A note on Structure
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June 1816: CelebrationsOn the 1st of June Captain Wallis was rewarded with the command of the Newcastle outpost for his “zealous exertions and strict attention to the fulfilling of the instructions”.197 Macquarie carefully stage managed the king’s birthday on the 4th of June with the enactment of his proclamation of the 8th of May and the release of fifteen Aboriginal men, women and children. The enactment of the proclamation on the King’s birthday allowed him to disarm criticism from the free settlers and engage them in the implementation of the proclamation. The release of the prisoners, with the exception of Dewall, whose detention may well have been punishment for Throsby, projected Macquarie’s military prowess and his humanity. This being the anniversary of the Birth of our most gracious sovereign, who this day complets [sic] the 78th. year of his age, the same was observed as a Holiday throughout the Territory, and kept with the usual Demonstration of joy and respect. — I held a Levee at Government House at 1,O'Clock, and entertained the Gentlemen of the Colony and a few of the Ladies at Dinner – to which 78 Persons sat down; – 21 having excused themselves from the Country Districts on account of the badness of the Weather.198 Mrs. Macquarie entertained the Ladies of Sydney in the Evening with Tea Coffee, Cards, Music, and a little Dance: – all which went very well off. In honor of the Day, I released all the Black Native Prisoners who were some time since taken and confined in Jail on suspicion of being concerned in the recent Hostilities, with the exception of Dûal who is still retained in Prison; the remaining 15 Men, Women, & Children being allowed to return to their Friends. — L. M.’199 Four children taken on the punitive expedition were placed in the Native Institution on the 6th of June. The fact that these children were older than the age limit of seven set by Macquarie for the school in 1814 suggests that his original plans for the native school were failing. On the same day Bidgee Bidgee was awarded with a brass gorget naming him chief of the Kissing Point Tribe. One of his first actions was to bring the arch survivor, Coggie, in to surrender to the Governor. Governor Macquarie was able to report to Earl Bathurst as to the success of his operations on the 8th of June 1816. ‘I sent two fine Boys named Nalour and Dooro – and two Girls named Mybah and Betty – Black Natives – all being about 8 years of age, lately taken Prisoners along with the Hostile Native Tribes, to the School or Native Institution some time since established at Parramatta for the Civilization of the Aborigines of [of] this Country; these 4 Children having themselves expressed a wish to go to the Institution and to remain in it. — They were accordingly sent up thither this morning in the Passage Boat in charge of one of the Sydney Constables. I this day appointed Bidgee-Bidgee Black-Native, to be the Chief of the Kissing Point Tribe, and invested formally with a Brass Gorget having his name and Title engraved thereon. Bidgee Bidgee brought in Coggie, the late Chief of the Cow Pasture Tribe, who made his Submission, delivered up his arms, and promised to be friendly in future to all White People. — L. M.’200 Governor Macquarie's report to Earl Bathurst on the 8th of June 1816 is of interest in his claim that of the killed by Captain Wallis’s detachment “there is every reason to believe that Two of the most ferocious and sanguinary of the Natives were included.” If these two men were “Durelle and Conibigal”, as stated elsewhere, they were not on the list of “hostile natives”. An end note to this report provides more information on Wallis’s encounter. “This detachment had a moonlight skirmish” (full moon was on the 12th of April)201 “with the natives near William Broughton’s farm in the Appin district. Fourteen of the natives were killed, and a considerable number were taken prisoners. The killed included several women and children, who met their deaths by rushing in despair over precipices.”202 The fear that firearms and soldiers had on Aboriginal people is well documented in Pondering the Abyss, however, the reference to women and children hurling themselves over cliffs is another example of Aboriginal people being made responsible for what happened to them, particularly in the case of women and children being killed in an encounter with the military. His report is also of interest in the last sentence seeking Earl Bathurst’s approval for his actions. It strongly suggests that, like all good bureaucrats he was circumspect in his reporting. ‘Governor Macquarie's Report to England 8 June 1816: Governor Macquarie to Earl Bathurst re measures to address Native unrest In my dispatch No 7 of the present Year p’r H.M.C. Emu which sailed from hence on the 25th of March last, I had the honor to inform Your Lordship that, in consequence of the hostile and sanguinary disposition manifested for a considerable time past by the Aborigines of this country, I had determined to send out some military Detachments into the interior, either to apprehend or destroy them. Pursuant to this determinations and in consequence of various subsequent acts of atrocity being committed by the natives in the remote parts of the Settlement, I found it necessary on the 10th of April to order three detachments of the 46th Regiment under the several commands of Captains Schaw and Wallis, and Lieutenant Dawes of that Corps, to proceed to those districts most infested and annoyed by them on the Banks and in the neighbourhood of the rivers Nepean, Hawkesbury and Grose, giving them instructions to make as many Prisoners as possible; this Service occupied a period of 23 days, during which time the Military Parties very rarely met with any hostile tribes; the occurrence of most importance which took place was under Captain Wallis's direction, who, having surprised one of the native encampments and meeting with some resistance, killed 14 of them and made 5 prisoners; amongst the killed there is every reason to believe that Two of the most ferocious and sanguinary of the Natives were included, some few other prisoners were taken in the course of this route and have been lodged in Gaol. This necessary but painful duty was conducted by the Officers in Command of the Detachments perfectly in conformity to the instructions I had furnished them. Previous to the return of the Military Party, I issued a Proclamation dated the 4th Ult. a copy of which I do Myself the honor to transmit herewith for Your Lordship's information, stating in the first instance the causes which had led to the necessity of resorting to Military Force, and holding out to the Natives various encouragement's with a view to invite and induce them to relinquish their wandering predatory habits and to avail themselves of the indulgences offered to them as Settlers in degrees suitable to their circumstances and situations. It is scarcely possible to calculate with any degree of precision on the result that this Proclamation may eventually have on so rude and unenlightened a race; but it has already produced the good effect of bringing in some of the most troublesome of the Natives, who have promised to cease from their hostility and to avail themselves of the protection of this Government by becoming Settlers, or engaging themselves as Servants, as circumstances may suit; and upon the whole there is reason to hope that the examples, which have been made on the one hand, and the encouragement's held out on the other, will preserve the Colony from the further recurrence of such Cruelties. Under all these Considerations I trust Your Lordship will approve of the Measures I have taken.’203 On Monday, 17th June 1816 Governor Macquarie “Granted an Order on the Police Fund for Five Pounds Currency drawn in favor of Thomas Acres204 (Son of a Settler in District of Airds) as a remuneration for Services rendered by him as a Guide to Capt. Wallis's Detachment when employed in pursuit of the Hostile Native. — L. M.”205 Directory: docs docs -> Application for acem docs -> Observational Assessment of Teaching Practices Teaching Assessment Initiative Proposal Submitted to The Teachers for a New Era project docs -> Traditional British values docs -> From Warfighters to Crimefighters: The Origins of Domestic Police Militarization docs -> Borzoi Club of America Register of Merit Program I. 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