The taking Possession of Port Jackson,
with the Disembarkation of the Marines and Convicts.
Our passage to Port Jackson took up but few hours, and those were spent
far from unpleasantly. The evening was bright, and the prospect before us
such as might justify sanguine expectation. Having passed between the capes
which form its entrance, we found ourselves in a port superior, in extent
and excellency, to all we had seen before. We continued to run up the harbour
about four miles, in a westerly direction, enjoying the luxuriant prospect
of its shores, covered with trees to the water's edge, among which many
of the Indians were frequently seen, till we arrived at a small snug cove
on the southern side, on whose banks the plan of our operations
was destined to commence.
The landing of a part of the marines and convicts took place the next day,
and on the following, the remainder was disembarked. Business now sat
on every brow, and the scene, to an indifferent spectator, at leisure
to contemplate it, would have been highly picturesque and amusing.
In one place, a party cutting down the woods; a second, setting up
a blacksmith's forge; a third, dragging along a load of stones or provisions;
here an officer pitching his marquee, with a detachment of troops parading
on one side of him, and a cook's fire blazing up on the other. Through the
unwearied diligence of those at the head of the different departments,
regularity was, however, soon introduced, and, as far as the unsettled state
of matters would allow, confusion gave place to system.
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