198 PHILLIP 1791 the country very delightful The shrub which most attracted mj attention was one which bears a white flower very much resembling our English hawthorn ; the smell of it is both sweet and fragrant, and perfumes the air around to a considerable distance.* The Gorgon being the first man-of-war that had entered the harbour since the foundation of the colony, her arrival Phiuipand formed an important event in its social history, and one that was no doubt particularly pleasing to Phillip and his offi- cers. A lively exchange of hospitalities took place between Government House and the ship, at which many cherished memories of Old England were revived. The anniversary of his Majesty's accession to the throne occurring a few days afterwards, Phillip celebrated the occasion by a dinner which, as Collins tells us, " was served to upwards of fifty Government officers, a greater number than the colony had ever before House. gQQj^ assembled together." The guests of course included the naval officers in port. Then came a breakfast on board the Gorgon, at which "the conversation was very inter- esting ; the one party anxiously making inquiries after their relatives in England, and the other attentively listening to the troubles and anxieties '* which had been endured by the colonists. " Governor King and his Lady," we are told, resided on shore at Governor Phillip's, "to whose house the visitors generally repaired after breakfasting on board," and from which parties were made for " several pleasant FumuDAtta. excursions up the Cove to the settlement called Parramatta." The trip up and down the river gave them an opportunity of seeing the various points of beauty in that branch of the harbour, which were fully appreciated. On reaching Parra-
- This passage hears a curious resembhmoe to oue in Tench's NarratiTCy
p. 118, on the same subject : — " The general face of the country is certainly pleasine, being diversified with gentle ascents and little winding vaUies, covered for the most part with large spreading trees, which afford a saooee- aion of leaves in all seasons. In those places where trees are soaroe, a variety of flowering shrubs abound, most of them entirely new to an European, and surpassing in beauty, fragrance, and number all I ever saw in an uncultivated state : among these, a tall shrub, bearinff an elegant white flower which smells like English may, is particularly deughtful, and perfumes the air around to a great distance. ** Airs. Parker evidently had this description before her when writing her own. Digitized by Google
