Colonial Australia: History of convicts

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WHY TRANSPORTION TO BOTANY BAY – FOR CONVICTS?

There were numerous reasons why the British established what became their colony in Sydney. Look at each reason based on Robert J. King’s crystalisation in his brilliant work, “The Secret History of the Convict Colony” about Alexandro Malaspino’s report on the British settlement of New South Wales. In any consideration of the issues on this subject this work should be seriously referenced with much admiration. King’s work would better be quoted than another work as to the reasons “Why Botany Bay?” Too many lazy academics simplify the answer to this question by merely citing a contemporary British Cabinet Minute seeking and, on approval, the authorisation for the transportation of convicts to Botany Bay.

That document was not a stand-alone action; it merely follows on from a part of the submission of Mario Matra, who incidentally suggested other options as well, all aimed at settling Botany Bay for British interests. Other options included the recruitment of Chinese Coolies and resettlement of American Loyalists. The influence of the powerful, Captain Sir George Young was paramount in the passage of Matra’s proposal. According to King, Matra with embellishments by the politically significant and powerful Sir George Young cited;

  1. A base from which to exploit the fur trade of the Aleutian Islands
  2. Trade with China, the Cape of Good Hope, Korea. Japan. the Moluccas, the Spice Islands and the Friendly Islands
  3. Suitable compensation for displaced American Loyalists.
  4. To grow crops
  5. Exploit New Zealand hemp or flax
  6. The trade advantages of a settlement relative to Spanish America in times of peace.
  7. Exploration for metals
  8. The naval strategic advantages of a settlement relative to Spanish America, Lima, Peru and Bolivia being within 1,600 leagues of Botany Bay.
  9. Shelter and refreshment for British ships in the event of war with Spain.
  10. A suitable location for the transportation of felons.

Why would Civil Servants of the time bother the British Cabinet for attention to all of these points bar the last? They wouldn’t! Most of those issues were of Government concern but not of Cabinet business. The Royal Navy already had policies in place to put bases on British territory wherever they wanted them. The merchants could make up their own minds on trade issues. Chancellery had power under the Parliament-approved Budget to provide funding where the responsible Departments within their existing policies have decided where to expend their funds. The Cabinet Minute pertaining to the transportation of convicts was warranted simply because there was a need to address an outstanding legal matter. Until approved, there were no powers delegated to any Department or Government Agency to make the decision as to where to transport the convicts and to authorise the payment for the shipping involved. That Academic and his mates who thought up the Botany Bay for convicts idea via the cited Cabinet Minute had not worked in Government Administration had they? A stand-alone document as proof of an exclusive reason for such a commitment, how ridiculous!

Almost all these issues would have been constitutionally and administratively dealt with by cooperation between the various British Government Agencies. The only matter that was otherwise without delegation was the issue of transportation of convicts to a location that was not yet authorised, hence the Cabinet Minute on that issue, only.

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Australian Historians are so fortunate to have great fact-challenging historians and revisionists such as Robert J. King, Robert Hughes, Edgar Penzig, Colleen McCulloch, Ion Idries and Dan Byrnes as well as some inquisitive but understanding Academics such as Russel Ward, Alan Frost, John Ward, Jo Woolmington, Geoffrey Blamey, Portia Robinson and Brian Fletcher. The main thing about the works of these historians and writers is that they sell the truth and their own thoughts on issues in contrast to off-the shelf recycled material so often re-served.

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