Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 1.djvu/468

 2054 JtOSE HILL. 1788 BirioB was emiiloyed between the islands and this setUement the so October, quaixtity procured would be but small for so great a number of people. But, my lord, I hope a very few years will pot this country in a situation to support itself, for I have the pleasoR of seeing what land has been cleared in a very flonrishiog state. I am now preparing to go up the harbour with a small detach- ment of one captain, four lieutenants, and twenty privates, who Bose HUL are to protect some convicts intended to clear land near the head of the harbour, where it is a fine open country, having very httle timber, and being perfectly free from underwood. It -was on the 2nd of November that Phillip went up the Pairamatta Elver — " the head of the harbour/' as he called it — ^for the purpose of forming an agricultural Bettlemeni on its banks. He selected a piece of rising ground^ which, from its shape^ suggested the idea of a Crescent^ and was so named by him, as a site for his residence ; and there he The Gover- ^^^ ^ cottage which, in after years, gave way to a sub- tiy^BeaT"' stantial country house, intended as a residence for the Governor.* The settlement was named fiose HOI, and soon began to realise the expectctftions which its founder had formed of it ; so much so indeed that it gradually came to be regarded as the most important place in the colony. Three years after its formation, it had reduced Sydney to the position of a mere official centre. Writing in December, 1791, Tench said that Sydney "had long been considered EoUpee of as Only a depdt for stores ; it exhibited nothing but a f ev old scattered huts and some sterile gardens ; caltivation of the ground was abandoned, and all our strength transferred to Eose HiU."

The Fishbum and the Gulden Grove — tiie lafit remaining vessels of the Fleet — ^were now ready for sea ; and as they furnished the only opportunity for sending letiere to Eng- land which would be available for many monthB, Phillip gathered together the few remaining items of intelligence which he had to communicate to Sydney, The only news


 * Ante, pp. 142, 199.