Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 1.djvu/442

 328 Cpr OFF FROM SOCIETY. Fish or %ht Painful position. 1788 with their spears poised, ready to throw them if any resistance had 10 July, been made, but the coxswain very prudently permitted them to take what they chose, and parted good friends. They at present find it veiy difficult to support themselves. Portonier. In consequence of what happened yesterday, no boat wiU in future go down the harbour without an officer. Two sbort notes were written to Sydney, '^ just before the mail closed," — as we sbould say — ^in which Phillip addressed him as a personal friend. In the first lie referred, with unconscious pathos, to the painful position in which he found himself placed, cut off from all society and surrounded by the most infamous of mankind; showing at the same time what support he derived, in the midst of his trials and privations, from the consciousness that he was doing good work in the world. Two other points are not less noticeable in this letter, — his confidence in the future of the colony, and the warmth of his friendship for King, The public letters to your lordship will show the situation of this settlement and the little difficultys we have met with, which time, an additional force, and proper people for cultivating the land will remove ; and your lordship may be assured that, anxious to render a very essential service to my country by the establishment of a colony, which from its situation must hereafter be a valuable acquisition to Great Britain, no perseverance will be wanting on my part, and which consideration alone could make amends for the being surrounded by the most infamous of mankind. It is to your lordship and to Nepean only that I make a de- claration of this kind. Time will remove all difficulties, and with a few families who have been used to the cultivation of lands this country will wear a more pleasing aspect, and those who are to come out, knowing what the country really is, will be less dis- appointed. As to myself, I am satisfied to remain as long as my services are wanted. I am serving my country, and serving the cause of humanity. I flatter myself that by the return of the ships that brought [] brings] us out provisions, and on which is placed our sole de- pendence, I shall be able to give your lordship a more satisfactory account of this country. Little difflcultios. Compensa- tion for exile. Conftdeiioe in the future. Our sole dependence. Digitized by Google