MAJOR GROSE IN CHARGE
December 10th 1792 – Having long been in ill health and for this reason having begged relief from his duties, His Excellency Governor Arthur Phillip quitted his charge of the colony and embarked for England aboard Atlantic.
The reins of Government are now in the hands of Lieut-Governor Major Grose, Commander of the N.S.W. Corps, who paid Governor Phillip the honours due to his rank as he boarded the vessel to take him home.
Military power, hitherto considered requisite only for the protection of stores and similar duties, has now been substituted for civil authority. At Parramatta all complaints heretofore heard by a civil magistrate will in future be reported to the officer in command. Captain Foveaux.
A distinction is now made as to ration, the civil and military, constables and overseers now receiving more than the convict. Governor Phillip, it will be recalled, drew the same ration as other inhabitants.
Many convicts invite little sympathy. Before his departure Governor Phillip gave each settler from Sirius also from among the marines and to married convict settlers, one ewe for breading to others he gave goats. Most of this stock has since been sold, some settlers exchanging their stock for spirits. Disorder and insobriety resulted.
The Home Government concurring, military men have taken up large holdings and being able and vigorous and having convicts assigned to work for them, were forming successfully for the benefit of the Colony. There is an increase in the trade in rum which, on arrival, officer buy and retail dearly. Rum erases exile, hunger and misery and many setters have sold their land for it. The present development of the Colony. There is an increase in the trade in rum which, on arrival, officers buy and retail dearly. Rum erases exile, hunger and misery and many settlers have sold their land for it. The present development of the Colony would surely disappoint it’s founder.
Australian Chronicle 1791 – 1800, Volume 1, No.2
Francis Grose as a Captain (Wikipedia)
Francis Grose (1758 – 1814) departed England aboard the convict transport Pitt, arriving Sydney Cove on 14 February 1792. He became colonial administrator when Governor Arthur Phillip was granted permission to leave the colony due to ill health. He governed the colony from 1792 until 1794, in which he established military rule, abolished civil courts, and made generous land-grants to his officers.
