122 IHa mBFOSLMi OP 17W Qj. remain m* the colony. Out of the eleven officers bel6ng- MarinM not ini? to the detachment, six intimated tibeir wish to return ab pennonent " residenta. the end of tibe three years^ term^ or as soon afterwards aa might be convenient^ and the other' five sent in answera which showed little disposition on their part to remain in the colony as settlers.* That the Grovemment was not averse to officers settling in the colony is evident from the fact that when a request was made for grants of land for them it was readily complied with. On the 24th November, 1791, rather more than a year after the Additional Instruc- tions had reached him, Phillip wrote to the Secretary of State informing him that several of the officers had applied to him for land grants, and asking for instructions; At this time the position had undergone some change. Most of the officers of the marine detachment had made arrangements to return to England by the Gorgon, which Gfants Sailed a month afterwards. Those referred to bv Phillip to offloera . "^ ■*■ of New must therefore have consisted chiefly of officers of the New South Wales ^ Corps South Wales Corps, who were intended to be stationed per- manently in the colony, and consequently enjoyed advan- tages in the matter of land occupation which the marines, whose period of service was three years, did not. In dealing with the officers' request the British Government adhered
- The answers of fire oflfoers to the question aa to whether they were
desirous of remaining in the colony were as follows : — Watkin Tench, captain- lieutenant — "As a soldier for one tour of three years more." Q-eorge Johnston, first lieutenant — '-* Haying heen so short a time in this country^ cannot determine whether ho would wiah to remain or not ; as to settlings can say nothing." John Johnstone, first lieutenant — ^'^ Having heen so . short a time in this country, cannot determine whether he would wish to remain or not ; as to settling, can say nothing until he knpws on what terms.'*^ James Maitland Shairp, first lieutenant — '* Being so short a time in the country, he cannot yet jvidffo whether he would wish to remain or not ; as to settling, until he knows the terms and nature of the grant, can't deter- mine." William Dawes, second lieutenant — '* As a soldier for one tour of three years- more." — Historical Records, toI. i, part 2, p. 201. On the lOth July, Bt>8S forwarded letters to the Admiralty from Lieutenants Poulden, Timins, Bavey, Olarite, Creswell. and Kellow, requesting that they<mi|tht he relieved at the expiration of three years, on the ground that private affairs in England required their attention.— Ih., p. 163. Captain Collins, the Judge- Advocate, also wished to retum to England ; in December, 1792» he wrote to Dundas asking to be relieved from further service in the colony, but the applieadon was not gnmted. — lb., p. 674.
