The History of Tasmania, Volume I

Anthony Van Diemen, governor of Batavia--Sir Joseph Banks obtains Tasman's charts and journal--brass hemispheres at Amsterdam--discovery of Van Diemen's Land--Maria Island--visit of Captains Marion, Furneaux, Cook, Clerke, Cox, Bligh, D'Entrecasteaux--discovery of Bass' Straits by Bass and Flinders--Flinders' misfortunes and death--Baudin--misfortunes of our eminent navigators--monument erected by Sir John Franklin to Flinders.

Colonel Purry's project--opinion of Dalrymple--Cook's account of New South Wales--fleet assemble at Motherbank--Phillip governor--various opinions of the prospects of the colony.

FROM 1803 TO 1824.

Van Diemen's Land occupied--state of Port Jackson at the time--Port Phillip occupied--abandoned--account of Buckley--debarkation at Sullivan's Cove--names of officers--Paterson occupies at Port Dalrymple--account of Collins--Burke's remarks--Collins' history--Lord Hobart.

Hobart Town named--York Town--Tamar river--Launceston--the first house--Norfolk Island vacated--settlers conveyed to Van Diemen's Land--overflow of the Hawkesbury--destitution--deposition of Bligh--he visits the Derwent--conduct of Collins--establishes a newspaper--his death--monument erected by Franklin to his memory.

Lieutenant E. Lord acting lieutenant-governor--ditto Captain Murray--visit of Governor Macquarie--Davey lieutenant-governor --improvements effected--St. David's church built--Bent's newspaper--death of Colonel Davey.

Form of colonial government--courts--legislative orders--administration of justice--Abbot judge-advocate of Van Diemen's Land--opinions of Mackintosh--Bentham--torture--arbitrary conduct of Macquarie--governor's court--Abbot's death.

Lieutenant-Governor Sorell--checks bushranging--immigration of settlers--their privileges--Macquarie's account of Van Diemen's Land.

Whaling--duties on colonial oil--fetters of trade--Captain Howard's misfortunes--currency of Van Diemen's Land--trading habits.

Religious efforts--notices of Reverends Johnson, Marsden, Knopwood--Wesleyan first Sunday school--Reverends Horton, Mansfield, Macarthur--bible society--Reverend J. Youl--Reverend P. Connolly.

Bill for better administration of justice--supreme court established--colonial agent--departure of Sorell--Leith company--Sorell's character--agricultural societies--advantages of immigrants at the present time.

FROM 1824 TO 1836.

Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur, superintendent at Honduras--dispute with Colonel Bradley--with the slaveholders--state of Van Diemen's Land--court proclaimed--trial by jury--charges against Mr. J. T. Gellibrand, jun.--Talfourd's opinions--Van Diemen's Land declared independent of New South Wales--police magistrates appointed.

Rise of the Australian press--restraint of the press by Arthur--Dr. Ross government printer--colonists maintain the freedom of the press.

State of society at Hobart--Judge Forbes--Governor Darling--punishment of Thomson and Sudds--trial of Dr. Wardell--Major Honor's case--Mr. Humphrey police magistrate--petitions for an elective assembly-- disagreements with Arthur--Gellibrand, sen., dismissed from the magistracy--act of parliament for the colony--Marshall's proposal for a colonial association.

Dispute between Jennings and Montagu--rate on returned bills of exchange fixed--trial of Dillon--treasury robbed--Ikey Solomon's arrest--conduct of a jury--races at Ross--pirates take the Cumberland.

Bank of Van Diemen's Land--state of trade--Gatenby farmers--treasury robbed--Cox's conveyance established--dearth in New South Wales.

Van Diemen's Land divided into counties--land commissioners appointed--conditions of grants--land obtained by fictitious capital.

Brisbane grants--proof of ownership--resumption resisted by juries--defect in titles discovered--defect in description--caveat board established--Major Abbot's claim--quit rents--free grants terminated--Lord Ripon's regulations.

Wakefield's colonization scheme--Wilmot Morton's views--Swan River settlement--sufferings of first settlers--colony of South Australia--mineral wealth--Port Phillip occupied--emigration of females and mechanics--important consequences--table of land regulations.

Mr. W. Bryan's disagreement with Arthur--Arnold condemned for cattle stealing--case of Lewis--of Bryan, jun.--murder of Captain Sergeantson--perjury--trial by jury.

Recall of Arthur--- advancement during his administration--his great ability--his views of public works--his departure--death of Mr. J. T. Gellibrand.

FROM 1836 TO 1843.

Snodgrass acting-governor--arrival of Sir John Franklin--views of the colony--his reception--efforts to reconcile parties--magistrates increased--council chamber opened.

Difficulties respecting the churches--Dr. Lang--church and school corporation erected--dissolved by the crown--Sir G. Murray's views--Bourke's plan--Arthur's views--bishopric established in New South Wales--claims of the Presbyterians--declare for the established church of Scotland--Sir G. Grey's decision--act of general assembly--appellate jurisdiction refused--synod proclaimed--assembled and dissolved--controversy between the churches--church act passed--rivalry of the churches--act amended--demands on the treasury--bishopric of Tasmania established--Bishop Nixon enthroned--differences with clergy--ecclesiastical courts--refused by Wilmot--conference at Sydney--ecclesiastical titles arranged--free church of Scotland--tolerance of laity--respect for religion.

Education--Franklin proposes a college--Dr. Arnold's views--Mr. Gell appointed--foundation of college laid--abandoned--- schools in New South Wales--British system established in Van Diemen's Land--British system abandoned.

Distillation forbidden--emigration promoted--interference of commissioners--libel on Mr. Dowling--emigrants prosper--effects of probation--distress in the colonies--causes of distress--revival.

Franklin arranges probation system--dispute with Captain Montagu--dismisses him--Lord Stanley justifies Captain Montagu--Franklin recalled--his amiable character--last expedition.

FROM 1843 TO 1847.

Sir E. Wilmot arrives--his connexions--opinion of the _Times_--his popular manners--the agricultural association--bushranging--Wilmot's promises to the legislature--remodels the Tasmanian Society--his difficulties--central committee--usury law--fetters of trade--Hutt's motion--road bill--irrigation--expense of police--public debt--Wilmot adheres to his instructions--duties raised from five to fifteen per cent.--taxation defeated--quarrel with the _Courier_--Mr. Bicheno's political opinions--discussion in the council--Mr. Dry's motion--council adjourned--despatches respecting police and public works--injustice of Lord Stanley--anti-colonial character of probation system--Lord Stanley's restrictions--proposes to raise produce for commissariat-- inadequate surveillance--Wilmot's representations--Stanley's reply--council meet--estimates unintelligible--motions rejected by the governor's deliberative and casting votes--Mr. Smith's opinion--six members resign--obligation of official members--defence of the six--remarks-- popular sympathy.

Development of probation system--location of gangs--Mr. Pitcairn's petition--Wilmot's counter representation--Wilmot rejected as patron of the Van Diemen's Land agricultural association--vacancies filled up in the council--members resign--L24,000 allowed by home government-- differential duties bill--Hobart Town commissioners--dog act--recall of Wilmot--defended the probation system--blame cast on him--Wilmot's last address--Mr. Gladstone's despatch--his decision respecting the six--Wilmot slandered--Gladstone's letter--debates in parliament-- remarks--Wilmot's death--Mr. La Trobe's administration.

FROM 1847 TO 1852.

Sir William Denison meets the twelve--re-appoints the six--errors in commission discovered--refers home--the six appointed--dog tax declared illegal--actions of merchants--dismissal of Judge Montagu--Judge Pedder refuses leave of absence--Mr. Horne appointed--doubts' bill passed--decision of home government--charge against the merchants--their defence--appeals to Downing-street--public petitions for an assembly--plans proposed--council of New South Wales--discontent at Port Phillip--report of Sir William Denison--plan of Earl Grey rejected--privy council report--opinions of their report--bill passed--rejoicings at Port Phillip--at Van Diemen's Land--college at Bishopsbourne--Hutchins' school--high school.