van Diemen's Land occupied--state of Port Jackson at the time--Port Phillip occupied--abandoned--account of Buckley--debarkation at Sullivan's Cove--names of officers--Paterson occupies at Port Dalrymple--account of Collins--Burke's remarks--Collins' history--Lord Hobart.

Section Ii. P. 34.

Hobart Town named--York Town--Tamar river--Launceston--the first house--Norfolk Island vacated--settlers conveyed to Van Diemen's Land--overflow of the Hawkesbury--destitution--deposition of Bligh--he visits the Derwent--conduct of Collins--establishes a newspaper--his death--monument erected by Franklin to his memory.

Section Iii. P. 48.

Lieutenant E. Lord acting lieutenant-governor--ditto Captain Murray--visit of Governor Macquarie--Davey lieutenant-governor --improvements effected--St. David's church built--Bent's newspaper--death of Colonel Davey.

Section Iv. P. 53.

Form of colonial government--courts--legislative orders--administration of justice--Abbot judge-advocate of Van Diemen's Land--opinions of Mackintosh--Bentham--torture--arbitrary conduct of Macquarie--governor's court--Abbot's death.

Section V. P. 66.

Lieutenant-Governor Sorell--checks bushranging--immigration of settlers--their privileges--Macquarie's account of Van Diemen's Land.

SECTION VI. p. 70.

Sheep introduced--Merino lambs imported into Van Diemen's Land--wool purchased by Mr. Hopkins.

SECTION VII. p. 73.

Whaling--duties on colonial oil--fetters of trade--Captain Howard's misfortunes--currency of Van Diemen's Land--trading habits.

SECTION VIII. p. 78.

Religious efforts--notices of Reverends Johnson, Marsden, Knopwood--Wesleyan first Sunday school--Reverends Horton, Mansfield, Macarthur--bible society--Reverend J. Youl--Reverend P. Connolly.

Section Ix. P. 86.

Bill for better administration of justice--supreme court established--colonial agent--departure of Sorell--Leith company--Sorell's character--agricultural societies--advantages of immigrants at the present time.

FROM 1824 TO 1836.

Section I. P. 95.

Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur, superintendent at Honduras--dispute with Colonel Bradley--with the slaveholders--state of Van Diemen's Land--court proclaimed--trial by jury--charges against Mr. J. T. Gellibrand, jun.--Talfourd's opinions--Van Diemen's Land declared independent of New South Wales--police magistrates appointed.

Section Ii. P. 106.

Rise of the Australian press--restraint of the press by Arthur--Dr. Ross government printer--colonists maintain the freedom of the press.

Section Iii. P. 110.

Van Diemen's Land Company formed--its investments--Jorgen Jorgenson.

SECTION IV. p. 115.

State of society at Hobart--Judge Forbes--Governor Darling--punishment of Thomson and Sudds--trial of Dr. Wardell--Major Honor's case--Mr. Humphrey police magistrate--petitions for an elective assembly-- disagreements with Arthur--Gellibrand, sen., dismissed from the magistracy--act of parliament for the colony--Marshall's proposal for a colonial association.

Section V. P. 120.

Dispute between Jennings and Montagu--rate on returned bills of exchange fixed--trial of Dillon--treasury robbed--Ikey Solomon's arrest--conduct of a jury--races at Ross--pirates take the Cumberland.

Section Vi. P. 124.

Grammar school--orphan school--mechanic institution--Dr. Ross--Dr. Henderson.

SECTION VII. p. 127.

Bank of Van Diemen's Land--state of trade--Gatenby farmers--treasury robbed--Cox's conveyance established--dearth in New South Wales.

Section Viii. P. 131.

Liabilities of publicans--impounding cattle--dog act--usury law.

SECTION IX. p. 134.

Endowment of emigrants with land--early regulations--quantities of land given--early price of land.

SECTION X. p. 136.

Van Diemen's Land divided into counties--land commissioners appointed--conditions of grants--land obtained by fictitious capital.

SECTION XI. p. 139.

Brisbane grants--proof of ownership--resumption resisted by juries--defect in titles discovered--defect in description--caveat board established--Major Abbot's claim--quit rents--free grants terminated--Lord Ripon's regulations.

Section Xii. P. 148.

Wakefield's colonization scheme--Wilmot Morton's views--Swan River settlement--sufferings of first settlers--colony of South Australia--mineral wealth--Port Phillip occupied--emigration of females and mechanics--important consequences--table of land regulations.

Section Xiii. P. 160.

Bank of Australasia--state of the currency--Tamar bank--Union bank.

SECTION XIV. p. 161.

Glorious 23rd of May!--Baxter appointed judge--set aside--police and gaols--land revenue.

SECTION XV. p. 165.

Mr. W. Bryan's disagreement with Arthur--Arnold condemned for cattle stealing--case of Lewis--of Bryan, jun.--murder of Captain Sergeantson--perjury--trial by jury.

Section Xvi. P. 174.

"True Colonist"--state of the press--charges against Arthur--increase of newspapers--political association.

SECTION XVII. p. 177.

Recall of Arthur--- advancement during his administration--his great ability--his views of public works--his departure--death of Mr. J. T. Gellibrand.

FROM 1836 TO 1843.

Section I. P. 191.

Snodgrass acting-governor--arrival of Sir John Franklin--views of the colony--his reception--efforts to reconcile parties--magistrates increased--council chamber opened.

Section Ii. P. 195.

Difficulties respecting the churches--Dr. Lang--church and school corporation erected--dissolved by the crown--Sir G. Murray's views--Bourke's plan--Arthur's views--bishopric established in New South Wales--claims of the Presbyterians--declare for the established church of Scotland--Sir G. Grey's decision--act of general assembly--appellate jurisdiction refused--synod proclaimed--assembled and dissolved--controversy between the churches--church act passed--rivalry of the churches--act amended--demands on the treasury--bishopric of Tasmania established--Bishop Nixon enthroned--differences with clergy--ecclesiastical courts--refused by Wilmot--conference at Sydney--ecclesiastical titles arranged--free church of Scotland--tolerance of laity--respect for religion.

Section Iii. P. 215.

Education--Franklin proposes a college--Dr. Arnold's views--Mr. Gell appointed--foundation of college laid--abandoned--- schools in New South Wales--British system established in Van Diemen's Land--British system abandoned.

Section Iv. P. 219.

Distillation forbidden--emigration promoted--interference of commissioners--libel on Mr. Dowling--emigrants prosper--effects of probation--distress in the colonies--causes of distress--revival.

Section V. P. 225.

Franklin arranges probation system--dispute with Captain Montagu--dismisses him--Lord Stanley justifies Captain Montagu--Franklin recalled--his amiable character--last expedition.

FROM 1843 TO 1847.

Section I. P. 233.

Sir E. Wilmot arrives--his connexions--opinion of the Times--his popular manners--the agricultural association--bushranging--Wilmot's promises to the legislature--remodels the Tasmanian Society--his difficulties--central committee--usury law--fetters of trade--Hutt's motion--road bill--irrigation--expense of police--public debt--Wilmot adheres to his instructions--duties raised from five to fifteen per cent.--taxation defeated--quarrel with the Courier--Mr. Bicheno's political opinions--discussion in the council--Mr. Dry's motion--council adjourned--despatches respecting police and public works--injustice of Lord Stanley--anti-colonial character of probation system--Lord Stanley's restrictions--proposes to raise produce for commissariat-- inadequate surveillance--Wilmot's representations--Stanley's reply--council meet--estimates unintelligible--motions rejected by the governor's deliberative and casting votes--Mr. Smith's opinion--six members resign--obligation of official members--defence of the six--remarks-- popular sympathy.

Section Ii. P. 252.

Development of probation system--location of gangs--Mr. Pitcairn's petition--Wilmot's counter representation--Wilmot rejected as patron of the Van Diemen's Land agricultural association--vacancies filled up in the council--members resign--L24,000 allowed by home government-- differential duties bill--Hobart Town commissioners--dog act--recall of Wilmot--defended the probation system--blame cast on him--Wilmot's last address--Mr. Gladstone's despatch--his decision respecting the six--Wilmot slandered--Gladstone's letter--debates in parliament-- remarks--Wilmot's death--Mr. La Trobe's administration.

FROM 1847 TO 1852.

Section I. P. 265.

Sir William Denison meets the twelve--re-appoints the six--errors in commission discovered--refers home--the six appointed--dog tax declared illegal--actions of merchants--dismissal of Judge Montagu--Judge Pedder refuses leave of absence--Mr. Horne appointed--doubts' bill passed--decision of home government--charge against the merchants--their defence--appeals to Downing-street--public petitions for an assembly--plans proposed--council of New South Wales--discontent at Port Phillip--report of Sir William Denison--plan of Earl Grey rejected--privy council report--opinions of their report--bill passed--rejoicings at Port Phillip--at Van Diemen's Land--college at Bishopsbourne--Hutchins' school--high school.

Section Ii. P. 276.

Struggle against transportation--Mr. McLachlan--English press--state of colony--pardons extended--North Australia--squatters hire expirees--exiles received at Port Phillip--abolition proposed--Mr. McLachlan's letter to Mr. Gladstone--petition presented to the Lords--Mr. Ewart's motion--Earl Grey and Mr. Hawes receive the seals of the colonial office--avow the principles of Whately--Sir W. Denison's circular--discussion--committees appointed--public meetings.

Section Iii. P. 283.

London agency--meeting--Lord Grey's despatch announcing the views of government--address of Sir W. Denison--his despatch in favor of transportation--Norfolk Island prisoners--proposal to New South Wales accepted on both sides--repudiation by Earl Grey, and a new proposal to New South Wales rejected--circular letter to the colonies--convicts sent to the Cape rejected--rejected at Port Phillip--effect of the treatment of Van Diemen's Land on other colonies--prospects of 1848.

Section Iv. P. 289.

Lord J. Russell's speech--conduct of ministers--great number of petitions--Sir W. Denison's views--resolution of colonists--rapid changes of systems--the intentions of Earl Grey--evils of ticket system--resolution of the Legislative Councils--views of different parties--state of the colony--Earl Grey accused of breach of faith--Earl Grey's speech--declares his determination to proceed--the effect of his speech on Van Diemen's Land--Leagues formed--Neptune arrived--protest-- petitions of all classes--convict party form an association--it is dissolved--weakness of the colony--feelings of other colonies towards Van Diemen's Land.

Section V. P. 298.

The "Australias are One"--address to the colonies--Earl Grey renews his application to New South Wales--decision of the people--response of the colonies--meeting of abolitionists at Hobart--declare against transportation to any of the colonies--a conference appointed--delegates meet in Victoria--the Australian League formed--large subscriptions--fire in Port Phillip--meeting of delegates in New South Wales--proceedings of conference--the elections--the discovery of gold--effects on employers--League assailed by the convict party--delegates visit Adelaide--League adopted at New Zealand--people return opponents of transportation--conduct of emancipists--not one supporter of transportation returned--resolutions of the Legislative Councils of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Van Diemen's Land.

* * * * *

ZOOLOGY.

Section I. P. 321. Mammalia.--Section Ii. P. 328. Birds.--Section Iii.

p. 332. Fishes.--SECTION IV. p. 333. Reptiles.--SECTION V. p. 335. Insects.--SECTION VI. p. 335.--Mollusca.

HISTORY OF TASMANIA.

* * * * *

DISCOVERY, &c.

DISCOVERY, &c.

SECTION I.

Nearly fifty years have elapsed, since Van Diemen's Land was numbered with the colonies of the British empire. A generation has risen up and is passing away. Thousands, while they venerate the land of their European ancestors, with an amiable fondness love Tasmania as their native country. They will, hereafter, guide its affairs, extend its commerce, and defend its soil; and, not inferior in virtue and intelligence, they will fill an important position in the vast system of Australasia.

To gratify their curiosity, and offer to their view the instructive and inspiriting events of the past, is the purpose of this history.

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