Phillip showed in London his care for the natives of Australia. He hoped to "furnish them with everything that can tend to civilize them, and to give them a high opinion of their new guests." Convicts should have no intercourse with them, for if they had, "the arms of the natives will be very formidable in their hands, the women abused, and the natives disgusted." Convicts should "ever remain separated from the garrison and other settlers that may come from Europe, and not be allowed to mix with them even after the seven or fourteen years for which they are transported may be expired." At a later date (March, 1787), he wrote "Any man who takes the life of a native will be put on his trial the same as if he had killed any of the garrison. This appears to me not only just, but good policy. He descanted on the administration of justice and capital punishment. A strange notion was discussed, viz., sending murderers and those guilty of unnatural crimes to an island where cannibalism existed, and might make an end of them; but as to his own territory, the laws of England would, of course, be introduced-and there is one that I would wish to take place from the moment His Majesty's forces take possession of the country: that there can be no slavery in a free land, and consequently no slaves."
From Oct., 1786, to May, 1787, Phillip corresponded with various departments, as to supplies, appointments, dismissals, procurement of flax from New Zealand and bread-fruit from the Friendly Islands,[1] the power of changing the "species of provisions" to be issued in the colony, of suspending and sending home any officer who "from his situation cannot be tried by court-martial," trials by courts, and other questions.
It must be left to me to fix on Botany Bay if I find it a proper place; if not, to go to a port a few leagues to
- ↑ Pitt's hand is visible on this subject. On the 9th March one Mr. Vanghan writes:-"Mr. Pitt having informed Mr. Long that every opportunity should be used to collect the bread-fruit plant in the South Seas, and afterwards to forward it to the British West India islands, I beg, &c. (the Chairman of the East India Company has been instructed to use the opportunity of his next conference with Mr. Pitt to ask for the attention of the Government on this subject on behalf of the East India Company.)"-Record Office MSS.
