To enahle Kiiig to adminiBter the law, he was sworn it as a justice of the peace, hut capital crimes were reservedl for the sentence of the Criminal Court of Judicature at Sydne3^ The instructions ^iven to liin^ aiforil a clue to the conduct of Phillip at head-(|uartera. The nature of the soil, its fitness for Tarious productions, the prevailing winds, the tides, the chan<:;es of season, were to be carefully noted. No decked boat but the one intrusted to King was to be allowed at the island, and
- 4f Uy ftiiy accident any vessel or boat that exceeds twenty feet keel
I should be fiviven on the island, yon are immed lately to caoae such boat or vessel to be aeuttled, or otlierwi»e rendered niii^erviceable, letting her remain in that sitnation until yoii recei%e further diiectiuiia from me. Yon ^Till be fnrnished with six months' pro% isioDs, within which time yon will receive an additioiml supply^ but as you will be able to procure fisli and vegetables, you iirc to endcavcnu* to make the pro^isiotifi you receive serve as long as posaitde. The convicts being the servants of the Crown, till the time for which they are sentenced is expired, their labour is to l>e for the public, and you are to take particular notice of their general good or bad behaviour, that they may hereafter be employed or rewarded according to their ditlerent merits, You are to cause the prayers of the Church of England to he read with all aolcnniity every 8unda3% and you are to enforce a due observance of religion and good order, transmitting to Tiie, aa often as opportunity oH'ers, a full account of your particular Bituation and transactiorii?, 'ou are not to pBrniit any intercourse or traiJe with any shipa or vessels that may stop at the island, whether EnffUsn or of any other nation, unless «uch vesschi should be in ilistress, in which caae you are to afford them such assistance as mav be in vour power/ '^ (12th Februfiry, 1788.) ' H Sut'li was the spirit which guided Arthni' Phillip iu B governing the new state committed to his care, and in instructing his snhordinates ; and though his care and ^ valour may appear to the tVivoloas *' a little ont of fashion/' ■ it cannot be donl)ted that his manly sense of ditty impressed ™ itself strongly npon the IVatne of the colonial government, and continued amidst many changes and deflections to act great merit in the service as an othcer. As such I beg leave to recommend nim to your lordship. The rank of niaater and coniinaiider he well earned in the late war, ami I should Irtj very happy if he now attained it through your lordHhip, * . , Of your lordship's friendship I ha'ti had proofs of which I retain a just sense. Add to the obligation, my lonl, by believincf that I merit the friendship you honour me with, and that t am, with 08 teem, &c. ^ When King landed at Xorfolk Island with his people, he wrote: — '*I assembled all the settlement . , . I took possession of the Isle, drinking His Majesty, the Queen, l^rince of Wales, Uovernor Fliillip, and Muccesa to the colony, after which three cheers were given."
