Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/613

---

GOV. DARLING OCCUPIES POSTS. KING GEORGE'S Sd. 685 129th degree East Long., " it will not be easy to satisfy the French, if they are desirous of establishing themselves here, that there is any valid objection to their doing so on the West Coast ; and I therefore beg to suggest that this diflSculty would be removed by a Commission . . . describing the whole territory as within the government." Darling at once sent expeditions to occupy Western Port and King George's Sound. He confidentially enjoined the oflScers in command to be careful, if they should see the French, ** to avoid any expression of doubt as to the whole of New Holland being within this government, any division of it which may be supposed to exist under the designation of New South Wales being merely ideal, and intended only with a view of distinguishing the more settled part of the country. Should this explanation not prove satisfactory it will be proper, in that case, to refer them to this govern- ment for any further information they may require." If the French should be found landed, — "you will, not- withstanding, land the troops (two oJSicers with eighteen rank and file — agreeably to your instructions, and signify that their continuance with any view to establishing them- selves, or colonization, would be considered an unjustifiable intrusion on His Britannic Majesty's possessions." The French corvette U Astrolabe arrived in Sydney soon afterwards. Darling was informed by her commander that the expedition was scientific only, but he wrote that it was perhaps fortunate that the British ships Warspite, Success^ and Volage, were lying in Sydney. That fact, with a know- ledge that H.M.S. Fly had sailed for Western Port, might make the French captain ** more circumspect in his pro- ceedings than he otherwise would have been." Captain Wright took charge of the settlement at Western Port. Captain Wetherall of H.M.S. Fly assisted in forming it. Hamilton Hume was asked to go, but ** impaired health prevented his complying." Hovell (his feliow-tx'aveller in 1824) accompanied Captain Wright. Captains Wetherall and Wright furnished exhaustive reports. The former spoke of the "prospect of rendering Port Phillip in some degree tributary to the establishment " at Western Port. He soon perceived that Mr. Hovell was at fault, and reported : " It is vei-y evident that C^ e«»)eiYU^ ox^(>i ^ NRk. *^^