Hide Article Text (OCR)
The DERWENT STAR.mma;#.:Van Piemen’s Land INTELLIGENCER, $ ,No. 7.Publi/hed by Authority.Tuefday, April 3d 1810.ESTO MEMOR BREVIS ASVI.“ Ah I what is human life 1 * u How like the dial’s tardy moving fhadePay after day Aides from us unperceived— “ The cunning fugitive is fvvift by ftealth—“ Too fubtle is the moment to be feen !“ Yet foon the hour is up—and, we are gone !!(•0The melancholy and awful event which has happened fince the Publication of our laft Number, was fo fudden, 50 unexpected that it appear^like a frightful dream ; The mind is averse to acknowledge the fatal truth, and with difficulty we bring ourfelves to receive the confirmation of its reality—The lofs of friends is at all times a caufe for forrow, even when through difease, or age and infirmities, fuch an occurrence has been long looked forward to and expected—But when without any previous warning they are removed from us, and in one inftant we are deprived of thofe moft dear ; it becomes ftill more difficult to reconcile our minds to the lofs, and we are almoft tempted to arraign the Juftice of that Providence which has taken them from this to another and a better world forgetting in our vafn conceits that—Eachu ’Plucked fromfriend fnatched from us is a plumethe wings of human vanity”The event alluded to is fo recent in the memory of every one, and the death of Lieut. Governor Collins is fo fincerely felt and deplored by all the refpectable, the induftrious and honeft inhabitants of this Colony, to whom he was truly a father and a friend ; that no apology is neceffary for appropriating this Number folely to record the mournful occurrence.The Lieut, governor, had for fome days been indifpo-fed by a Cold, and had partially confined himfelf to the houfe but on the day of his demise (Saturday the 24th of March laft) he found himfelf copfiderably better, and transacted businefs with S. Warriner his Clerk at 4 o’Clock in the afternoon. When Mr. Bowden the Medical Gentleman who attended him called, he ex-prefsed his hope that he fhould very foon be about again—He was then taking a cup of tea, and fhortly after defiring Mr. Bowden to make ufe of fome refrefhment, he was obferved to ftretch out his hands and fuddenly fall back ip his Chair apparently in a fit. Mr. Bowden immediately gave the alarm procured afiftance and got tome „ cordial down the Governor’s throat without effect he never fpoke mor.e !—And only when removed to a Couch gaye one deep figh and expired—All Medical aid was in vain for alas! die tide of life had ebbed never to flow again”—He died exactly at hay-paft 7 o’GocU P,M.The Grief and confternation depicted in all countenances when the fad tidings were announced is more easy to conceive then describe—every ode \yifhed to doubt the truth of the report—But“ *When,the death bell fmote the ear “ Sad founding on the .gale—”Deep apd filent dejection feemed tq take poffeffion of each breaft, and, nothing w%s heari^but the low voice of mutual condolence.Thus then departed this life at the age of about 54feyear« His Honor David Collins Efq. Lieut. Governor of His Majeftyk Settlement at the Derwent and Colonel in the Royal Marine Forces, in which Corps he had been for upwards of 36 years. In his youth he ferved feveral Campaigns in America under his Father the late General Collins, and was at the Battle of Bunkers Hill—In the Territories of New South Wales he had been in actual employment nearly a quarter of a Century, having (when a Captain in his Corps) been appointed Judge Advocate on the firft eftablishment of the Colony at Port Jackfon under Gov.ernor Phillip.In this fituation ha continued until the year 1796. when he returned to England and publithedjus hiftory of the Colony in two Quarto Volumes—That he faHjtUy and ably difcharged Che arduous duties of the important Office he held is fully demonftra-ted by the favour ihewn him by his Sovereign, who reinftated him to all the rank he had loft in the Army by accepting a civil employment, and when, during Lord Hobarts Adminiftration, the prefent Settlement was projected to le eftablifhed at Port Phillip in Baff's Straits, Col. COLLINS, wa§, recommended froq^hfe abilities, long fervices ^pd local knowledge pf the Country and inhabitants, to .have the Command and direction of Settling the infant Colony ; and accordingly received His Majefty’s gracious appointment to be Lieut. Governor thereof.In April 1803. He failed in His MajeftyV. Ihip Calcutta, accompanied by the Ocean tranfport, having ^O.bdirii the fhips moft of the civil and Military Officers ^. op. ..Whom devolved the folemn task of paying the laft tribute of rptpitot to his Memory— In October the fame year the fhips arrived at their deftined Port and the troops, prifoners ftores c. were disembarked—but a fhort refidencc proving that the fpot was inadequate to the purpose of a Settlement, the whole of the eftablifhment was removed early in the enfuing year to its prefent fituation at the Derwent, where the Lieut. Governor has conftantly refided 'till this calamitous event, refpected by us whilfit living and universally lamented in his Death.The perfon of our late LIEUT. Governor, was graceful and Commanaing—His manhers were affable and kind—-He nqd readmuch—and in his Conversation was equally inftructive and amnfing—His Humanity to the unfortunate victims under his care was moft confpicuous, btlng ever more ready to pyrdon then pun-ifh the offender—As far as his circumscribed means afforded in an infant ftate he attended to and complied with the wants AND WISHES OF ALL DESCRIPTIONS.Thofe who moft intimately knew him will allow that this imperfect attempt to delineate his Character is not the voice of a-dulation—Ah ! he is now equally infenfible to the blandithments of flattery and to the fhaft of Cenfure—But theltnguage of Sincerity his Memory demands. ' ,j“ Alas! he claims it from the fable bier,“ Where cold and wan the flumb’rer refts his head “ In ftill fatall whifocrs to reflections ear.“ He breathes the folemn dictates of the dead.”Are there any beings in this Colony, fo despicable, fo devoid of humanity, as to Vifh to “ rake up the afhes of the honoured dead” and caft reflection^ gn the Memory of him who is now unable to refute their calumnies it—If there are fuch, we recomniend them to^pply to themfelves this te^t of Scripture.“ Thou hypocrite firft caft the beam out of thine own eye; and then thou ihalt fee clearly to caft out thb mote from thy brothers Eye.”
Newspaper Details
Hobart Derwent Star and Van Diemens Land Intelligencer
Hobart, Tasmania, AU
Tue, Apr 03, 1810
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 13 Mar 2024
Other Publications Near Hobart, Tasmania
Hobart Colonial Advocate and Tasmanian Monthly Review and Register
Hobart Colonist and Van Diemens Land Commercial and Agricultural Advertiser
Hobart Hobarton Guardian or True Friend of Tasmania
Hobart Town Punch
Hobart Town Gazette and Van Diemens Land Advertiser
