Earl Bathurst, in a dispatch marked "Separate and Secret" dated 19th August, 1813, (and acknowledged by Macquarie on 30th April, 1814), provided Governor Macquarie with an Intelligence report on a possible invasion of the colony by a joint French and American military force.
Bathurst stated that the source of the information was "a Dane named Jorgensen", who had served with the British in the Pacific.
England was at war at the time both with the French under Bonaparte and the Americans during the War of 1812. Napoleon was forced to abdicate on 6th April, 1814, and was sent to Elba. He did not return to France until May, 1815. In North America, the British burnt the Capital and White House. The final battle of the War of 1812, the Battle of New Orleans, was fought on 8th January, 1815, three weeks after the peace treaty was signed.
Bathurst gave little credence to the reports, stating:
| The doubtful Character of this Individual, the greater improbability of the plan itself, and the still greater improbability of such a Person being minutely acquainted with its Details, supposing it to be in Agitation, have led H.M.'s Government to refuse any Credit to the information. They have nevertheless thought it proper to communicate it to you, in order that you may not be ignorant of any thing which may possibly affect the Welfare and Security of the Colony under your Charge. |
The information provided stated "the fr. Troops will be under the orders of a Ct. Dillon, and Col. Degraieres, nephew of Gen. Lefebre who is now in America."
Reasons stated to be behind the proposed invasion were the strategic location of the colony in relation to Spanish commerce between the Philippines and Spain's American possessions; the commercial benefits derived from the fisheries, whaling and the seal-fur trade, (Sperm Oil was estimated to be worth 600,000 Pounds annually to Britain); the ready availability of timber for ship-building; the availability of Sugar Cane, Pearl and Sandle-Wood (sic), all of which could be readily marketed in China; and "the fertility of the lands about the River Hawkesbury and other parts of New South Wales, cultivated by industrious Settlers, insure an easy Supply of Grain and other Provisions to the Inhabitants of the New Colonies".
The report continued that Bonaparte, "ever attentive to all that can in any shape prove injurious to British commerce", had sent the two French brigs, the Geograph and the Naturalist, under Captain Baudin, "to espy the Situation of the English Colonies in New South Wales".
On Baudin's return to France,:
| Bonaparte heard with astonishment and was vexed to learn that, whilst he made every attempt to destroy British Commerce in Europe, new resources were open to the trade of Great Britain, and colonies established, which might at no very distant period become an Empire powerful enough to exclude all other nations from fisheries, trade, and commerce of the vast and extensive Seas beyond Cape Horn. |
The report added that Bonaparte considered that events in the western hemisphere favoured had now produced the best time for this venture. Part of the report follows:
| There are now four French frigates fitting out, and almost ready for Sea, lying in a port of France belonging to the Rochefort Squadron, mostly commanded by those Officers who attended Captain Baudin on his Expedition to the South-Seas. It is determined that they shall sail from their port about the Month of November, the Winter Season being by far the most favourable for making an escape unnoticed. Each frigate will take on board 250 soldiers, and in all 25 horse. Thence they are to proceed with all speed towards the Falkland Islands, near the Straits of Magellan, there to await the arrival of an American frigate and a Storeship, which will leave America about the same time to join the French. The French frigates are accompanied by two Americans, named Kelly and Coleman, who have for years been engaged in South Seas Whalers, and who know the South Seas and the Coasts very well. Being joined by the Americans the whole Squadron will proceed Round the Cape of Good Hope keeping well to the Southward, for fear of the Cruizers from that place, and make for Basses' Straits ; In case of Separation Two fold Bay on the Coast of New Holland is destined to be the place of Rendezvous, either to meet or recruit the troops in case of Sickness. The American frigate will take on board 300 men. After recruiting the troops in Two fold Bay, the Expedition is immediately to proceed to Port Jackson and attack that place ; but as there is a large battery on the North Shore of Port Jackson, and a battery on the point going into Sydney Cove, it is deemed advisable for the Squadron to proceed to Broken Bay, there to anchor, and proceed up with the troops, horse and Artillery, the River Hawkesbury, to effect a landing, so to cut off the Settlers on the River from Sidney (sic), and to obtain possession of the Wheat and Grain ; Parramatta of course must fall. 1,500 Stand of Arms are to be delivered into the hands of such First Convicts who are willing to join the French. It is also proposed that, if circumstances will permit it, a detachment of 250 men should be landed in Botany Bay, to make a diversion in favour of the Main division ; but as there are many marshes about that place much care is to be taken to run no risk, and rather than do that, all the troops are to be landed up the River Hawkesbury. Immediately after capturing the place several of the frigates are to proceed to sea : one will visit the friendly and Society Islands, and bestow many fine presents on the Chiefs, to display much power and to endeavour to give the Natives very mean Ideas of the English and exalted notions of the French Emperor. Two or Three frigates are to proceed without delay to South America, where they are to endeavour to persuade the Insurgents to declare for Joseph... |
It must be remembered that there were a large number of Irish convicts in the colony, that Castle Hill Rebellion had occurred in 1804 and that Governor Bligh was convinced that another large scale Irish convict rebellion was being planned in 1807.
As stated earlier, Macquarie acknowledged receipt of the despatch on 30th April, 1814. Napoleon Bonaparte had been forced to abdicate on 6th April of that year. There is no evidence that a joint French and American operation had actually ever been planned, and the invasion certainly never occurred, but the warning of the possible vulnerability of the colony to an invasion through the Hawkesbury could have influenced Macquarie's development policy regarding the Hawkesbury.
Macquarie's report to Earl Bathurst dated 22nd July, 1822, lists Windsor as the third town of the colony, following Sydney and Parramatta. This ranking is supported by the number of public buildings in the town and the road network leading to the Hawkesbury. The buildings listed include a "Brick-Built Barrack...for Fifty Soldiers, enclosed with a Stockade".
One can only speculate on reasons behind Macquarie's actions.
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