Page:New history of Botanybay (sic) and Port Jackson.pdf/13

 a barber was sent down into the boat along-side the canoe, from whence, leaning over the gunwale, he complied with the wish of the old beau, to his infinite satisfaction. In addition to the consequences expected from this dawn of cordiality, it afforded proof that the beard is considered by these people more as an incumbrance than a mark of dignity.

The necessary previous business having been transacted, upon an appointed day the Commissions were read, and possession was taken of the Settlement in form. The marine battalian being drawn up, and the Convicts assembled on the occasion his Majesty's Commission was read, appointing his Excellency Arthur Philip, Esq; Governor and Captain General in and over the territory of New South Wales, and its dependencies, together with the Acts of Parliament for establishing trial by law within the same; and the Patents, under the Great Seal of Great Britain, for holding Civil and Criminal Courts of Judicature, by which all cases of life and death, as well as matters of property, were to be decided.

The extent of this authority is defined in the Governor's Commission, to reach from the Latitude of 43 deg. 49 min. North, to the Lat. of 10 deg. 37 min. South, being the Northern and Southern extremities of New Holland. It commences again at the 135th degree of Longitude East, and proceeding in an Easterly direction, comprehends all islands within the limits of the above-specifies Latitudes in the Pacific Ocean. As the discoveries of English Navigators alone, are comprised in