Captain Colnett afforded the means of sending an establishment to Van Diemen's Land. He permitted Lieut.
Bowen, of H.M.S. Glatton, to volunteer his services, and
that officer received his instructions on the 10th June 1803.
Mr. Mountgarrett, of the Glatton, volunteered in like
manner. The Porpoise and the Lady Nelson were to
transport the expedition. Minute directions were given to
prevent occupation by settlers of such sites as might be
wanted for a town or for fortifications. A few settlers were
to receive 200 acres each, with convict labourers and their
rations for eighteen months. The "Prayers of the Church
of England were to be read with all due solemnity every
Sunday." No vessels were to be permitted to communicate
with the settlement except to obtain relief. Lieut. Courtoys,
who commanded the Lady Nelson, was told by King "not
to keep too close to the land at any time, as you must
recollect that the vessel is very leewardly." Bowen was
provided with "sealed orders, not to be opened except on
the appearance of French vessels."
In Sept. 1803 Bowen reported his arrival. The land he thought excellent. Natives had been seen, but they were shy. "I have not made any search for them, thinking myself well off if I never see them again." He dated his despatch from "Hobart,"[1] at Risdon Cove, King having named the settlement after Lord Hobart. Bowen appears to have struggled manfully with the difficulties of his position until, by the arrival of Collins in 1804, the government of the settlement passed into inferior hands. The appointment of Collins was thus announced by Lord Hobart to King (14th Feb. 1803):
"The accounts you have transmitted of the importance of the harbour in the southern coast of New South Wales in Bass's Straits, to which you have given the name of Port Phillip, and your representation of the excellence of the climate, and promising appearance of the country on that coast, and also the advantageous situation of the island called King's Island, have induced me to consider with great attention the expediency of forming from this country a settlement in that quarter, subordinate and dependent upon the government of New South Wales." . . . . "It is evident that the attention of other European Powers has been drawn to that quarter of the world, and it need scarcely be observed
- ↑ In some manner the name was converted in after years to Hobart Town, and has only recently been restored as "Hobart."
