Chapter I: Front Matter

THE

HISTORY OF TASMANIA:

by

JOHN WEST,

Minister of St. John Square Chapel, Launceston.

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

BY

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.