Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/175

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NEW SOUTH WALES CORPS. MAJOR GROSE.
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"can be prevailed upon to enlist, and add strength to the new corps, it will be by far the most desirable plan," and Phillip was empowered "to offer to each non-commissioned officer or private a bounty of three pounds," and to the well-behaved, "after further service of five years, their discharge and a suitable quantity of land," with implements, seeds, &c. Each non-commissioned officer might have one hundred acres, each private fifty acres, free of all quit-rent for five years, but subject afterwards to an annual quit-rent of one shilling for each ten acres. (At the same time Phillip received instructions as to the object of his earnest solicitude—grants to free immigrants.) All grants were to be reported within twelve months.

Later in the year Phillip was informed that the new corps "raised to serve within your government instead of the marines now doing duty has been complete for some time past." Some had already sailed as guards in convict ships, "the remainder, under the command of Major Grose," would shortly embark. The marines would return under Ross, but "if a number sufficient to compose a company" should accede, "you may recommend any three officers whom you may judge to be most deserving of His Majesty's favour to be appointed to that company and to be incorporated in the New South Wales Corps, with the rank of Captain, Lieutenant, and Ensign." Phillip promptly announced his intention to avail himself of the permission thus accorded to him; and the decision of the law officers in England, that officers in the colony were bound to officiate in the Criminal Court, promised to relieve the Governor from anxiety on that point, in spite of the evil example of Major Ross.

In July 1791 the Secretary of State (Grenville) announced that Major Grose would sail in the Pitt with a company of the new corps, and before his arrival (Feb. 1792) the dissatisfied Ross had left with a detachment of marines in H.M.S. Gorgon. But he left one of the best elements of the marine corps-George Johnston-behind him. In Nov. 1791 Phillip had failed to raise "a company from the marines to be annexed to the New South Wales Corps, and I believe it failed from no other cause than the doubts the men had as to receiving any allowance

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