Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 9.djvu/351

 ii s. ix. MAY 2, 19R] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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THE ADELPHI. In a recent lecture to some minor antiquarian society Mr. Allen S. Walker is reported to have said (Morning Post, 13 March, 1914) that the erection of their property by the Brothers Adam " was only completed by means of a lottery." This is not the first occasion on which this inaccurate statement has been made, but I cannot trace its source.

Royal later known as Adelphi Terrace was complete arid partly let by June, 1771 (vide Town and Country Magazine, vol. iii.), and the whole of the buildings were finished and ready for occupation before Midsummer, 1774. Before me is a copy of the

" Adelphi Lottery. A list of the whole particu- lars as per schedule annexed to the Act of Parlia- ment, which are to be sold in this Lottery, with the particular holdings thereof, and the Ground Rents and leases to which the same are subject." Very many of the houses and vaults are described as occupied, and I cannot find any indication that any part of the whole undertaking was unfinished.

ALECK ABRAHAMS.

GROSVENOR SQUARE : PRINT. It may be of interest to mention that in the window of Macmichael's shop, 48, South Audley Street, I have lately seen exhibited a framed print entitled ' Perspective view of Gros- vener Squar [sic] ' and ' Vue de la Place de Grosvenor. ' The print is " published accord- ing to Act of Parliament." It is curious that the spelling in the English inscription should be wrong, in the French correct.

THE LATE EDWARD MARSTON. (See ante, p. 320.) With great interest have I read MR. JOHN COLLINS FRANCIS'S appreciative notice of this lamented publisher, and disciple of Izaak Walton. Reference to his long connexion with the famous house of Sampson Low recalls vividly to my mind a certain visit paid to Fleet Street, in or about the year 1878, bearing with me my maiden literary effort, likewise an introduction from that prolific weaver of sea - stories, the late W. Clark Russell. Although my novel failed to win acceptance, I found kindty reception and encouragement at the hands of Mr. Marston, together with, in due course, his reader's " opinion," which acted as a valuable incen- tive to subsequent efforts. That glorious Dove Dale he loved so well, and upon whose meandering stream " The Amateur Angler " has cast many a fly, will surely miss his cheery presence. The writer also "re- visited " that charming spot last year.

CECIL CLARKE.

Junior Athenaeum Club.

BOTANY BAY. Probably, were one to put the question, Where was the first penal colony in Australia ? at least ninety-nine out of every hundred people in the United; Kingdom would answer " At Botany Bay."

Twenty years ago, the writer, then being in Sydney, and wishing to see what had long been considered an historical spot, paid a morning visit to that place. On asking if there were any traces of the old convict settlement left, a very indignant reply was- received to the effect that the convicts had never settled at Botany Bay ; and at the same time the visitor w T as given to under- stand that the ignorance of the English at home was appalling !

But the early settlers and prisoners are to- blame for this, because for years they always; spoke of Botany Bay, instead of Port Jackson.

The following is only a small portion of a very lengthy, but most interesting letter written to Lord Sydney by Capt. Arthur Phillip (the first Governor of New South Wales) at Port Jackson, where, as it will be seen, he founded the first convict settlement t

Sydney Cove, New South Wales,. May 15th, 1788.

MY LORD, I had the honor of informing your Lordship by Captain Cox, who was returning to Europe by Madrass, that I was ready to sail from the Cape of Good Hope, and which I did with the ships under my command the 12th of November-

The 25th, being eighty Leagues to the Eastward! of the Cape, I left the Sirus, and went on board the Supply Tender, in hopes by leaving the Convoy" to gain sufficient time to examine the Country round Botany Bay, and fix on the most eligible situation for the Colony before the Transports arrived. . . .The westerly winds we now had con- tinued till the 3rd January, when we saw the Coast of New South Wales, but the winds which had been so favourable . . . .now left us. . . .so that we did not arrive at Botany Bay before the 18th . The Alexander, Scarborough, and Friendship came in the next day, and the Sirus, with the rest of the Ships, the day after : those ships had con- tinued very healthy. The Supply, sailing very badly, had not permitted my gaining the advan- tage hoped for, but I began to examine the Bay aa soon as we anchored, and found, that tho' exten- sive, it did not afford shelter to Ships from the Easterly Winds : the greatest part of the bay being so shoal, that Ships of even a moderate draught of water are obliged to Anchor with the entrance of the Bay open, and are exposed to a heavy sea, that rolles in when it blows hard from, the Eastward. Several small runs of fresh water were found in different parts of the Bay, but I did not see any situation to which there was not some very strong objection. . . .The best situation that offered was near point Sutherland, where there was a small run of good water, but the ground near it, as well as a considerable part of the higher ground, was spungy, and the ships could not approach this part of the Bay. Several good situations offered for a small number of People,.