Page:History of Adelaide and vicinity.djvu/51

 The Architects ADELAIDE AND VICINITY 25 London office, a manager- Mr. S. Stephens — to take charge of its agricultural affairs in the Province, and overseers for each department. A ship -the John Piric was under weigh with goods, live stock, and 23 adult passengers. By P'ebruary 24, 1836, another vessel — the Duke ofYork-v^A'-, freighted with whaling stores, was boarded by 38 i)assengers, including Mr. Stephens and other officers of the Company, and was ready to sail. The two pioneer ships at once put out. In March and April the ships Lady Mary Pclhavi and Jtiniiia followed the pioneers, carrying stores and 51 passengers. As an instance of unusual vitality in such affairs, this is singular and therefore noteworthy : the Imperial Government was not responsible. The Colonising Commissioners obtained from Lord Glenelg letters patent for establishing the Province, and proceeded to appoint the civil officers. Colonel C. J. Napier, the hero of many battles, was asked to take the position of Governor. He claimed that he must be accompanied by a military force, and have the power to draw upon the British Government for money when needful. His monetary request was reasonable, as after-events proved ; and he thought that troops would be necessary in the community " to protect what is good against that which is bad," and largely because the supply of spirituous liquors was so abundant in Australia. His stand was determined and independent; but he was not appointed. The next selection fell upon Captain Hindmarsh. R.N., who was eventually commissioned. Captain Hindmarsh probably knew more about managing a man-of-war than of governing a new province. At this time it was invariably the policy of the British Government to appoint naval officers to the governorships of colonies, and it is doubtful whether the qualities of such men fitted in with the peculiarities of colonial life. Sternness, courage, and a cold unbending will, are not alone the characteristics best adapted to governing a band of pioneers, who must be allowed an unusual amount of liberty and personal freedom. Mechanical discipline is compulsory on board a man-of-war, but it is not always the best thing in a new country. Without responsible Government there was danger that a naval officer would be too autocratic as a governor. Captain Hindmarsh had passed nearly the whole of his life on the sea, and his daring and loyalty were beyond reproach he was never foolhardy, but he was always brave. He was born in 1786, and while a mere child, in 1793, entered the navy as a first-class volunteer on board the Bcllcroplion, 74 guns. He was associated with this ve.ssel for seven years, and a learned paymaster-Mr. Neale — educated him. He first went into action, when only eight years old, in Lord Howe's "glorious June i," 1794. He was with Nelson off Cadiz in 1797, and assisted in the capture of the ports at Naples and Gaeta in 1799. His earliest distinction, however, was won at the battle of the Nile in 1798. The Bellcroplion was in the thickest of the fight, and grappled with the formidable LOrient, a vessel nearly double her own size. The fire of the Frenchman raked the plucky Belleroplion, and for some time the only officer on deck was young Hindmarsh, who was only twelve years old and with a wound in the eye which finally deprived him of its sight.