Representations of life in the penal settlement at Sydney Cove
James Campbell
Source: Collection 16: Lord Ducie - Letter received from Captain James Campbell, 12 July 1788
Author: Captain James Campbell
Source type: Primary source
Useful for: The experiences of men, women and children in the penal settlement of New South Wales.
About Captain James Campbell
Captain James Campbell (d. 1795?) was posted as Company Commander of the New South Wales Marine Corps in November 1786. He embarked as Captain of Marines with the First Fleet on board the Lady Penrhyn.
Selected excerpts
Shortage of provisions
Letter from Captain James Campbell to Lord Ducie, 12 July 1788.
12 July 1788
"...I take the liberty of giving you the best account in my power of this country, as well as of the things which we have met with in it since our arrival... it appears to me rather strange, that if a ship or vessel have remained here so long, without some of them having an opportunity to return home, to the nearest port, to endeavour to procure some relief or refreshment for us, which we are in absolute want of, having nothing short of 2 provisions to subsist upon, and of which we are extremely in want.
I know not why, or whether it was so intended by administration, that ample supplies should have been given to the ships ordered to this continent; but only half a pint per man of wine this is sufficient to subsist in this state and climate, and this must be taken for drinking water, that remains..."​​​
Settlement chapters
Arrival at Sydney Cove
26 January 1878: "...So soon as we came to this place, everybody on board was got on shore, and into tents. All hands were set to work, but without order or regularity, nobody could know what was, or ought to be done but our principal. Every thing was to be done at the same time, and of course nothing is done but what we ought at the advance of a more experienced commander, which we have not yet got and some fear never will.
In short, my Lord, I do not think (extraordinary as you may think the expression coming from under my opinion, so totally unqualified for the situation he has taken in hand, as the man is. To entertain any hopes of success, or satisfaction — those under him always, and as not requiring a man of a very liberal and generous way of thinking it would never do.
This man will do every thing through mere love of power, and to the end of every undertaking, his plan for establishing the Colony or carrying on his work to any one, would help, consult them — positive in general, from every side or quarter I know not, but this is hardly ever so which the orders of the preceding are not communicated, nor taken from one. Time of work before it would be seen, and could be known what is proper to be executed. I would have except such things as are immediately carrying on for himself, which we now understand to be only set down — Every thing that can be held of, in appropriated to his own use..."
Description of the country and flora
"... I write therefore to give the best account I can of this new country. The principal part of it is a very fine country. Several marshes are to be met with here and there, some patches of tolerable good looking ground which, if cleared from trees, might be brought to produce corn. The whole country is so overspread by trees, impossible to travel without some object, which is of a very large size. The soil has no great depth, but when cleared of the trees, and then the coast near or very near the surface, and from tree to tree in such a manner that there was not a thing remaining on the ground but trees more or less removed, roots and branches — a work of infinite labour most disagreeable.
All the fresh water we have yet found are the draining from the Marshes, but this is nothing good — not a River, or any thing like one can we find — some banished who had been sent a few days ago to hunt for the Governor's lost cows, say that they discovered a large river, but as they could find no boats in it, it is probable that it was only one of the Vallies which was overflowed by the heavy rains we have had for some weeks...
All the trees here, wanting the name of Timber, are confined to two kinds. The first is a very large promising and beautiful tree, perfectly straight in its trunk, with noble spreading branches. It has a strong aromatic taste and smell, much resembling Pepper-mint, but, I have heard, when once cut, soon becomes rotten. A great quantity of a kind of shrubbery that grows readily even from in a stream, but the supposed usefulness only is of no use — neither is this tree, for when it's sawn it is fit for no one purpose but the fire — when exposed to the air, it soon dries the cut wood.
The other tree does not grow to any considerable size, tho’ very lofty, it is likewise very hard, and grows much smaller than Pine, but with great care it must be of the oak. This tree, if it could be formed sound, might be very useful here in building, but not one in a thousand can be found without rot at the heart, yet when cut the distance of the badness does not much increase, of which we are not left in suspicion — every side of us are we from necessity obliged to make use of such trees, as we are now making for our houses — our variety of shrubs is great, and some of them most beautiful — from which I presume nothing…"​
Descriptions of fauna
​"...All the animals we have yet seen, are confined to a very small number. The most rare, the species, the dog, which is much larger than ours, more from the length of its hind legs, we call the Kangaroo, but the flying squirrel, which is just as large a common one in England, another of a large size, but without any appearance of the kangaroo, we have had several killed, weighing from twelve to an hundred and forty pounds. This animal has somewhat exceeded by far much more equal to the flesh than ours. I shall therefore only say of them that their flesh is by no means so good as it has been reported. In the contrary, it stands in need of sauce, and notwithstanding vulgar prejudice of those about every that I have yet seen. However, bad enough it is, I can assure your Lordship you would hardly when we can get a piece of one to make up our best Beef Meals.
That your Lordship may be enabled to form a better judgement of this strange animal, than any description can convey, I have taken the liberty to send you one of their skins with one that Major Ross is going to send to Lord Howe. Animals here are not so in their condition perfect. I have now seen but what the natives call Bombu, who have seen them in life, will direct the stuffing and placing of the skin in a proper form. We have a young one, about the size of a large Hare, which is living by me. The dam of it was shot some days ago, and the young one taken quietly by the side. The man took it up in his arms. It is become perfectly tame about me, I have allowed any thing given. It seems such some shorter are very handsome, but its enormous thick and large legs gives it a very awkward appearance in its hinder parts..."
Descriptions of bird life
​​"...Birds, except of the same kind are tame, which are found the same as in England, as swans and ducks. One bird of the size of the ostrich has been shot, it weighs nearly four pounds. The feathers of this bird have some appearance of being feathers — the skin from which is taken, I send your Lordship one of the largest of them.
We have likewise shot a black swan which is very large, but no one of this kind has ever been shot, one. They say that they have seen white swans. Some Bustard, something the sandpiper, have been shot also. I call the Birds, not to be familiarised names, are assigned to the English birds. The animals found are in no number or variety, and nothing remarkable in any of them, of which we have seen. They all seem to be of the wood pigeon kind..."
Aboriginal Peoples
...Our Natives are certainly the most wretched set of the human species I ever saw. Men, women, and children, naked as they came into the world. Hair worn short... for skins just thrown around, support only the air to keep their principal places, of which seems to be the occasion where nature meant to do it... Both men and women are very expert in spearing and such as women use spears.... They are also very dextrous in fishing from these canoes — with the line, formed from those fibres, and the hook from the bones of their fish, with the same hands as their canoes, which are made of the bark of Trees, stripped together at each end like the manner of a sugar-bag.
Their spears are much superior to those of the New Zealanders — a plain hollow made at one end, through the point near a finger or two of wood. They throw stone axes, but when they mean to attack, they have no rest, for which we have seen them, in several skirmishes, very expert. Their defensive arms — bark shields, which they move to evade the stones if thrown.
…they are however much more harmless than they have been represented — and I cannot but admire the quickness and dexterity shown in the handling of their weapons.
It is not my present intention to dwell longer on this subject, though these people have been supposed to be the most miserable upon earth — I must say I have observed considerable ingenuity among them, and particularly in the construction of their fishing implements.
I have also observed them using fire in a very singular manner, carrying lighted pieces of wood from one place to another, and sometimes making use of the bark of trees to preserve the flame. Their manner of life appears to be wandering, moving from place to place as they find convenience in fishing or hunting..."
Early hardships
"...A servant belonging to one of the transports, about fourteen years of age, having committed a robbery on his master, was severely punished, but not knowing where to save him from the shame of he was once got hold of, he made his way into the woods, thinking no doubt, but he might exist there, notwithstanding the numerous losses, before any person, possessing the knowing of provisions superior to the want of a circumstance death, that human can stand out for the savage animals, scarcely lurking about every bush, and perhaps no sooner he escaped.
He said that the natives were seen by him in many places in the woods, and entirely without provisions...
​...The distance and difficulty of this country is truly dreadful, and every part of it that we have yet seen, has evidently proofs of the violence of the element.. and to add to our comforts, we have already experienced a storm of no small magnitude.
Surely, my Lord, Administration will never persist in so romantic a scheme as the forming a settlement in such a Country which no person appears to be. Not one thing has been found that was promised to be an object of commerce, or worthy the attention of a commercial nation. Did the Harbour answer they are perhaps to carry off one settlement — it would be something at most desirable — but even then, every thing necessary for equipping or repairing ships must be procured from home...
But I am myself fully convinced that the nation would save money by feeding their convicts at home upon provisions of Bread & clothing them in double more good, rather than provide for them here the worst fare that can be thought of.
We have likewise taken possession of Norfolk Island. Lieutenant King of the Sirius with some seamen, female convicts, were sent there in the tender the 6th May, very soon after our arrival...
Our Climate is looked upon to be a favourable one. Our disorders are the scurvy, dysentery, fevers and agues. At the latter may be prevented from…
The country produces from our best discoveries, none or nearly so answer of that description. We have neither vinegar or vegetables in our stores — we have our Surgeon, with portable soup, spices, sugar, and that very little of any vegetable productions to administer to the unhappy sufferers, many of whom are in a dreadful condition — we look forward to be of our convicts since we came here.
In all, we have some thirty five embarked, about one hundred of them sick, and many appearing to have suffered by the natives. Four have been buried, and the rest, if it comes so sudden, have little comfort of health..."
~
Letter dated November 1788 - Hardships worsen
"...At present we have not any vegetables, nor provisions, with the species, are by some expected both animal and taste. Our provisions of flour we are on short allowance, and we have not, I understand, three weeks bread in store, more than that we live upon the allowance we have, the daily proportion for the man, which is with his, is the proportion of the ration served upon us from the victualling, half pound of flour for a pound of flour. In short my Lord, the country bids little promise for those who have the most distant prospect of relief.
Notwithstanding all this, the same confusion and neglect has so conducted, and seemingly promises to continue. It is in vain to think of this to be remedied. But even if that was not the case, I still maintain as I long since and fear to say, that the country cannot or should be capable of producing more than sufficient to support this Colony, and not even sufficient to the Mother Country as in the days of her greatest prosperity she was hardly equal to.What I mean is, that to send here is the worst measure to serve to an extent, and not distant, as I formerly observed, is totally…
This is long since past; but now the command of the whole division, the Governor, has now taken. Your Lordship may imagine the expense that must attend the establishing a Colony in such Country, where almost every article must come from home, consequently every article necessary for life must be transported.
Our relief, however, and what we now entertain hopes of, is not so promising as might otherwise inspire in this respect, notwithstanding to make believe that this place will in time become the Empire of the East. Not being quite so sanguine in this hope, I am obliged to give information.
One day, when he was talking in the manner I took the liberty of asking him what he grounded this opinion upon — upon examination he was at last obliged to is only upon our situation. I then grounded his opinion myself, saying that, in my own opinion, it was the very last reason that should be assigned, for he had already confessed that all his supplies must come from England, consequently must subject to want, we were not of every fair situation.
However, this man has so the people at home take a proper knowledge of the true state of this settlement, commonly known only from Governor Phillip's account, but I must very much fear the contrary.
We remain, as much as ever, and no likelihood so far, that from the state of this country they are convinced, become more alarming, and that puts some minds of our people to doubt.
The grounds round this place not being favourable to pasture, and therefore the want of many stock is now becoming apparent. The harvest for some months, to be expected, is quite insufficient for the next year's crop. The place about fourteen miles from here, now is said to have some promise, but appearances there are very discouraging.
~
Source: Sydney Morning Herald, 15 January 1938 - Marking 150th anniversary of settlement
Topic: Captain James Campbell's letters
Link: p18 - 15 Jan 1938 - The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) - Trove
Source type: Primary source
Useful for: The experiences of men, women and children in the penal settlement of NSW.
"VILE COUNTRY"
EARLY DESCRIPTION
OF SYDNEY.
Remarkable Letters.
Two remarkable letters written from Sydney Cove in July and November, 1788, within a few months of the landing of Governor Phillip, have been received by the Mitchell Library. They were written by Captain James Campbell, an officer of the Marine Corps of the First Fleet.
Captain Campbell, who was one of the most disgruntled officers in the fleet, was a severe critic of Governor Phillip. He described the first settlement as a "scene of confusion," and predicted failure of the settlement. He considered that the "vile" country could never support the colony.
The letters were received by the Mitchell Library from the Earl of Ducie. They were written to the Earl of Ducie's ancestor, the Third Baron Ducie. Officials of the Mitchell Library regard the letters as very important, emphasising the extraordinary nature of Governor Phillip's achievement. They were amongst the first letters sent home from the colony...
Library officials said that Major Ross, commandant of the Marines, and Phillip's second in-command, constantly hindered, rather than helped, his chief, and Captain Campbell seemed lo have taken pleasure in echoing Ross's views, if not even outdoing him. Captain Campbell was more than 50 at the time.
WASTE OF MONEY
In the first of the letters, a long one of eleven foolscap pages, Captain Campbell writes of the first days following the landing:
"All hands were then set to work, but without order or regularity - nobody could know what was, or ought, to be done but our Principal. Everything must be done at the same time, and, of course, nothing is done but what we ought to be ashamed of. A scene of confusion ensued which we have not yet got out of, and, I much fear, never will. Is it not most extraordinary how such a man as this could have got himself talked of as he was at home?"
"Surely, administration will never persist in so remarkable a scheme as the forcing of a settlement in such a country as this at, present appears to be. Not one. thing can be found that ever promises to lie an object of commerce or worthy the attention of a commercial nation. I am myself fully convinced that the Nation would save money by feeding their convicts at home upon venison and claret-cloathing them in purple and gold, rather than provide for them here the worst fare that can he thought of."
"NEVER SUPPORT COLONY"
In the second letter, written just before he was sent Rose Hill to make preliminary preparations for the settlement there, Campbell reiterates, his pessimistic view of the colony's prospects.
"I still maintain it as my sincere and fixed belief that this country (at least, the part which we have taken possession of) can never be brought to support this colony but at such an expense to the mother country as in the days of her greatest prosperity she was hardly equal to. Our chief, whether from interested
motives or not, I will not presume to say, is still most sanguine in his hopes, and wishes to make us believe that this place will in time become the Empire of the East. How far this man has let the people at home into a proper knowledge of the true state of this vile country I cannot say, but from the general tenor of' his conversation I much, very much, fear the contrary."
Why this 1938 article is important
-
This 1938 article is significant because:
-
It marks the discovery of the Campbell letters
-
It identifies Campbell as aligned with Major Robert Ross
-
It highlights rare early criticism of Governor Phillip
-
It emphasises how uncertain the colony's survival appeared in 1788