An interesting read. I knew, and I suspect many know, little of Phillip's career other than as the leader of the First Fleet ( to colonise Australia).

It also highlights the paucity of reasons that were given, at least during my schooling some 40 years ago now, for the decision to start a colony in Australia. The reason given then was to solve the problem of over crowding prisons in 18th century England. Whilst that reason is re iterated here, one gets the impression that it was as much to ensure that France ( or any other country ) did not claim Australia as its own.

Well worth reading, and whilst scholarly, I suspect that it would have been better, if intended to of greatest assistance to scholars to have footnoted all claims and not merely direct quotes.

And am I the only one who dislikes the practice of having footnotes in the form of the quote being repeated and accompanied by the relevant citation, resulting in some 30 pages ( in a book of some 300 pages) being "wasted". What is wrong with a genuine footnote?

Bigship

8 September 2013 ( )