Page 25 of Lizzie’s Spirit

Darcy read the governor’s commission, that of the Lieutenant Governor Colonel O’Connell, and those of the Judges-Advocate, Mr. Ellis Bent and himself.

Following a speech by the governor, which commenced with the rousing salutation ‘ Fellow Citizens, and Fellow Soldiers!’ —which would have done justice to the revolutionaries of France—they returned to Government House, where they now dined.

At table were Colonels Macquarie, O’Connell, Foveaux, and Paterson—the last two being governors during the time of the rebellion—the Judges-Advocate, Mr. Bent and Darcy, together with the ladies who sat at the head of the table.

Possibly, no more powerful group had gathered in the colony since its founding.

“My apologies, Mr. Darcy,” said Mr. Bent, “that you were required to read the governor’s commission on so little notice. I intended to carry out that duty, but my rheumatism prevented me from standing during the ceremony. To sit would be most discourteous.”

“’Tis of no account, Mr. Bent,” replied Darcy.

“I’m sure the warm weather here in New Holland will rapidly relieve your discomfort.

Your proclamation, as read by the governor, was very well received.

In particular: ‘ It is the earnest Wish of our Most Gracious King, and his Ministers, to promote the Welfare and Prosperity of this rising Colony in every way possible ’.

Let us hope his ministers do, indeed, wish to promote harmony, for Governor Macquarie has much to repair following the rebellion against Governor Bligh, who, I notice, isn’t present. ”

“Bligh, it is rumoured, is on the Porpoise making merry hell at Hobart Town. Let us pray he stays there!”

Following the separation of the sexes, the men joined the ladies for coffee in the drawing-room. A rather agitated Mrs. Macquarie came up to Colonel O’Connell, who was standing with Darcy.

“Colonel… or rather, lieutenant governor,” she gave O’Connell a conspiratorial smile, “I’ve been conversing with Mrs. Paterson, who, with Mrs. King, founded the female orphanage in ‘01. She tells me the matron has run off with a ship’s captain and likely embezzled much monies.

You cannot know, sir, that the orphanage is near the wharves and the Rocks, a disreputable place overflowing with the crude, coarse, and vulgar. ”

“Indeed, ma'am, a great cause for concern.”

“Certainly! Without someone overseeing the place, I fear the girls will fall into prostitution and iniquity, which state disgraces the major part of the inhabitants of this colony. The girls are at risk, many of whom are eleven to fifteen years old, and could easily be debased.

Darcy spoke up. “I’m informed, colonel, the duties of lieutenant governor include trusteeship of many government institutions, including the hospital and the orphanage.” He turned to Mrs. Macquarie. “Would you have the colonel appoint a new matron?”

“Of course, it must be done straightaway. Each day lost is a girl corrupted!”

“But who do I appoint?” inquired the colonel, “Do you have a person in mind who is suitable for the position?”

“Mrs. Paterson tells me there are none in the colony, for most women are emancipated convicts without the education or morals for such a role. Such was the previous matron who, unfortunately, showed true to her base nature.” Mrs. Macquarie turned to Mr. Darcy.

“I believe, sir, you are acquainted with a lady who, from my conversation with Mrs. Bent, would suit admirably. She’s a gentlewoman, well-educated, caring of women—she saw to the comfort of the regimental wives on the Hindostan on the journey from England… ”

Darcy and O’Connell laughed, and almost simultaneously both cried out, “Miss Bennet!”

“Of course, an excellent lady. She was held in the utmost esteem and deference by all on the Hindostan, women and men alike. The girls of the orphanage will come both to love her and, if they misbehave, to regret losing her respect.”

The evening, their first onshore in the colony, was particularly convivial and productive.

Much was resolved as to how to further the lawful and just administration of the colony.

On his return to the Hindostan, where Darcy was staying until he acquired appropriate apartments in town, he mused about the coincidences seen of the evening: that three governors of New South Wales should dine at the same table and that three of the wives, Mrs. Macquarie, Mrs. Paterson, and Mrs. Bent, should be named Elizabeth, the same as Miss Bennet.

Perhaps, with a modicum of luck, he would see her chestnut curls at breakfast on the morrow.

***

Elizabeth stood at the end of the Government Wharf and gazed around her.

To the south stood Government House, situated most delightfully on rising ground; to the west, St. Phillip’s Church rose at some greater distance, seated on an eminence, its tower standing taller than the windmills that crowned the hills surrounding Sydney, giving the whole an appearance peculiarly English.

She sighed. When would she see Albion’s shores again?

And dear Papa and Mama, Jane, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia—and, of course, Uncle and Aunt Gardiner and her sweet cousins?

‘Twas best not to dwell on it. She was busy, if truth be told, too busy, but such activity would assist her in returning to England.

She had not thought of her return when she fled from Mr. Collins—at the time, what else was she to do?

“Miss Bennet!” The call came from the beach where the wharf joined the shore.

Walking towards her was Captain Antill. Though Elizabeth enjoyed the solitude of her early morning strolls along the shoreline, the presence of the officer was not unwelcome.

He had travelled out to Sydney on the Dromedary , and their previous acquaintance was at the Cape.

“Well met, sir. I didn’t know before that you ever walked this way.”

“With the return from Van Diemen’s Land of the Porpoise , having Commodore Bligh on board, I am much occupied. This morning, before my official day begins, I decided to take a tour of the park surrounding Government House. From the gardens I perceived you on the wharf. Are you going much farther?”

“Yes, indeed. I intend to walk to Bennelong Point.”

And accordingly, they walked along the shore towards the battery that stood at the point.

“How do you find Sydney?” he asked .

“Viewed from the Hindostan , the harbour of Port Jackson is extremely pretty and has the appearance of being well wooded, though the shapes of the trees are quite strange, with branches at all angles, which leads to a great loss of symmetry, unlike the oak, elm, and chestnut of England. But, in truth, sir, like yourself, I’ve been much occupied and seen little of the town, though I’m told it’s larger than the Cape. ”

“Why so? Surely your duty to the regimental wives ceased upon our arrival. There’s a midwife, Mrs. Sims, assigned to the hospital who should be able to look after their concerns.”

“You may not be aware, but Colonel O’Connell is trustee of the female orphanage—it’s a position normally under the disposition of the lieutenant governor, so it fell naturally to the colonel.

Thereupon, knowing my care of children and my education as a gentlewoman, he requested I take on the position of matron, it being vacant.

So my day starts early, before the sun rises.

” Elizabeth paused, brushing an insect off her sleeve.

“Unfortunately, there are rumours that many of Mrs. Sims’s patients succumb to childbed fever, so the enceinte wives continue to visit me.”

The shoreline became rocky, so they made their way onto the path that wound through the woods near the battery. Elizabeth continued, “The girls are now at breakfast, then must clean their rooms—I’ve some time before I’m needed. I treasure this walk; it gives me time to reflect upon the day ahead.”

Captain Antill looked back along the way they had come. “There’s a sergeant following; is he your guard?”

Elizabeth laughed. “Sergeant Monogan—I’ve known him since Madeira.

Yes, before I took up the position, I inquired as to the standing of the orphanage within the community.

Mrs. Macquarie feared the girls’ close proximity to the harbour, the dockworkers’ vulgarity, and other influences, such as the disreputable inns of the Rocks, would put them at risk of moral corruption.

I told the colonel I required three good married men from the 73rd to protect the orphans and staff—such are assigned to Sgt.

Monogan’s command. Furthermore, Sgt. Monogan takes it upon himself to see to my protection wherever I go. ”

At once, the boom of a cannon ricocheted across the cove. Looking towards the ships lying at anchor, they saw cannon smoke billowing from the Porpoise .

“Oh, dear,” muttered Captain Antill, “the commodore’s awake and early to shore.

I must away to the wharf to greet him. The wind is southeast, so it will take some time for him to be rowed ashore.

Dare I ask, Miss Bennet, that you return via the gardens and Bridge Street and tell those at the Guard House that an honour guard is required, unless, of course, it has already been dispatched? ”

Elizabeth had never seen Captain Antill so agitated.

He of the steep ascent of Table Mountain and the perilous descent; then, he always remained calm, in control.

Ah, she thought, I heard the commodore is somewhat of a termagant, but to discompose Captain Antill so?

He may be a tyrant, as those who supported the rebellion assert, but having not met the man, I must hope for the best and that his character has been misunderstood.

They parted company, he hurrying to the Government Wharf, she back to the orphanage by way of the Guard House.