David Blackburn (1753-1795)

Lieutenant David Blackburn, by unknown artist, c.1779-1796, [silhouette], MIN 379

David Blackburn was born at Newbury, Berkshire, England on 1 January 1753. In April 1787 he was appointed Master of the First Fleet ship Supply.

Once at Botany Bay, Blackburn was in the advance party, with Governor Phillip, searching for a better location for the colony. They explored Sydney Harbour and Phillip moved the settlement there.

On 17 February 1788, Blackburn sailed in the Supply, under Lieutenant Henry Lidgbird Ball, to Norfolk Island to land the first settlers there.

When Lieutenant Ball fell ill in Batavia in 1790, Blackburn took command of Supply, taking her back to Port Jackson and making two further voyages to Norfolk Island. Governor Phillip appointed him acting Commander of Supply in March 1791. When the Supply sailed for England in November 1791, Blackburn was on board and Ball resumed command. Upon reaching England in May 1792, Blackburn was discharged and appointed to HMS Dictator in September 1793.

Blackburn died on 10 January 1795 at the Haslar Naval Hospital in Gosport, Hampshire of a probable consumptive complaint.

The State Library holds two collections of Blackburn’s letters. The largest is an extensive family archive which includes letters written by Blackburn to members of his family. This collection was acquired in 1999.

A smaller collection consists of two letters written by Blackburn to his friend, Richard Knight. These letters were acquired in 1933.

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Transcript: David Blackburn - letter to Richard Knight, 12 July, 1788

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Dr Sir
In Some Measure to Attone for Not Answering your Very friendly Letter before we Sail'd I Beg your Acceptance of the Following Short Account of our Voyage to this time - As far as I was An Eye Witness or Informd by Officers of Probity in the Fleet -

We Saild from Spithead on the Morning of Sunday 13th. May 1787 & Ran Down Channel with a Fair Wind. The Supply Very Deep Laden With Store, Which as We Met with Some Blowing Weather Made us Rather Uncomfortable. Being Constantly Wet.

His Majestys Ship Hyena Accompanied us Clear of the Channel & on the 20th. left us - we being Near 100 Leagues from the Land. The Irons were then taken off All the Convicts. (Such only Excepted as had behavd ill) With Permission to Come upon Deck & take the Air When Ever they pleas'd During the Day - The Weather Was Now fine & the Wind fair. On the 31st of May We Passd the Island Madeira and on the 4th of June Anchord in Santa Cruz Bay. At the Island of Teneriffe Where the Greatest Dispatch was Made to Water & Get Refreshments for the Fleet Which Detaind us there Six Days - The Town of Santa Cruz is the Capital of the Canarys & Subject to Spain. It has A Small Fort At Each End of it & a few Stragling Guns behind it. The Town Makes a Very Decent Appearance from the Ships in the Bay, About a Mile from it. But when in the town It looks Very Shabby. The Only Good Building is the Church. Here we Got Every Necessary Refreshment Except fruit which was Not in Season. But Wine Very Cheap & Good.


Their Market is held in the Middle of the town. The Inhabitants a few Excepted All very Poor Their Military force is small Consisting chiefly of Natives. Except the Governor & a few Officers Who Have their Appointments from Spain - The Day before We Saild a Convict Made his Escape from the Ship he Was in by Cutting a Small Boat from her Side Early in the Night & got on Shore Unseen. However a Party of Marines Were Sent on Shore in the Morning by the Governors Permission who found him about 9 Miles from the town Concealed in a Cave.
We saild on Sunday the 10th, & by the fineness of the Weather Were Gratifyd by a Sight of the Famous Pike of Teneriffe Distinct & clear of Clouds which seldom Happens. It stands on the top of a Very High Mountain. Snow lays Round the foot of it but its Top is Clear & Looks like Brown Rock With Deep Furrows in it. At Sea it has a Very Sublime Appearance & I am Informd that the Adjacent Coast of Barbary Can be Seen from its Summit to the Distance of 156 Miles or More

We Directed our Course for the Cape de Verd Islands & on the 19th of June

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The Signal Was Made to Anchor in Praya Bay on the Island St Jago but there being only a Light Breeze of Wind there was Little probability of getting the fleet to anchor that Night. The Signal Was taken Down & We Proceeded towards the Equator, Which we Crossd on Sunday the 15 of July & on the 2d of August Saw the Coast of Brazil the Fleet in General Remarkably Healthy. And on the 5th the Whole Fleet got safe into the Harbour of Rio Janeiro. This is a Remarkable fine Harbour & Little Known to the English or I Believe any other Nation but the Portuguese who Are the Possessors.
It is Governd by a Vice Roy Who With the officers are appointed from the Court of Portugal. Here we had Great Attention & Respect paid us. One Reason for it is that Capn Phillip (our Governor of New South Wales) Was a Commodore in the Portuguese Service & Much Approvd of there, having I am Informd Rendered Some Essential Service to that Crown. The Harbour & Town is Very Strongly Defended by a strong fort Built on the Solid Rock at the foot of a Very High Hill on the Top of Which is a Battery of three Very Large Cannon

About a Mile Within the Entrance is a Small but Strong Fort on a Rock Entirely Surrounded by water & about another Mile further up is a strong Fort on an Island at a little Distance from the City. But the Principal Strength of the City is a Very Large Fort on an Island at the North End of the City the Cannon Mounted on it are Very Heavy - Immediately After Anchoring Permission was Given for us to go on Shore & be Provided With Every Refreshment.

The City is a Mile & half in Length & About a Mile in Breadth. The Streets Stand at Right Angles with Each other. Are Pav.d & Broad flat stone foot paths on Each Side. The Houses Lofty & In General Well Built but Wooden lattices to all the Windows they having No glass. Their Houses Are but Indifferently furnishd. But their Churches, Chapples, Monasterys & Convents to the Number of 17 Are Very Magnificent & their Shops Are Well Stockd with An Excellent Assortment of European Goods - The Landing place is at a large Square before the Vice Roys Pallace. to the Left is a Negroe Market well Stockd with Poultry fruits & Vegetables of Every kind & cheap.
The Palace is a Building two Stories high. The Upper Part Appropriated to his Use the lower part is a Guard House & Armoury - Their Military force Consists of two troops of Horse of 30 Men Each, one Regiment of Artillery of 600 Men & five Regiments of Infantry of 821 Men Each. Exclusive of Officers. Forming in the While a Body of Near 5000 Men, Besides a Very numerous Militia, Every Regiment take the Guard in Rotation to the number of 300 Men who are Constantly going Round & on Sundays they

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Have the addition of 4 Horses on Account of their Slaves being then at Liberty - And an Officers Guard Mounts Every day at the Pallace. The Military have Entirely the Command. the meanest Soldier having it in his power to Control the first Inhabitant

Strangers are not allowed to go through the City without a Serjeant or Corporal after them, Except Officers in their Uniform. They Are Remarkably Strict upon Foreign Ships as no Trade is allowd to be Carryd on but by their own. Their trade Consists of Sugar, Rum, Indigo, Brazil Wood, Whale bone, Oil & Spermacetta, Bullion, Diamonds & Topaz's. The Mines Are 150 Miles up the River & Very Rich, the Diamonds are of the finest Sort but not large. It is Almost Impossible if not Entirely so to Procure Admittance to the Mines. So Strict a Guard being kept,

The fleet being Waterd & provided With Every Necessary Refreshment Saild on Tuesday Morning the 4th of Sep.t. Saluted the fort as We Passd it with 13 Guns Which they Returnd. We Lost Sight of the Continent of So America that Night & Directed our Course for the Cape of Good Hope Which We Made on the 13 Oct.r & that Afternoon Anchor'd With the Whole Fleet in Table Bay. All Very Healthy. We saluted the town Next Morning With 13 Guns Which they Returnd & The Fleet Began Watering Immediately & Wear Soon Complete.
The Town is Calld Cape Town. It is Built of Stone & Brick & the Houses White Washd on the Outside the Windows & Doors In General Painted Green, the Streets Are Very Broad & Stand at Right Angles but Not Pavd. which Renders Walking Very Disagreeable in Windy Weather the Ground being Light & Sandy. The Inside of their Houses Are Very Neat their furniture Much the Same as ours With the Addition of Two Shining Brass Spitting Boxes at Each Table as Smoking Tobacco is the first thing they do in the Morning.
The Landing place is a Wooden Wharf. Built on Piles & Carry'd 150 feet into the Water. It is Very Strong & high on account of the Great Sea Which Sets into the Bay in the Winter Which they Reckon from the 29th of May to the Latter End of August. During Which time they Suffer None of their own Ships to Remain in the Bay

On the End of the Wharf are Six Cranes for Loading or Unloading Vessels & 4 Cocks for Watering Shipping. On the Middle of the Wharf is a Guard, A Gate & Wicket, which is always Shut at Dark & all boats are then obligd to go on board, or Moor to the Wharf & Deliver up their Oars, Masts, sails Rudder [indecipherable] to the Guard who Returns them Next Morning at Day light.
At the Inner End of the Wharf is the Custom house Where two officers Constantly attend & Examine Every thing that Passes. they are Very Strict not suffering any but trifling things to Pass Without Leave from the Governor. In Case of the Arrival of a Large fleet a Contractor is appointed by the Governor to Supply them. But Single Ships are Supplied by Any Principal Merchant. their Market is a Very poor one Consisting of Bread, a few Vegetables Oranges & Some tobacco Which they Sell Very Dear. Indeed Articles of Every

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kind are at an Enormous Price. We were Much Deceived in our Hopes of procuring Many Articles here Cheap. Such as Tea, China, Nankin and Coffee. Better could be bought in England & much cheaper. Their beef is Tolerable. Mutton very good & fat, the sheep are Remarkable for their Large Flat Tails. A Lump of Solid fat, which serves for Byutter & Candles, Weighing from 8 to 16 Pounds; at the End of the Wharf stands an Old Fort. Of Little Use Now but [to hold] the Dutch India Company's troops. About 300 Men.
Close to this fort is the Place for the Execution or Punishment of Criminals. It Stands on A Rising Ground. A Low wall Round it which you Afscend by steps. On the Inside is a house where the Officers by Jury [?] afsemble to See the Punishment Properly Executed. Near this Place is an Hospital, Soldiers Barracks containing at present a Regiment of [indecipherable] who have not yet been Relieved since the Late War & these had been the Principal Defence of the Cape Against Commodore Johnstone.
The Town Runs from these Barracks about a Mile in Length & half a Mile in Breadth. At the back part of the town are the Companys Gardens in the Middle of Which the Governor Resides. The only Entrance is by a Very Handsome Stone Gate Where two Sentry Always Attend. Any Company Wether Inhabitants or foreigners Are Admitted to walk in them at Pleasure. Indeed it is the only Comfortable or Pleasant walk at the Cape. From the Gate goes a Broad Gravel Walk in a Direct line about A Mile in length on an Easy [Apant?]. A Row of Lofty Oaks on Each Side the Walk whose tops join & form an Arch & Behind the Oaks Hedges of Myrtle.
At the upper End is The Aviary & Some Dens of Wild Beasts. They at present Consisted of a Beautifull Tyger Cat about 3 feet high, two tyger wolves (a Most Mischievous & fierce animal) a Large & Very Ugly Baboon, A Very Beautifull Zebra, Some Foxes and two Jackalls. Two Dens were preparing for Lions withy which the Interior parts of the Country Near the Cape Abounds - A Variety of Curious & Beautifull Birds. Particularly the Ostrich. Balearie Crane & Birds of Paradise.

The Inhabitants of the Cape Consist of Dutch Merchants from Holland and the Native Dutch. Their Servants are Dutch, their Slaves are Malays, African & Madagascar Indians. The Whole Include upwards of 8000[?] - The Gentlemen here take Very little Exercise. Most of their Businefs being carryd on by their Clerks & Servants - At the West End of the town is a New Fort. Very Strong Consisting of two Bastions of 10 Guns Each Joind by a long Wall in the form of a Crescent on the top of which is a Battery of 19 Guns.
With Embrazures at the Bottom for As Many More - At our Arrival here their Militia was Embodied, which Happens Annualy - they consisted of 150 Horse & 266 foot the 20th of Octr Was the Last Day of their Performing their Exercise this Year. On this Ocafsion the Principal Inhabitants were Afsembled as Spectators

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The Lady's Dress.d in the Most fashionable London taste. With the adition of Some Beautifull Black & White Ostrich feathers on the Head & Left Side of the Waist. The Gentlemen Were Chiefly on Horsback, the Ladies in Carriages. Apparently Made in England -
The Exercise Was Very Indifferently Performd. I have Seen 40 Sailors fire a Much better Volley & It was With the Greatest Difficulty the Horse Could be Kept in a line -- Here Are No Taverns or Inns. The Custom is for Gentlemen to Live at a Merchants House as part of the Family for Which they pay Weekly About two Dollars. Equal to 12 Shill Sterling Not Including Wine &c. Which together With Washing for which they charge 6d Pr Shirt &c Makes Living on Shore Very Expensive.
However they Live Well & Supper is Always Servd up Hot & In Greater Quantitys than Dinner -- The Weather here is Very unsteady I have Seen from Day Light to Noon as Great a Variety of Winds & Weather as Ever I saw The Prevailing Winds in the Summer Are from the EtSoEt, which is Directly from the High Mountain Above the town & is Calld the Table land on account of its Rising Almost Perpendicular to a Great height & Being flat on the top.
When a Strong Wind in this Direction Begins, The Clouds Come Pouring With Vast Rapidity over the Top of the Mount where they Meet a Calm (In Consequence of the Perpendicular form of the Land) & fall Down like An Extensive Cataract to about one third the Way Down Where they Are Met by An Eddy Wind Which forces them upwards Again till they Join the Prevailing wind - A Very Curious Sight to Any Person Unaccustomd to High & perpendicular land --
Being Amply Provided here we took on board the Provision for the Live Stock Intended for the Colony - Bulls, Cows, Horses, Mares & Colts, Sheep & Hogs - The Signal for Sailing Was Made on Sunday the 12th of Nov.r but Calms Prevented our Sailing till Next Day When We Went to Sea With a S E Wind & Stood off Shore We Made But little Progress the first Week, but on Wednesday 21st Nov.r when we Were About 340 Miles Distant from the Cape - the Wind Came fair at NNE & we Pushd the fleet on Very fast & on Sunday 25th Governor Phillip, attended by a Lieut King, of the Navy & Lieut Dawes of the Marines, Came on Board the Supply, Ordering the fleet to follow in two Divisions, The three fastest Sailing Ships together & the Rest of the fleet under the Convoy of Capn Hunter of H.M. Ship Sirius -


We had Previously taken on board from the Different Ships Some Usefull Convicts Principally Carpenters & Joiners - At Noon We Made All Sail & left the fleet and on Monday Lost Sight of them from this time We had a Constant fair wind from NW. to SW. the Latter Sometimes blew Very Strong & Cold Raising a Very High Sea & for 12 or 13 Days We Ran at the Rate of 130 Miles a Day. it is Remarkable that the Wind During So long a Run Should Never Come to the Eastward, Nor Ever Remaind More than 30 hours at one Quarter but Shifted Suddenly from one Quarter to the Other; on the 2nd of January 1788 We Met With a Violent Gale of Wind at North which Lasted 12 Hours & Made a Most

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Tremendous Sea & Ended in Rain & Lightning. (The day before We had Seen a Small Land bird flying Round the Ship) the Wind Now Came to the SW & we Pushd forward with all Sail & Next Day. Monday 3rd at 10 in the fore noon Made Van Diemans Land the Southern Extremity of New Holland. Its Lattitude 43º:37' South. Its Longitude 146º:36' East from Greenwich, and Distant from the Cape of Good Hope 5987 Miles. After Making the Land we Met with Contrary Winds, Various & Rapid Currants Which Retarded our Progress Along the Coast (which we Saw little of) till the 19th of Jan.y on Which Day At 4 in the Afternoon We Anchord Safe (& All in Good health & spirits) in the Long Wishd for Botany Bay.


The Natives as We Sail'd in Came down to the Edge of the Clifts Making a Noise & Lifting up their Spears. Immediately After Anchoring the Governor Accompanyd by Some officers went on Shore on the North Side of the Bay & Met Some of the Natives on the Beach. He Went towards them singly - Which as Soon As they Saw A Very old man Walkd from Among them to Meet him. this Man (Who Probably Rememberd the Dress of Capn Cooks officers) Did not shew the least Signs of Fear or Distrust - the Governor Put Some Red Cloth About his Neck. Gave him Some Beads & other Trifling Presents, With Which he appeard Well pleasd. The Natives However Soon With drew to the Woods & our party Returnd on board.

 
The Next day We Landed in Different Parts of the Bay. Saw the Natives who Came to us without fear Armd with Spears, but without Any appearance of Hostile Intention - they Would Receive Anything from us but we Could not then get them either to Eat or Drink with us. I Went to An Elderly Man. Put a Piece of Blue Cloth Round his Neck & a String of Glass Beads Round his Arm, Shook him by the hand which he Seemd to take as a Mark of Confidence. I pulld a Biscuit out of my Pocket broke it. Eat Part of it & Gave him the other Piece. He took it, put it to his Mouth & Appeard to be Eating - & Soon With drew toward his Companions. I followd at a Small Distance. Saw him throw down the Bread Which I took up unseen by him & found he had Not tasted it.


The Next Day Morning the first three Ships of the fleet Arrivd & on the Next Day the 20th the Sirius & Remainder of the fleet Arrivd & Anchord in the Bay All Well. -
The Next Day the Governor, Cap.t Hunter the Master of the Sirius & Myself Went to Examine an opening about 12 Miles North of Botany Bay, Where Capn Cook Supposd there Was a Harbour to Which he Gave the Name of Port Jackson. We found it Perhaps as fine a Harbour As Any in the World With Water for Any Number of the Largest Ships. Here We Stayd two Days Examining the Different Little Bays or Coves with which the Harbour Abound One of which (about 5 Miles from the Entrance of the Harbour) the Governor fixd upon & to which he Gave the Name of Sidney Cove.

 
We then Returnd to Botany Bay & on the 25th Saild With the Governor in the Supply for Port Jackson & Next Day the Whole fleet followd & In the Evening all Anchord Safe in Sidney Cove. Time was then Busily Employ.d Erecting the Tents, Landing the Provisions Soldiers & Convicts. In the Mean time We were taking on Board Provisions & the Necessary Implements for Establishing a

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Colony on Norfolk Island. Discoverd by Cap.t Cook & on the 14th of February We Saild From Port Jackson With Lieut King, a Surgeon & a Midshipman from the Sirius, a Weaver Nine Men & Six Women Convicts, With the Wind fair which in two hours Increasd to a Violent Gale & Continued till the 16th but Did us no Dammage - On the Morning of the 17th we Discoverd An Island at a Great Distance & the Next Day passd within four Miles of it

As We Were Undoubtedly the first who had Ever Seen it Lieutenant Ball Namd it Lord Howe Island - As the Wind Was then fair We Made the Best of our way towards Norfolk Island , Which we Reachd on the 29th of Feb.y. But it was the 3rd of March before we were able to land. Which we then Effected with the Greatest Difficulty, but found it would` be Impossible to Land the Stores or Women on Account of the Violent Sea Which Broke on the Shore. We therefore Went in Search of Some other Spot with Little hopes of Success & on the Morning of the 6th I was Sent in a Boat to Explore the South part of the Island & found An Eligible place for Landing & the Next Day we Landed all the Colony there with their Provisions Stores &c; to this Place, Lieut King, the Superintendant & Commandant of Norfolk Island, Gave the name of Sidney Bay - This Island Lays in 29º.02' South Lattitude & 168º:10' East Longitude from Greenwich. It is About fifteen Miles in Circumference & Its Steep Shores Rise Almost Every Where Perpendicular to the Height of 80' or 100 feet above the Sea Which is 60 feet Deep Within a Quarter of a Mile in General all Round the Island - the Sea Lashing its Rocky Shores in a Terrible Manner which Renders landing Impossible Even at Sidney Bay, When the Sea is Much Agitated

The Appearance of the Island is Certainly Beautifull from the Sea. It is Coverd with the tallest & Largest Pines. Some of them Measuring 27 feet Round & Were at least 50 feet High before they Branchd. How high they Are Above that I Cannot say, as none were Cut Down Whilst We Staid but I think their tops Are More than 100 feet from the Ground. There is A Small Rivulet of fresh water At Sidney Bay. But No Grass that we Saw fit for Cattle. the Island Rises towards the North End to a High hill which Mr King has Namd Mount Pitt. On Sunday the 9th of March, having Seen the little Colony Settled in their tents & Renderd them Every Assistance in our Power we at 4 oClock that Afternoon Weighd Anchor & Directed our Course towards Howe Island Which on the 12th we Saw at the Distance of 60 Miles & Next Day Anchord in a Bay on its SW side. The Island Lays in the form of a Crescent - is about 6 Miles long and one Mile Broad. At its South End Stand two Very High Mountains - Coverd at the top with Cabbage tree & Shrubs. Indeed the Whole of the Island Abounds in the Cabbage & Mangrove.

The Island (these two Mountains Excepted) is Moderately Low. A Light Sandy Soil & no Running Stream of fresh Water that we Saw. However, It will be a Valuable acquission to the Colony at Port Jackson for It Abounds with Turtle the Much Superior to any I have Ever Seen on the Shore We Caught Several Sorts of Birds Particularly a Land fowl of a Dusky Brown About the Size of a Small Pullet, a Bill 4 Inches

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Long, Legs & feet like a chicken. Remarkably fat & good, Plenty of Pidgeons, a White fowl Something like the Guinea hen, with a Very Strong thick & Sharp pointed bill of a Red Colour. Stout legs & claws. I Believe they are Carniverous they hold their food between the Thumb or Hind Claw & the Bottom of the foot & lift it to the Mouth Without Stooping so Much As A Parrot. Some of them have a few Blue feathers on the Wing. Here is also a Web footed fowl In General of A Deep Blue Its Bill 2 Inches long
Straight but Suddenly Bent downwards at the End. Very Sharp & Strong. Its Tail 3 Inches long. It does not Seem formd for a Long flight having only six long feathers in the Wing. Its Breast is Coverd with Very thick & Long Down which Grows from the Tips of Very Strong feathers with which the whole Breast & Belly is Coverd. Its Length from Tip of Bill to tip of Tail 22 Inches, the Extent of its Wing from tip to tip 25 Inches.

We took them Burrowing in Holes like Rabbits
The Bay Abounds with a Variety of Excellent fish. At 4 oClock in the Afternoon We Took Possession of this Island in the Name of His Brittanic Majesty & Displayd the English Colours & Mr Ball Namd the Different Parts of the Island. The two Mountains Mount Gower & Mount Lidgbird the Valley Between them Erskine Valley. A Large Bay Near the Middle of the Island Prince William Henry Bay
two other Bays to the Left of it Hunter Bay & Callam Bay & An Island in the Middle of Prince William Bay Blackburn Isle
had I been Present at this Ceremony it should have been Namd Knight Island
We took on Board 18 Turtle of Near 500 Pounds Weight Each & Next Morning Put to Sea & Directed our Course for Port Jackson. About 13 Miles in a S E Direction from Howe Island. stands a Beautifull Pyramidicall Rock Which I think a Mile or More Perpendicular Height & Not More than 3/4 of a Mile Base to this Mr Ball has Given the Name of Balls Pyramid. The Island Lays in 31º:36' South Lattitude & 159º:04' East Longitude & is 389 Miles from Port Jackson Where we Arrivd on the 20th March.

We have Since been at Howe Island but found no Turtle the Winter Being too far advancd they are All gone to the North into A Warmer Climate & I Suppose it Will be November before they Return. With Respect to this Country I am Really at a Loss My Friend What to Say. 'tis true we know but Little of it But I Believe it is the General opinion that it will be A Number of Years Before the Mother Country Can Derive Any Advantage from it Adequate to the Expence of Maintaining a Colony on it. What Little we have Seen of it is Rocky With here & there a Small Space of Clear Ground where the soil in General is a Black Mould Mixd with Sand
It Produces no Wood that we have yet Seen fit for Ship Building. The Trees Grow to a Great Height & Size But Most Are Hollow or Decayd in the Heart & the Best When Sawn into Planks are Short & Brittle We have Never found Any fruit Except A Small Berry Something like

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our White Currant, A Species of the Sloe & a Bean Which Grows on A Slender Stalk which Creeps Along the Ground. Our Gardens have Producd Very little tho' we had An Excellent Assortment of Seeds - Cabbage, Turnips Potatoes & Onions Came up Very Soon but in a few Days after they Dwindled to Nothing. However Some People Here who Understand farming Say the Ground is too Rich & that in another Year by Proper Managment it will be Very Good. We are Certainly at Present situated on the outskirts of the Country on Account of the Convenience of so Good A Harbour. But we have seen in a Clear Day A Ridge of Very high land I suppose 30 or 40 Miles Directly Inland. Our Parties have never yet been so far. But I am Informd the Governor Intends Going With A Strong party Very Early this Spring & I think there is Reason to suppose he Will find much better land there.
We have Never Yet Met With Any fresh water River Nor have I Seen but two Places Along the Coast where I think it Probable to Meet with A River - one of these is About 4 Miles to the Southward of Botany Bay The other Between Capes George & Long Nose in Latt.e 35º:22' South both Which Places I hope we Shall Examine When the Summer Advances. The Animals of this Country Are All Curious.
The Kanguroo is frequently shot by our Parties & is the only fresh Meat they Can get. Some of them Are Very large Weighing upwards of 140 Pounds. Capt Cook has Describd their form. I shall only Remark that A Stout Grey-hound has little chance of overtaking them. they Hop on their hind legs With Great Swiftness over the High Grass The Tail is Certainly their principal Weapon of Defence Which they Can use With force sufficient to break a Bone. The Root of the tail of a Large one Measured Eleven Inches Round & Was Near 4 feet Long. They Have a False Belly which is a Loose Skin which they have the power of Expanding or Contracting at Pleasure. They Bring forth the Young Perfectly formd Not Bigger than A Mouse: & in time of Cold or Danger always takes Shelter in the false Belly. To What Age the Parent Protects them in this Manner we do not know, but I think not After they are the Size of a Cat.
The Flying Squirrel is an Inhabitant of these woods & two or three Animals of the Opossum kind & I am Informd Some Tyger Cats have been Seen. the Natives have Small dogs of the fox kind. The Birds Are in No Great Number or Variety. In the Marshy Grounds some Large Black Swans have been killd differing from ours in Nothing but the Colour. The Woods Abound With Beautifull Paroquets & Some Cockatoos. the Crows Are Exactly like ours & Some Beautifull Hawks. The Harbour is Tolerably well Stockd with

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fish some of them Very Good. The Natives Are to All Appearance the Lowest in Rank Among the Human Race. They go Quite Naked & Very Dirty - they do not seem to Live in Community but by separate familys in Caves & Hollows of the Rocks & As far as we know live only on fish & the Root of the Fern Which Grows here in Plenty - they Dive for fish & Oysters With Great Dexterity. they have Canoes of the Most Simple Construction Made of the Bark of the Tree Tied together at Each End. We have Never Seen above 40 of them in one place at a time Except on the 6th of June.
When a Party of Gentlemen With their Servant & four Soldiers Were Walking to Botany Bay Met with a Body of 300 & upwards all armd with Spears & Targets. They Did not seem to feel their Superiority of Numbers but Walkd out of the Track our People Were in & let them pass without Showing any Mischevious Intention - There is but one Way by Which I Can account for their being then Collected to Such Numbers Which is that No Cannon had Ever Been fired Since our Arrival on the Coast (muskets Indeed they had often heard & seen) till the 4th of June, the Anniversary of His Majestys Birth Day. When the Sirius & Supply fir'd A Salute of 21 Cannon Each - At Sun Rise, Mid Day & at Sun Set.
Probably Some of the Natives had been Spectators from the Woods. Might take Such a Terrible Noise as a Denunciation of War & Were Collecting together for Mutual Assistance - they have Since been Seen in familys As Usual In their Canoes Catching fish & one Sunday three Canoes Came Alongside the Supply but we Could not Prevail on Any of them to Come on board. there has been a Murder Committed by them on a Convict who with Another Was sent into the Woods to Collect Some Herbs & his Companion Was Wounded But on Enquiry We have Every Reason to believe that the Convicts had been the first Aggressors Some Days before. For My own part I Believe the Natives to be a Quiet Inoffensive People Yet I Believe they are total Strangers to Personal fear & have a Quick sense of An Injury. The Convicts (though they have Experiencd Every Indulgence from the Governor Whose Humanity & attention to them whilst at Sea & Since our arrival here Intitles him to their Esteem as their Best friend) in General Are a Set of Hardend Wretches

The Tents were Scarce Set up before they Began Robing them - the Governor Began with them by trying (after Sentence of Death had been Passd) what Lenient Measures Would do & alterd their Sentence to Transportation on a Small Rocky Island in the Middle of theHarbour Where they were fed upon Bread & Water During Pleasure. But this had no Good

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Effect & It was Soon found Necessary to Put the Law in full force. four have Been Hangd. Two more Were Under Sentence of Banishment for life but Recievd a Pardon on the Kings Birth day - on Which Day all the Officers of the Navy & Army Dind With the Governor who Namd. the Adjacent Country Round Port Jackson the County of Cumberland. On Sunday the 22nd of June at 20 Minutes after 4 in the Afternoon a Shock of An Earthquake was felt through the Camp. The Surgeon of the Supply & Myself Were then In the Woods about a Mile & half from the Camp & were both at the time standing still & silent Examining some Gum Issuing from A Large tree the Shock did not last above two Seconds. It Came from the SW. like the wave of the Sea Accompanyd by a Noise like A Distant Cannon. The Trees Shook their Tops as if a Gale of Wind Was Blowing. the Afternoon was Remarkably Mild & Serene & Very little Wind at NNE -- The Climate is Certainly Very Healthy. there has Been but 50 Burials Since our Arrival - As Many Marriages. and 10 Convicts Missing The Principal Distempers here Are the Flux & Scurvy. Both Which would Soon Disappear Could Plenty of Vegetables be Procured

I must Now My Respected friend finish as the Ship Which Will bring this
Sails tomorrow. I am Afraid You will hardly find it Worth the Reading. But I was not Willing to loose this (Perhaps the only) Opportunity of Writing to you Whilst we Remain in this Country - I Hope Yourself Mrs Knight & family Are Well. I Beg you give my Respects to Your Good Mother & Sister - Believe me You have my Sincerest Wishes for your healths & Wellfare. when opportunity offers You Will be so Good as to let my Newbury friends know that the Distance of Many thousand miles has not the Least Impaird the Esteem I have for them.

I am Yours Most Affectionately. D. Blackburn
Supply. In Sidney Cove )
Port Jackson. 12 July ) 1788