RrV^ER DEKWENT SETTLEMENT. 909 Captain Colnett afforded the means of sending an estab- lisliment to Van Piemen's Land, He permitted Lieut, Bowen, of H.M.S. Glatffm, to volunteer his services, and that officer received his instructions on the 10th June 1803, I Mr. Moiintgarrett, of tlie GlattoUj volunteered in like pmanner. The Porp<fise and the Lady Ndson were to transport the expedition. Minute directions were given to prevent occupation hy settlers of such sites as might be wanted for a town or for fortifications. A few settlers were to receive 200 acres each, with convict labourers and their I rations for eighteen months. The *' Prayers of the Chm^ch of England were to be read with all due solemnity every Sunday." No vessels were to be permitted to communicate with the settlement except to obtain relief. Lieut. Courtoys, wlxo commanded the La dt/ NdsuHy was told by lung **iiot to keep too close to the land at any time, as you must recollect that the vessel is very leewardly." Bowen was provided with *' sealed orders, not to be opened except on the appearance of French vessels/* In Sept. 1803 Bowen reported his arrival. The land he thought excellent. Natives had been seen, but they were I shy. **I have not made any search for them, thinking myself well off if I never see them again. He dated his despatch from '*IIobart,"'^ at liisdon Cove, King haang named the settlement after Lord Hobart, Bowen appears to have struggled manfully with the difficulties of his position until, b}" the arrival of Collins in 1804, the govern- ment of the settlement passed hito inferior hands. The appointment of Collms was thus announced by Lord Hobart to King (14th Feb. 1803):
- The accoiiit>a you have traiisiiiitted of the importance of the Iitirbour in
the southern coast of New iSouth Wales io Bass's Straits, to which you I have given the niinic of Tort Phillip, and your repreaentfttion of the excel- lence of the elinmte, ami piomising appearance of the country on that coast, and also the advantageous situation of the island called King's lalaud, have induced me to consider with great attention the expe- diency of foiTuing from this country a settlement in that <|uarter, subordinate and dependent upon the government of New South Wales.'* . . . ** It ia evident thai the attention of other Kuropeau Powers has heeu drawu to that quarter of the world, and it need scarcely he observed
- " In some manner the name was converted in after years to Holmrt
Town» and haa only recently been restored as *'HobMt "
