Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 1.djvu/621

ARTHUE PHILLIP. 497 skill and senrioes were necessary amidst an arduous straggle with too powerful an opponent; and such was his conduct and such his sacoeBB that when the recent interference of France in 1778 made it his duty to fight for his king and to defend his country, the Portuguese Court regretted his departure, but applauded his motive. His return was doubtless approved by those who, knowing his value, oould advance his rank, for be was made manter and com- Huter and mander in the Basilisk fireship, on the 2nd of September, 1779; «»nm»nd«f. but in her he had little opportunity of displaying his zeal or of adding to his fama This step, however, led him up to a higher situation, and he was made post-captain into the Ariadne frigate, Pootoaptain. on the 13th of November, 1781, when he was upwards of three and forty. This is the great epoch in the lives of our naval officers, because it is from this they date their rank. In the Ariadne he had little time for active adventures or for gainful prizes, being i^pointed to the Europe, of sixty-four guns, on the 23rd of December, 1781. During the memorable year 1782, Phillip promoted its enterprises and shared in its glories. And in January, 1783, he sailed with a reinforcement to the East Indies, where saperior bravery contended against superior force, till the policy of our negotiators put an end to unequal hostilities by a necessary peace. The activity or zeal of Phillip was now turned to more peaceful objects. And when it was determined to form a settlement on that part of New Holland denominated New South Wales he Oommodorau was thought of as a proper ofi&cer to conduct an enterprise which required professional knowledge and habitual prudence. His equip- mcuit^ his voyage, and his settlement in the other hemisphere will be found in the following volume. When the time shall arrive that the European settlers on Sydney Cove demand their historian, these authentic anecdotes of their pristine legi^ator will be sought for as curious, and considered as important. Some further anecdotes of Phillip, after his return to England, may be found in the Adventures and Recollections of Captain Land- man, late of the Corps of Royal Engineers, 1852, vol. i, p. 121 : — In the course of the same summer (1796) my flEither — Professor of Fortification and Artillery to the Royal Military Academy — paid me a short visit, and here had the unspeakable pleasure of meeting his oldest and most intimate friend, Captain Phillip, of oid friends ihe Royal Navy. At this time Captain PhilHp had been the first »*«y°>««*^- Governor of New South Wales, and diuing a short time befoi'e his departure I was a midshipman of his ship. Phillip pressed my father very much to entrust me to his care during his meditated voyage to Botany Bay, assuring him that I should never do any duty, nor should he trust me out of his sight ; but I was too young, and neither father nor mother could be induced to part with me. Digitized by Google