Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 2.djvu/104

 84 DESPATCHES 1790 Phillip treated the suggestion with respect, but he nfust i^JH^ haye felt the absurdity of the position. He pointed out that there was one objection to making Norfolk Island the principal settlement — it possessed '^no harbour or good roadstead." He made no reference to its limited area, but contented himself with setting forth the advantages of Port Jackson, which lies, as he explained, between two harbours — Botany Bay and Broken Bay — so that '^if a ship falls in with compared *^® coast in bad weather, a few miles either in the north- Byd^ey Ward Or southward, she can find immediate shelter." He modestly added, '^ and I believe it will be found hereafter that the seat of government has not been improperly placed.*^ Phillip's choice has been amply justified. It is curious to note, however, that if Phillip had not been so impressed with the necessity of making a speedy choice, the head-quarters of the settlement might have been established at Parramatta instead of Sydney. Phillip thus refers to the question : — " I had little time to look round me when I first arrived, for my Instructions particularly pointed out that I was not to delay the disembarking the people, with a view of searching for a better situation than what Botany Bay might afibrd. I was obliged to look farther, but I did not think myself at liberty to continue my research after I had seen Sydney Cove. Had I seen the country TOssessed by near the head of the harbour I might have been induced to have arruna jngde the Settlement there, but we knew nothing of that part of the country until the creek which runs up to Rose Hill was dis- covered in a journey I made to the westward three months after we landed ; and although I was then fully satisfied of the good- ness of the soil, and saw the advantages of that situation, mast of our stores and provisions were landed, and it required some little time to do away with the general opinion that such a situation could not be healthy, and which I was inclined to think myself until I had examined the country for some miles round, and was satisfied that there was a free circulation of air, in the goodness of which few places equal it,"*
 * Hbiorical Becords, vol. i, part % pp. 348, d49»