Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/415

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DEATH OF KING.
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Phillip[1] Parker King. The smallest was less than 300 acres. Succeeding Governors gave more land to the family. Bligh himself carried on board the Buffalo (in the harbour, as King was sailing to England) an additional grant of 790 acres near those apportioned by King to his children, and persuaded Mrs. King to accept it. Macquarie added a grant of less extent, and long afterwards Governor Darling, in recognition of marine surveys conducted by Phillip Parker King on the north-west coast, granted him 1500 acres more. Muniments of title are so carefully preserved that when, after the lapse of a quarter of a century, a newspaper writer ventured to affirm that King granted to himself 10,000 acres of land, Admiral King was able promptly to disprove the allegation.[2]

The Governor's predecessors had received pensions in England, and his services would probably have been recognized in like manner. He, like Phillip, had suffered in health, but, unlike Phillip, he was soon to succumb to disease. He died in Sept. 1808. When his death was made known in Sydney, Colonel Paterson (the Acting-Governor) and the officers of the New South Wales Corps "attended Divine service in mourning, as a tribute of respect for the memory of the much-lamented Governor—P. G. King."[3] His memory is kept green among many scores of his descendants born in the colony. His acts have been for the first time placed before the public in these volumes.

His widow presented a memorial to the Secretary of State, which stated that she was without relations to assist her in caring for her children. She asked for relief from the government. She stated that he was of an ancient and respectable "family declined in circumstances;" that the small sum at her command had been diminished by expenses during his illness; and that though he was

  1. ↑ The affection of the Governor for his patron Governor Phillip was shown by the name he gave to his son. Though his own Christian name was Philip, he adopted the spelling of Arthur Phillip's name in christening his son.
  2. ↑ The details need not be given. The son's triumphant refutation is to be found in the press, and is preserved by the family. Its date was 24th July 1833.
  3. ↑ Sydney Gazette, 7th May 1809.
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