An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales Vol 1

Book excerpt: This is a detailed account of South Wales during the 1790s by David Collins. He was a British Marine officer appointed as Judge-Advocate to the new colony in Botany Bay. In October 17686, Collins volunteered his assistance in the proposed penal colony of New South Wales. Despite a lack of legal training in November, he was assigned as Judge Advocate for the new colony and chief judge for a military court managing the New South Wales Marine Corps. In 1787 he sailed aboard the First Fleet, reaching Sydney Cove in January 1788. In the middle of 1788, Governor Phillip selected Collins as the Secretary to the Governor, after which he filled the three roles of Secretary, Judge Advocate, and Lieutenant Governor until he left the colony for England in 1796.