Precis 25 26

Early Days on Eyre Peninsula 25, 26

Opinion Divided Over Best Site for Capital

STORY OF CAPTAIN MITCHELL'S FAMOUS DECLARATION.

By J. D. Somerville

This week's installment deals with Capt. Mitchell's famous declaration advancing the suitability of Port Lincoln as the site for the capital of the province, in opposition to the opinion of the Surveyor-General (William Light).

Although Adelaide had been definitely decided upon as the capital and the allocation of town acres had taken place, the feeling still rankled in the mind of many that Light had erred.

Possibly it was one way to vent their spleen against the Colonisation Commissioners and Light for the peculiar division of authority. It certainly was a peculiar situation ; it was unthinkable that the Governor of the province should have to bow to the dictates of the Surveyor-General. The representative of the British Government in South Australia had no authority over the representatives of the commissioners.

Each of these had their particular followers. George Stevenson took the side of the Governor. It was Stevenson who held the proxies for the major part of the votes cast against Light at the meeting on February 10, 1837. Among his multifarious duties, Stevenson was editor of the 'S.A. Gazette and Colonial Register,' and in such capacity, he was responsible for a fantastic article which appeared in that paper of July 8, 1837.

According to Light, words were put into Mitchell's statement that were never uttered, and other words that were uttered were misconstrued. The statement may have been a newspaper interview, or it may have been only a friendly chat between three or four settlers and a newly arrived ship's captain.

It was afterwards admitted that Stevenson wrote the statement— called a declaration — which was made by Mitchell in the presence of Governor Hindmarsh, Capt. Crozier and George Stevenson. It is said it was read over to Mitchell and signed by him.

The 'South Australian Register' the successor of the 'S.A. Gazette and Colonial Register,' admits (June 29, 1839) one or two minor errors but asserts " that account has over and over again been proved to be substantially correct."

The article was headed 'Boston Bay' and said, " We have been favoured with a copy of the following declaration made by Captain Mitchell before one of the Magistrates of the Province . . . We have no hesitation in vouching for the correctness of Captain Mitchell's statement as regards the place."

Before giving a resume of the alleged declaration, it is worthwhile to consider some of Light's criticism and remarks. He says that Capt Mitchell, after the publication stated he mentioned Port Lincoln in common conversation only to Mr. Stevenson and one or two others, and the inference is that Mr. Stevenson, being a magistrate, must have written the article and statement himself. This was admitted after Light's journal was published. Capt. Mitchell said the whole was exaggerated. Light said he differed very much in opinion as to the description of Port Lincoln and Boston Bay, and that time would prove whose judgment was best ; as their judgment differed, so might their eyes, which were the guiding stars to that judgment.

Light believed that Mitchell, at the time the statement was made, had never seen Port Adelaide harbor, and knew nothing of Adelaide beyond what could have been gleaned in a visit on an hour or two in one evening. Almost the concluding words in Light's criticism were : " I believe the whole to be garbled up by the editor to suit his own malicious views .... The reader may draw his own inference from this."

[Further, from Light] "I constantly received hints that I lacked ability for the performance of my duty " and again when some of the public were complaining of the delay in completing the survey of Adelaide, he said "the disgrace heaped upon me again became very warm." So we cannot wonder at the severe criticism.

TEXT OF DECLARATION

The following is from the article and the declaration : —

"Phillip Mitchell, master of the barque Tam O'Shanter, at present lying in the creek in St. Vincent's 'Gulph' declared that he had arrived about the 23 of January last off Kangaroo Island, in search of the said ship, for the purpose of taking the command of her."

He could find no settlement at Nepean Bay, and the master of the sloop Mary Anne recommended a visit to Port Lincoln in an endeavor to find his (Mitchell's) vessel. As a result of the search the article goes on to say : —

" Declarant proceeded to Port Lincoln, in Spencer's Gulf, to endeavour to find his vessel, as that was the port he was authorised to proceed to. That declarant examined the harbour of Port Lincoln completely ; went into every bay and landed in various places on the northern shore.

" Declarant considers Port Lincoln one of the finest harbours in the world, and the safest and easiest of access he has ever been into. The largest ship in the navy could easily beat in at any time, and under any circumstances and anchor in fifty different places with safety from all winds.

" Declares that after searching and examining the harbour to its head, and not finding the barque, returned down by Boston Island, on which three people were landed from the schooner, the Abeona, in which vessel declarant was a passenger, for the purpose of cutting grass for the stock on board, and in a day they cut two tons, or thereabouts, of what is called kangaroo grass, of which the horses, cattle and sheep on board were very fond, and which they ate in preference to the hay on board the schooner.

WATER PLENTIFUL

" Declarant then proceeded through Boston Bay to the northern shore thereof on the mainland, in search of a watering place, known to a gentleman on board of the name of Dempster, who is now a settler at Swan River, which he found immediately, and it proved to be a spring that enabled us to ill twenty tons of water, and getting it all on board the schooner in one day. With a stronger party one hundred tons could have been as easily produced.

" Declares that any depth of water, for anchorage, can be chosen and that with a warp's length from the shore the schooner lay in about three fathoms, and hauled the water casks on board. The water is excellent, and this land is a beautiful black mould, intermixed with limestone, apparently capable of producing every sort of crop. The timber is sufficiently plentiful both for ornamental and building purposes, and about a mile from the beach it is much more abundant.

" That declarant remained in Boston Bay for three or four days, during which time he was much on shore, examining the country and the impression of the declarant is, that the land is all fine, and that after passing the first belt of trees, there is a great extent of excellent land fit for pasturage or grazing. From all appearances there seems to be plenty of water, as there are numerous flocks of wild geese, and herds of kangaroos.

" Declares that there is a reef which runs from the north eastern point of Boston Island to the mainland, covered at high water and separating Boston Bay into two excellent harbours, the westernmost, however, being the largest and best, having its entrance from the westward, rounding Boston Island.

'BOSTON BAY SUPERIOR'

" Declarant saw no natives ; but fires on the land at some distance were numerous. Declares that he has been at Sydney, Van Diemen's Land, King George's Sound, and examined the land in these places, and that compared to all else in these places, as well as the present location at Glenelg, the creek, and Adelaide, in South Australia, the declarant prefers Boston Bay, as well for commercial as agricultural purposes. Declares, that as far as his judgment goes, there can be no doubt of the superiority in every respect, of Boston Bay over the other places he has examined and in declarant's belief it would only require to be seen by any settler to decide him to fix his location there ; and declares all this to be truth."

[Some speculation as to whether the Abeona that Mitchell travelled in was Capt Henry Hawson's Abeona.]

Light was very severe when reviewing the article, and the newspaper, properly points out that Mitchell was discussing Boston Bay from a personal knowledge, whereas Light did not land, nor make any examination beyond what he could see from the boat when endeavoring to enter Spalding Cove, when he stated " . . . . having in two or three reaches gone sufficiently far into Boston Bay to see that nothing there was so good as at the Port." …

Read the full article at https://sites.google.com/.../opinion-divided-over-best...

More About Port Lincoln as Capital

T. H. JAMES'S STRONGLY-EXPRESSED VIEWS

In 1838, T. Horton James published a book ' Extracts from six months in South Australia.' … [with a map of Port Lincoln dated January, 1839.]

On this map is recorded between Kirton Point and the northern end of Boston Bay, "a good site for a town, abundance of fresh water." As far as I have been able to trace this is the first suggestion of that locality as a site for a town. There are many references to the desirability of making Port Lincoln the capital and so on, but probably all these suggestions refer to Proper Bay.

Light apparently did not seriously consider Boston Bay as a rival to Port Lincoln (Proper Bay). Captain Mitchell favored Boston Bay, but did not go the length of suggesting the site of the town.

… we can assume that James wrote his views before the initial move to get a special survey.

Again it is not clear whether the residents knew James's view as regards Boston Bay. I am inclined to think not. It was a case of James elaborating his book in England, while almost at the same time the promoters of the special survey were formulating their plan in Adelaide.

Some, possibly most people thought very little reliance could be placed on many of James's statements or deductions. He was severely taken to task by Mr. John Stephen. It is difficult to account for his vitriolic denunciation of Adelaide and Port Adelaide harbor, as well as his laudable description of Port Lincoln. This article will only deal with a few of his caustic remarks about Adelaide.

NEVER IN PORT LINCOLN

Mr. John Stephen said that T. Horton James was never in Port Lincoln, therefore all his information about it was from heresay. If for nothing else, his book was worthwhile, as in Stephen's retort we get what I am sure is a better account of Light's visit to Port Lincoln, as mentioned in a previous article. Miss Mayo of North Adelaide tells me that she is almost sure that Stephen's account of Light's visit corresponds with Light's despatches to the Colonisation Commissioners, but not knowing Port Lincoln did not appreciate the difference between Light's brief journal and the despatches in England.

The following is a synopsis of James's views of Port Lincoln :

It is stated that Port Lincoln was where the capital city was intended to have been established, and " it is a thousand pities '' that the Commissioners' instructions were not complied with. James adds that " nothing can prevent this magnificent harbor. " Port Adelaide is well the emporium of the new colony. The removal of the seat of the Government must follow as a matter of course, and then what will become of the city of Adelaide ?" As to the harbour, Port Adelaide is well enough for small vessels, after they are inside, but it is totally unfit for general purposes of commerce, and will never come to anything, and no amount of expenditure could make it so." James said it was disagreeable to make such comments — implying a censure on Col. Light, but the truth must be told " in order that any impediments to the property of the colony may be remedied, if not removed." Further on, he said "it is hardly possible that such a blunder as this is, this Adelaide and Port Adelaide, can much longer be tolerated by the respective parties about proceeding to the colony, and there is not the remotest chance that the unnatural abortion can over come to good."

IDEAL CAPITAL CITY

Then James gives his picture of an ideal capital city for the new province as "Another town of more modest and moderate pretensions will rise up in the land locked basin of Port Lincoln, along the margin of the deep water, consisting of 640 acres, divided into building lots of one rood each, which will be enough for a population of 50,000 persons, which is as many as the most sanguine friends of the colony can anticipate for a century to come. There, under the shelter of Boston Island, or in Spalding Cove, the merchant may leave his office and walk across a plank into the last ship that arrived from England."

James realised that if that ideal arrangement could have been brought about Adelaide would have been abandoned, and the Governor and the civil establishment should have to be moved to Port Lincoln, therefore why not do it immediately, before more money was thrown away. James came to this conclusion : " Upon the whole, then, after a residence of six months in South Australia, I have no hesitation in pronouncing it a very fine country, and thoroughly adapted, by its soil, climate, and situation, for a flourishing English colony . . . . . But that which gives the greatest value to the new province of South Australia, after its advantages of soil, climate and locality is the splendid harbour of Port Lincoln. It has fallen, indeed, to the lot of few nations in the world to be able to boast of such a port, and sooner or later, in spite of opposition, the capital city of South Australia must lie here. Delays may take place ; the acknowledgment of error, of course, will be tardy and reluctant, and in the meantime thousands of pounds may be squandered and many striving settlers ruined, but it must come at last."

PROPHECY NOT FULFILLED

Possibly James was a visionary. He may have had an axe to grind, possibly firing bullets prepared by others, but his prophecy is taking a long time in being realised. I cannot ascertain whether his remarks had any effect on the survey of the township. His site for the town is scarcely that of B. Pratt Winter. He did not know that the hills came close to the shore further north. When laying out the township subsequently it was found necessary to abandon some of the northern allotments in favor of some land nearer Kirton Point.

Capt. Mitchell's declaration carried weight with later writers. We seldom hear of James's views being considered seriously, but the sum total of the two must have had great weight in the determination of the settlers to have and to hold Port Lincoln township for their own.

It would be interesting to know whether any of James's views were promulgated before he left South Australia. It is reasonable to suppose that the printed book was not received in Adelaide until the middle of 1839, when the book was reviewed in the local papers. Mr. John Stephen in his book ' Exposure, etc. ...' severely castigates James, and in doing so follows Light's arguments about Port Lincoln and he also quotes from a letter dated September 17, 1837, where Col. Torrens in writing to Col. Light said, " Those who would have the capital at Port Lincoln, or at any other glace westward of Gulf St. Vincent are utterly ignorant of the vast commercial advantages which nature has conferred on the port of the Murray."

The next installment is entitled “Birth of Port Lincoln Township”