The First Fleet: The Real Story“Alan Frost is the myth-buster of Australian history...His work should be studied not only by students but anyone interested in the birth of a nation.” — the Age In 1787 a convoy of eleven ships, carrying about 1400 people, set out from England for Botany Bay. According to the conventional account, it was a shambolic affair: under-prepared, poorly equipped and ill-disciplined. Robert Hughes condemned the organisers’ “muddle and lack of foresight”, while Manning Clark described scenes of “indescribable misery and confusion”. In The First Fleet: The Real Story, Alan Frost draws on previously forgotten records to debunk these persistent myths. He shows that the voyage was in fact meticulously planned – reflecting its importance to the British government’s secret ambitions for imperial expansion. He examines the ships and supplies, passengers and behind-the-scenes discussions. In the process, he reveals the hopes and schemes of those who planned the voyage, and the experiences of those who made it. ‘It is almost certain that Frost knows more than anybody else about the early maritime history of this land ... This book will surely alter the way Sydney sees its history.’ — Geoffrey Blainey, The Weekend Australian |
From inside the book
Results 6-10 of 43
Page 22
... told readers about 'that very valuable article of New Zealand hemp or flax plant'.14 In December, the London Chronicle announced that 'the Botany Bay expedition may in the end keep in this island much of the money now sent to Holland ...
... told readers about 'that very valuable article of New Zealand hemp or flax plant'.14 In December, the London Chronicle announced that 'the Botany Bay expedition may in the end keep in this island much of the money now sent to Holland ...
Page 24
... told the Public Advertiser that from his conversations during a recent trip to France and Holland, he thought it likely that both nations would oppose the venture, perhaps even by arming the Aborigines. Ten days later, the Hampshire ...
... told the Public Advertiser that from his conversations during a recent trip to France and Holland, he thought it likely that both nations would oppose the venture, perhaps even by arming the Aborigines. Ten days later, the Hampshire ...
Page 34
... told that the government's only intention was to dump the convicts.15 Law When James Matra was asked by a member of the Beauchamp Committee in May 1785 if he thought 'the use of martial law and prompt justice to be necessary' for a ...
... told that the government's only intention was to dump the convicts.15 Law When James Matra was asked by a member of the Beauchamp Committee in May 1785 if he thought 'the use of martial law and prompt justice to be necessary' for a ...
Page 35
... told him that a deputyjudge-advocate would be wanted, and that it was probable that he would be appointed also to control the criminal and civil courts for the trial of matters which might pass between the convicts ... When I mentioned ...
... told him that a deputyjudge-advocate would be wanted, and that it was probable that he would be appointed also to control the criminal and civil courts for the trial of matters which might pass between the convicts ... When I mentioned ...
Page 44
... told Nepean that, at the end of his envisaged three-year term, he hoped the colony would not only be self-supporting, but also have become 'of the greatest consequence to this country'. When he had found that splendid waterway – 'the ...
... told Nepean that, at the end of his envisaged three-year term, he hoped the colony would not only be self-supporting, but also have become 'of the greatest consequence to this country'. When he had found that splendid waterway – 'the ...
Contents
17 | |
27 | |
Officials and Officers | 49 |
Ships Crews Marines Convicts | 64 |
The Ships | 81 |
Equipping the Colonists | 95 |
Loading the Ships and Embarking the People | 114 |
AtPortsmouth | 129 |
Preparing Bodiesfor the Voyage | 140 |
Leaving the World | 159 |
No CheaperMode? | 181 |
Conclusion | 198 |
Acknowledgments | 217 |
Select Bibliography | 250 |
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Common terms and phrases
24 October 28 February administration’s Admiralty advised Alexander appointed April arrival Arthur Phillip asked August Botany Bay Campbell Cape Chronicle clothing Collins colonists colony’s command commission cost court crew December Deptford Officers embarked England establishment Evan Nepean expedition expense February female convicts Fleet fresh foods governor Home Office HRNSW Hunter Island January Lady Penrhyn land Lieutenant London March marine officers marines and convicts Memorandum Middleton to Nepean Minute naval Navy Board necessary needed Nepean to Middleton November Ocean Officers to Navy ofthe Phillip to Nepean Phillip to Sydney Pitt administration Plymouth port Portsmouth Privy Council provisions Real Story Record group Rio de Janeiro Ross Royal Navy sailed Scarborough scurvy sent September 1786 settlement ship’s ships Shortland sick Sirius Sirius and Supply SLNSW South Wales Steele surgeon Teer to Navy Tench Tenerife told Treasury USNA Victualling voyage wine women wrote