establishing trials by law within the same; and the patents under the
Great Seal of Great Britain, for holding the civil and criminal courts
of judicature, by which all cases of life and death, as well as matters
of property, were to be decided. When the Judge Advocate had finished
reading, his Excellency addressed himself to the convicts in a pointed
and judicious speech, informing them of his future intentions, which
were, invariably to cherish and render happy those who shewed a
disposition to amendment; and to let the rigour of the law take its
course against such as might dare to transgress the bounds prescribed.
At the close three vollies were fired in honour of the occasion, and the
battalion marched back to their parade, where they were reviewed by the
Governor, who was received with all the honours due to his rank. His
Excellency was afterwards pleased to thank them, in public orders,
for their behaviour from the time of their embarkation; and to ask the
officers to partake of a cold collation at which it is scarce
necessary to observe, that many loyal and public toasts were drank in
commemoration of the day.

In the Governor's commission, the extent of this authority is defined
to reach from the latitude of 43 deg 49 min south, to the latitude of
10 deg 37 min south, being the northern and southern extremities of
the continent of New Holland. It commences again at 135th degree of
longitude east of Greenwich, and, proceeding in an easterly direction,
includes all islands within the limits of the above specified latitudes
in the Pacific Ocean. By this partition it may be fairly presumed, that
every source of future litigation between the Dutch and us will be
for ever cut off, as the discoveries of English navigators alone are
comprized in this territory.

Nor have Government been more backward in arming Mr. Phillip with