History of Tasmania. John West

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СКАЧАТЬ who died in his 140th year; then the greatness of Lambert, whose body weighed 52 lbs. fourteen times told; and who was sent by an inclined plane into his grave. Then follow an eulogy on the governor's profession, one trial, one ship, two births, and one marriage. The notice of a wedding is characteristic and unique—the first published by the Tasmanian press:—"On Monday, 26th ult., R. C. Burrows to Elizabeth Tucker, both late of Norfolk Island. They had cohabited together fourteen years, verifying at last the old adage—better late than never."[71] Such were the topics of this ephemeral journal, which, however, survived the governor himself. In the number published a few days before his decease, are the following lines:—

      "And thou, dear Cobham, with thy latest breath

       Shall feel thy ruling passion strong in death:

       Such in that moment, as in all the past:

       'O, save my country, heaven!' shall be thy last."

Collins was the son of General Arthur Tooker Collins and Harriet Fraser, of Pack, in King's County, Ireland: he was the grandson of Arthur Collins, author of the Peerage of England.[72] At fourteen years of age he was lieutenant of marines; two years after, he commanded the military guard which attended Matilda, Queen of Denmark, to her brother's Hanoverian dominions, and had the honor of kissing her hand. It is said that, three years subsequent, he distinguished himself in that fatal conflict already noticed—the battle of Bunker's Hill. In 1774, he was captain of marines in the Courageux, of 74 guns, commanded by Lord Mulgrave, and was present with Lord Howe, at the relief of Gibraltar. At the peace of 1782, he retired to Rochester, in Kent, with his lady, an American, who survived him. The despatch, announcing his decease, was filled with lamentations: "I am sure," said the writer, "when I speak the feelings of my heart on this melancholy occasion, that it is not my single voice, but that of every department whatsoever in the settlement, who with the most heartfelt regret acknowledge him to have been the father and the friend of all," His person was remarkably handsome, and his manners prepossessing: to a cultivated understanding, and an early fondness for literature, he joined a most cheerful and social disposition.

      Colonel Collins was buried in the church-yard of St. David's, Hobart Town. To provide a temporary place for public worship, a small wooden church was erected on the spot, and its altar was reared over his grave. This building was blown down in a tempest, and its materials being carried off, left the resting place of Collins long exposed to the careless tread of the stranger. Sir John Franklin, always generous to the memory of official worth, reared a monument, bearing this inscription:—

      Sacred

       to the Memory of

       DAVID COLLINS, ESQ.,

       Lieutenant Governor of this Colony,

       and Lieutenant Colonel of the Royal Marine Forces.

       On the first establishment of the colony of

       New South Wales he was employed as Judge Advocate,

       And in the year 1803

       he was entrusted by his Majesty's government

       with the command of an expedition,

       destined to form a settlement at Port Phillip,

       on the south coast of New Holland;

       but which was subsequently removed to

       Van Diemen's Land.

      —————

       Under his direction as Lieutenant Governor,

       the site of this town was chosen,

       and the foundation of its first building

       laid in 1804.

He died here on the 28th of March, 1810,[73] aged 56 years. And this monument long projected was erected to his memory in 1838, by direction of His Excellency Sir John Franklin, K.C.H., K.R.

      FOOTNOTES:

      [41] Ross's Almanack, 1829.

      [42] Ibid, 1835.

      [43] Wordsworth's Sonnet to the Derwent.

      [44] Colonel Paterson had been distinguished by his researches in Africa, and had gained considerable reputation as a botanist. This spirit of enterprise and intelligence he always preserved: he directed the government botanical establishment at Parramatta, and the French delineated his attainments with more than their usual enthusiasm. He superintended the exotic plantation provided for the colonies, and the repository of native shrubs intended for the gardens at Kew. His name not unfrequently occurs as an adjunct to the scientific descriptions of the botanist. Formerly acting governor and commander of the military corps of New South Wales, he was not unsuitable for the more direct duties of his office. It is, however, as a naturalist that he is remembered. He planted trees: some are still growing amidst the desolation of York Town. He was the first who attempted to improve the grass of the country. He was the author of a volume of travels, published in 1789, entitled, Narrative of Four Journies into the Country of the Hottentots and Caffraria, in the years 1777–8, and 9.

[45] Sydney Gazette, 1806.

[46] Ibid, May, 1812.

[47] Ibid, May, 1807.

[48] Lieut. Lord's Evidence, Par. Pap., 1812.

[49] Johnstone's Trial, p. 337.

[50] Sydney Gazette, 1808.

[51] "After numerous observations, we found it—Lat. 29° 4' 40". Long. 161° 12' East Greenwich."—Hunter's Historical Journal.

[52] Backhouse's Journal.

[53] Collins.

[54] Holt gives the following curious anecdote:—"The Rev. Henry Fulton was reading the commandments, when Tony Chandler sung out—'turn out, you d——d villians, and launch the boat!' As I was going out, I said to Mr. Fulton, 'I perceive Tony Chandler's word has more power here than the word of God.' Fulton smiled, and shook his head."—Memoirs, vol. ii. p. 232.

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