The harmony of the settlement was interrupted by a violent, though perhaps prudent and necessary, mea sure, in the deposition of governor Bligh in 1808, by an officer of inferior rank. The immoderate use of spirits at that time led to serious consequences, and the officer who seized on the person of the governor, judged it necessary both for his safety in securing him from popular resentment, and for promoting the peace of the settlement. Nevertheless, on being brought to a court martial of recent date, the act of insubor dination was considered paramount to the urgency of the cast, and such as could not admit of extenuation.
The flooding of the rivers which traverse the set tlement occasioned extensive devastations during 1809, a calamity which had sometimes before been experienced. The neighbouring crops were entirely destroyed, and great numbers of sheep and cattle washed away. The magnitude of the losses by this event, induced the governor to issue a proclamation, prohibiting live stock to be slaughtered for a limited time. But in 1810 the colony was rapidly recover ing from the damage, and carrying on a spirited traf fic with distant countries, and the surrounding islands. From the Fejec islands alone, 40,000 seal skins had been obtained, which in England are worth 60,0001., and other branches of commerce were equally pro mising.
The prosperity of Botany Bay is daily increasing : the spirit for adventure is as strongly implanted in the colonists as in the mother country : new manu factories are founded ; and the territory brought un der agriculture continually enlarging. Fortunes have
even been realized by convicts reclaimed to industry, which would be deemed considerable in England. We are aware that the use of this colony to Britain has been challenged, and that some have gone so far as to recommend its being abandoned. But we enter tain many doubts whether such a measure would be expedient, and it will be well to pause on the consequence, before deciding on what is of such un portacce to the community both at home and abroad. Attempts to found other settlements, under the most favourable circumstances, have failed; and the success of Botany Bay must, in a very great degree, be ascri bed to the vigour and intelligence of the governors, to whom its management has successively been confided. Extreme difficulty also must ever attend the proper choice of a situation for a similar purpose ; and al though both the expense of the colony to Great Britain, and the length of the voyage, are objections to our preserving it. Whether any place could be selected nearer our own island ; and whether it would, in a longer space of time, make equal progress ; are points which may reasonably lie called in question. See Phillip's Voyage to Botany Bay. Hunter's Voyage. Peron Voyage. Collins' riccount of Botany Bay. (c)