1803 Settlement of Port Phillip 
			[Victoria]
Extracts from the voyage of H.M.S.Calcutta,
from Portsmouth to Port Phillip, Bass's Straits,
New South Wales.

It having been determined to colonize the southern extremity
of New South Wales, with prisoners, in order to their more
effectual reformation, the ship Calcutta,of 1,200 tons
burthern,commanded by D.Woodriffe, with a compiment of five
Lieutenants and a number of young Midshipmen,in January 1803
[during the truce with France] was ordered to the Nore to 
take in a compliment of  prisoners from Woolwich. 

On the passage from the Nore to Portsmouth, during some 
very rough weather, one of the Middys fell from the mizen
topsail [?]-yard and was killed, he was buried at the Haslar
hospital burying ground at Spithead.

We arrived in February,and there received another party of
prisoners,and also twelve free women with six children,to
whom the Government had kindly extended the permission of
accompanying their husbands,finding them a free passage and
provisions,with many little indulgences; we also took on board
about forty marines, with about eight women, wives and concubines
one woman was married by the Chaplain on  board to a serjeant of
marines,and, as an example to all parties, male and female, this
woman was suffered openly to cohabit with another man, an officer
of the ship, and that within ten days after her marriage.

On board the Calcutta were embarked Lieutenant Governer
Collins the Chaplain the Rev .R.KnopwoodA.M.,the
Deputy Assistant Commissary General, Leonard Fosbroke the
Captain of Marines -- Sladdon, and part of the voyage 
Assistant Surgeon Hopley,the remainder of the Officers,
with a guard of marines, and the stores and free settlers were
embarked in the Ocean, a hired transport of about 500 tons
burther,which ship was to accompany us to our destination.

While lying at Spithead, two of these free women were taken up
at Point,passing bad money, but Captain Woodriffe stating
to the authorities that he would take them with him they were allowed
to come on board on condition that they should not be suffered to 
land again.

On the 25th of April, every thing being in proper order we weighed
anchor from St Helen's and called at the Isle of Wight, where 
the Captain's family resided, just to suffer himself and two
sons [Midshipmen] to bid them farewell.
Government had shipped the greater part of four hundred prisoners
on board this vessel, to be conveyed to New South Wales,in order
to their perfect reformation; they were guarded by upwards of
forty Marines and directed by twelve Officers of various grades;
twelve free settlers and their families also oaccompanied them,
and yet, to this body of males, [we suppose to mortify both bond
and free for their former sins] there were only thirty women
and marriageable girls.  One free woman named Mrs Hobbs, who
left Point to become a settler,brought three young women,nearly
marriagable, her daughters,and one single free woman also came
with the family of Mr Cockerell - these were in the Ocean
transport.

The consequence of this mal arrangement was natural,and what 
invariably will be the case under the same circumstances,several
of the prisoner's wives were taken into the Officer's cabins by
day and by night,and those who could reckon upon a female
companion one week, were not sure of her a second, such was the
competition among the Officers

One great fault was the Governer left his wife behind, and
long before the voyage was at an end had secured the affections
of a fair wife, by displaying before her his high situation,
and the absolute POWER which he was destined to possess. 
Thus he drew her from the youthful Lieutenant who had before
revelled in her favour - she exchanged youth for age,she
appeared after all to be very fond of power,in fact I believe
she generally slept in the cabin, who one of the officers had
given up for her and her husband's accommodation.
ALl this passed directly under the eyes of the Chaplian,perhaps
he reproved it, but of that I am not certain,for he never
publicly reproved them.

In the Bay of Biscay the wife of Mr T Stocker, who had
been ill for some time, died, and was committed to the deep
in a handsome coffin, she died deeply regretted.  

We touched at Teneriffe for fresh provisions, and those things
which were considered most conducive to health in such long voyages.
We observed the battery from which the shot was fired which cost
Lord Nelson his arm,and were gratified with a full and clear 
view of the famous Peak, we caught here immense quantities of 
mackerel and departed after a ten day stay, little dissatisfied
at our short stay, from not knowing the language.

Shortly after leaving this Port, one of the free women was found
guilty of stealing a cap and some lace,the property of a fellow
passenger,and in order to repress all such actions for the future,
was sentenced and actually did receive corporal punishment,but
as the parties are at present in the colony, we omit names.
The good Captain Woodriffe behaved in the mildest and most
affectionate manner, as did also our worthy and humane Dr Bromley
not so the Lieutenant who the charge of the prisoners,named Houston
for while the Doctor and the Captain were devising means for their
comfort he was constantly speaking ill of the prisoners,and
talking of plots to take the ship and murder the officers-such
reports are common to almost all prison ships, but they seldom are
founded on fact, they generally emanate from the vacant skull of
some proud haughty tyrant or else originate with some deep rascal
who seeks for favour by speaking ill of his fellows,and thus becoming
of importance merely by his villainy.
I speak from certain data, when I declare that no rising was ever
mediated,or at most not by more than two or three,not but such  
discourse often arose in coversation,but it was never canvassed
over, nor any plan at any times fixed, advised or suggested,yet
three or four prisoners were flogged under this plea, through the
devices of this man, very few instances of theft occurred on board,
the most common and growing evil was gambling, this was for want of
classification, so many being together it was impossible  to 
detect them, because each person ,might be said to be a watchman,and
in defiance of the vigilance of Mr Gammon who duty it was to
look after the prisoners, he hardly ever could detect any,because 
the moment his foot was on the ladder the password would fly up to
the further recess of the deck, and the man who were before looking
on would comence walking back and forwards to distract the attention
of the officers.

We had a pleasant passage to Rio, where we anchored for three weeks 
and the prisoners were all supplied with bread, fresh meat,and 
oranges in abundance.Here we took in supplies of coffee,sugar &c.


To be continued..........


source: Launceston Advertiser Aug 1829.

caution; This article is a newspaper report and should be treated
as same as a source of information; all information should be
confirmed through contemporary official sources

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