A Sequel To A Voyage to Botany Bay

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University of Canberra Library. University of Wollongong Library.

Open to the public. These 2 locations in Australian Capital Territory: These 7 locations in New South Wales: These 2 locations in South Australia: Open to the public Book; Illustrated English Show 0 more libraries These 4 locations in Victoria: This single location in Western Australia: None of your libraries hold this item. Found at these bookshops Searching - please wait We were unable to find this edition in any bookshop we are able to search. These online bookshops told us they have this item: Tags What are tags?

Public Private login e. Add a tag Cancel Be the first to add a tag for this edition. Lists What are lists? Login to add to list. Be the first to add this to a list. Comments and reviews What are comments? State Library of NSW. State Library of South Australia. The University of Melbourne. University of Newcastle Library. About this time a transport from Ireland arrived, with one hundred and fifty convicts of that country, male and female; a party of the New South Wales Corps had embarked with them, and it proved a very salutary precaution; as the spirit of mutiny soon broke out, and they had the hardihood to attempt taking the Ship, but were happily frustrated by the vigilance, spirit, and activity of the master and officers.

Representations having been made to government that the masters of the transports did not take proper care of the health of the convicts, when in their charge, they entered into an agreement to pay the contractors five pounds in addition for every convict that they should land in a healthy state at the settlement. The propriety, and salutary effects of this arrangement, were fully evinced, by the appearance of those lately landed;--each were allowed a hammock and bed to themselves during the passage, and a New suit of clothes to land in;--they unanimously gave testimony to the good treatment they had met with by three cheers to the Captain on going from along side the Ship.

We now heard of the agitated state of Europe, and of the war having commenced with the French, and that administration had made arrangements for our being supplied with cattle from the East Indies, fearing that in a state of warfare our supplies might be cut off by the enemy; this precaution gave great satisfaction to the settlement at large, for the Bengal Sheep though small, were very productive, breeding twice in the year, and mostly bringing two lambs at a time.

An instance of the remarkable fecundity of a goat happened in the house of one of the superintendants at Sydney, she produced five kids, all of which died from a blow she received while in kid: A ship being about to sail for England, seven persons, whose term of transportation had expired, were permitted to embark themselves;--Passages to Europe from hence were procured with the greatest facility little more being required than permission to receive them, and the finding their provisions, yet it was frequently the case that convicts secreted themselves on board without leave, as was the case in this ship; the Sugar Cane for the day she sailed two were sent back who had not obtained their certificate for which they were punished with fifty lashes each.

The New South Wales Corps was now augmented;--thirty recruits, who had been selected from among the convicts, bearing good Characters, and having been formerly soldiers, were permitted to enlist; they behaved as well as any of the Corps; one of them only excepted, who was for misbehaviour afterwards discharged, and reduced to his former situation.

A reinforcement of twenty three more was added, which made up the full complement of convicts that was intended to be admitted into the Corps. The condition of enlisting was that of their serving in the regiment till regularly discharged. Many irregularities and robberies being frequently committed in and about Parramatta, my post as Peace Officer, became very troublesome; being obliged to be ever on the watch to suppress disorders, and apprehend all suspicious and straggling persons who could not render a good account of themselves.

The Irish Convicts, who had taken to the woods were soon apprehended; they confessed that they had formed a plan to rob the mill house, the governor's and several others, and that they were to be visited from time to time in their concealment, by their associates in the town, who were to supply them with provisions, and such information as was necessary for their safety, they also acknowledged that the attack on Randal's house was committed by them and their associates.

Soon after this the house of Mr Atkins, notwithstanding the sharpest look out, was broke open, and plundered of a large quantity of provisions; and a quarter cask of wine was taken from the store, but left in the garden on their being disturbed; they however carried off a large booty. A severe storm of rain and thunder happened on Saturday the 26th. There was little doubt but the shelter which they had sought had proved their destruction, and that they had been struck dead by the lightning, as the flashes were observed to have been very vivid, and hovering over the tree where they were found; the pupils of their eyes appeared much injured, and their tongues were forced out between their teeth; their faces were discoloured, as were also several parts of their bodies; the tree was stripped of its bark from top to bottom, and some of its branches were torn off.

This was the first accident of the kind that had occurred in the colony, though lightning more ardent and alarming had often appeared, and storms of a much longer duration. A convict of the name of Crow fell in my way as I was out on the patrol, against whom there were several charges; I accordingly apprehended him, and saw him safely lodged in the military guard house at Paramatta, from which, however, he found means to escape, and, rambling down to Sydney Cove, swam off to a transport in the harbour, the master of which immediately took him on shore--he received a slight punishment and was put in the black-hole at Sydney, out of which he also effected his liberation, by untiling a part of the roof of his prison, and was not heard of for some time; when he again fell in my way, between Parramatta and Toongabbe, where he had been committing fresh depredations, having actually broken open two houses, considerable property from which was now found upon him.

The frequent commission of capital offences had rendered it necessary to inflict punishments more likely to prevent the perpetration of crimes than a mere flogging;--Crow was therefore delivered over to the civil power, and ordered to be tried by the criminal court of judicature. Crow was ordered for immediate execution, but petitioning for a respite it was granted him till the tenth, when he justly forfeited his life, as an atonement for the depredations he had committed on society.

Just before he suffered he had nearly effected his escape a third time--with much labour and ingenuity he had displaced some bricks from the wall, covering the interstices so neatly that they were scarcely perceptible: Many Officers now began to avail themselves of the permission which had been granted them of cultivating land; several of them fixed at Parramatta and its neighbourhood, whereby I gained a most valuable acquisition in the friendship and acquaintance of several gentlemen, who passing over the shade of my past life, deigned to make me their companion, and I flatter myself my future conduct shall never put them to the blush for their condescendsion.

They commenced their occupation of farmers in the highest spirits--Tools and implements for husbandry were furnished by Government, and they were allowed the labour of ten convicts each, by which they made great progress; also by the hire of extra hands on those days that they were not employed for the public; and as they were not restrained from paying them in liquors, they easily obtained as many Gangs as they could employ.

The passion for liquor still predominated over every other consideration, there being nothing which they would not risk to obtain it: From one bushell of wheat he extracted nearly five quarts of spirits, which he sold, or paid for labour, at the rate of five and six shillings a bottle: Mc, Donald, a settler at the field of Mars--a settlement so called from its being first occupied by men discharged from the marines--made a different use of the produce of his Farm.

Having a mill he ground and dressed his wheat, which he sold to a baker at Sydney for four pence the pound; one bushell of wheat producing forty four pounds of flour--He also killed a weather Sheep, produced from some that had been given him by Governor Philip, and sold it at two Shillings per pound, the quarters weighing about fifteen pounds. Sydney town had considerably increased since the departure of Governor Philip, not less than one hundred and sixty huts and five barracks having been added; some of the huts were large and commodious, and to each of them fifteen hundred bricks were allowed for a chimney and floor, each hut was twenty six feet in front, and fourteen in width, and were divided into apartments for ten convicts, a proportionate spot of garden-ground was reserved for each building.

About Christmas a large party of the natives attacked some settlers who were returning from Parramatta to Toongabbe, and took from them the provisions which they had just received from the store--They instantly made off into the woods; and though they were immediately pursued we could not overtake them. They were of the hunter or woodman's tribe, who were seldom among us, and consequently very little known. The natives who lived about Sydney placed the utmost confidence in us, choosing a cleared spot near the town for the performance of their rites and ceremonies, and for three successive evenings the town had been amused with one of their spectacles which might very properly be termed a tragic comedy; for, though some blood was shed, no lives were lost.

It is the custom as before observed with respect to Palerino, that the person who was the cause of another's death, was compelled to meet the relations of the deceased, who were to avenge the death by throwing spears and drawing blood for blood. He was indulged with a bark shield, and defended himself with great skill and resolution, and the first day ended without his receiving a single wound.

But on the next evening, after having exhausted the patience of his opponents, and remaining unhurt, the wounded man walked up very composedly to Carradah, who suffered him to pin his arm to his side with his spear, without the least resistance; prevented, very probably, by the threatning and uplifted spears of the other natives, who could easily have destroyed him, by throwing at him in different directions. Carradah stood for some time after this, defending himself, although wounded in the arm which held the shield, until his adversaries had not a spear left, and they retired to gather up the fragments of the broken spears.

The business was resumed when they had repaired their weapons, it then appeared a battle Royal, men, women, and children mingled in it, in the course of which many severe wounds were given and received ere night ended the warfare. We never could account for this extraordinary contest; for the utmost cordiality and friendship subsisted between the different parties who fought each other with all the fury of the most implacable enemies, and those worsted in the conflict, spoke of their opponents as brave men, and their friends.

The wounds of the combatants were soon healed, and it was understood that Carradah had yet another trial to sustain from some of the natives who had been prevented by absence from joining in the ceremonies of that evening, Carradah was very intimate in the town, and had exchanged names with Mr. Ball, who commanded the Supply, he went after by that name which the natives pronounced Midjer Bool. Another barrack was now building at Sydney, but for want of the tiles was not finished; two mill-wrights had also got up the frames and roofs of two mill-houses, and while they were waiting for the tiles endeavoured to forward the wood-work; the great want of tiles proceeded from there being only one person who understood the moulding them, and he never could burn more than five thousand in a week, being obliged to burn a great number of bricks in the same kilns.

It required near Seventy thousand bricks to complete the building of one barrack, and twenty thousand tiles to cover it in--to furnish bricks for these barracks and other buildings, three gangs were constantly at work, which comprised three overseers and eighty convicts--The distance from the brick fields to the barracks was about three quarters of a mile, three brick carts were employed conveying these materials, each drawn by twelve men, under the direction of an overseer--seven hundred tiles, or three hundred and fifty bricks were a load; and every cart was expected to make five turns in the day.

The bringing in of the timber was also a most laborious work; There were four timber carriages employed, each drawn by twenty four men; every carriage was attended by two fellers, and an overseer[? On the 5th, of January A most atrocious murder was committed on the body of John Lewis, an elderly man, who was employed to graze the cattle of Parramatta. The beasts having lost their conductor, remained all night in the woods; they were found next morning, but no tidings of Lewis could be got, which caused it to be apprehended that some accident had happened him.

It was some days before his body was found, and was at last pointed out by the snorting and uneasiness of the cattle when they came to a particular spot; having been drove out on purpose by way of experiment. It was laying in a ravine, into which it had been thrown by the murderers, who had covered it with logs, branches of trees and grass. Some native dogs allured by the scent of blood had already been mangling the carcase, which added to the horrible spectacle it exhibited.

This unfortunate man had imprudently boasted of being worth a sum of money, and that he always carried it about him, sewed up in his clothes, in case his hut should be robbed during his absence. By the number of wounds he had received, he must have defended himself stoutly, and was certainly overpowered by numbers, being a stout muscular man;--to discover, if possible, the murderers, several people of bad characters were apprehended and examined, but nothing transpired that could attach to any of them, and the enquiry dropped, with an expectation that the perpetrators would sooner or later be brought to punishment, and that some riot or disagreement among themselves would furnish a clue, that would infallibly lead to detection.

The pernicious vice of gaming which had rapidly obtained in the settlement, and which was carried on to such excess among the convicts that many had been known, after losing their provisions, money, and spare cloathing, to bet, and lose the very clothes from their backs, exhibiting themselves as naked, and as indifferent about it, as the natives of the country.

They have frequently been seen playing at their favourite games of Cribbage and All Fours, for ten dollars a game, and those who were ignorant of those games would be content to toss up for dollars, instead of halfpence. Their meetings were scenes of quarrelling swearing, and every wickedness that might be expected by a description of people totally destitute of the least particle of shame; but glorying in their depravity.

To this dreadful vice in a great measure may be attributed most of the crimes that existed in the colony. It was found that the settlers, notwithstanding the plentiful crops which they generally gathered, gave no assistance to government, by sending it into store, for which as before observed they were allowed Ten Shillings per Bushel, a very small quantity had been sent in, and totally inadequate to their wants or expectation.

They seemed ungratefully to prefer any other mode, than what in justice or gratitude they ought to have pursued; some by clandestinely brewing and distilling it, others by paying debts contracted by gambling, as even the farms themselves, were some times staked, and lost at a game of Hazard. In this month January another division of settlers was added--Williams and Rouse having squandered away the money for which they had sold their farms, were permitted, with some others, to settle on the banks of the Hawksbury, about 24 Miles from Parramatta.

They pitched upon a spot desirably situated with respect to water, and where it did not require much labour to clear it;--they began with great alacrity and spirit; and formed very sanguine hopes of success. At the end of the month they had cleared several acres, and were in great forwardness with their huts, nor were they in the least interrupted by the natives--not so in this neighbourhood, where it might have been supposed that they would have expected such resistance as they would not have chose to encounter. However, be that as it may, several settlers about Parramatta had been attacked by armed parties, and robbed of their clothing and provisions.

Many reports of this kind had been brought into the town, perhaps some of them might have been fabricated, to conceal the effects of their gambling--Notwithstanding it was clearly apparent that these people were ever on the watch, and it was observed that as the corn ripened they constantly approached nearer the farms and the public grounds, for the purpose of depredation. William Crozier Cook, having rendered himself obnoxious to the law, had absconded into the woods, where not being able to grind the wheat he had stolen from the store he ate it unground, which upon drinking a quantity of water fermented in his bowels, and caused a mortification, and notwithstanding, on his being obliged from the excessive torments he endured to crawl into the town the most efficacious medicines were administred he soon after expired.

In the beginning of February two Watches which had been missing were discovered, and taken down to Sydney. Upon investigation it appeared they had been stolen by John Bevan, who at the time had broken out of the Prison Hut of Toongabba, a settlement near Parramatta, and getting down to Sydney committed the theft in conjunction with Sutton, who had been before tried for a similar offence; he had returned with the spoil to his hut, before he had been missed by any of the watchmen.

This information was gained from the people through whose hands the watches had passed; but it being unsupported by any corroborating evidence, the court, though thoroughly convinced of his guilt, was under the necessity of giving him an acquital--Batty and another man, Normanton, whose guilt was sufficiently proved, received each a severe punishment. In the foregoing part I promised to transmit an account of the rise and progress of the Colony at Norfolk Island, but have hitherto been prevented, by the delay occasioned from Mr.

Wentworth being so fully occupied that he had not leisure to write me the particulars at once, however, from our correspondence I hope I shall be able to collect a Narrative which I presume will not be uninteresting to the reader. Governor Philip, previous to his leaving England, had received orders to establish a Colony at Norfolk Island as soon as possible after his arrival in New-South Wales; and to shew that no time was lost, he dispatched Lieutenant King, of the Sirius, in the Supply, tender, the middle of February, not more than a month after his arrival in the country investing him with the Offices of Superintendant and commandant of the Settlement.

King, previous to his departure for his little government, was sworn in as a justice of the peace, which enabled him to punish such petty offences as might be committed among his people--capital crimes being reserved for the cognizance of the criminal court of judicature, established at Sydney. Lieutenant King took with him one Surgeon, one Petty officer, Mr. Cunningham two privates, two persons who pretended to have some knowledge of flax-dressing, nine male, and six female convicts, with provisions for six months.

Norfolk Island is situated in 29 degrees South Lattitude, and degrees East Longitude, and was settled with a view to the cultivation of the Flax-Plant, which at the time it was discovered by Captain Cook, was found in great abundance, and from specimens taken to England of the New Zealand Flax, which is of the same kind as that at Norfolk Island, it was hoped that the mother-country might derive great advantage from its cultivation. The Supply arrived at the Island on the 29th.

Their patience was nearly exhausted, and it was almost determined to return; judging that a spot so difficult of access was not the most desirable for a new Settlement; when upon standing in a little nearer the shore a small opening was perceptible in the reef, wide enough to admit a boat, through which he and his people landed with all their provisions and stores in perfect safety.

When landed, they found themselves in an impenetrable wilderness, and could not discover a clear spot, sufficient to pitch a tent, so that all hands were immediately set to work in order to clear the ground for the New Settlement, which Mr. King named Sydney-Bay, he had also become sponsor to two small islands in the vicinity, one of which he named Philip, after the Governor, and the other Nepean, in compliment to the present Secretary to the Admiralty. In the month of August a transport arrived from Port Jackson, having on board a midshipman and two seaman of the Sirius, a serjeant, corporal and a party of marines, also some free settlers with their families.

The utmost regularity and industry were observed throughout the settlement for a whole year: King, which was intended to be effected on the first Saturday after the arrival of any ship in the Bay, except the Sirius. Saturday was the day pitched upon, it being generally, the custom of Mr. King on that day to visit a farm he had established a small distance from the settlement. He was accordingly to be surprised and secured in his way to the farm.

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A message was then to be sent, in his name, to Mr. Jameison, the surgeon, to come immediately to the farm, when he was to be secured directly on his entering the woods;--the serjeant and party were to be treated in the same manner. These being properly taken care of, a signal was to be made to the vessel in the Bay, to send her boat on shore, the crew of which were to be made prisoners on their landing; when two or three of the revolters were to go off in a boat belonging to the Island, and inform the commanding officer that the ship's boat had been stove on the beach, and that the commandant requested that another might be sent on shore; this also was to be captured, and then the ship was to be boarded and taken, with which they were to proceed to Otaheite.

We must do them the justice to acknowledge that they meant to leave some provisions for the commandant and his officers--This was their scheme, not one difficulty in the execution whereof had ever occurred to their imagination, and they took it for granted that all was to succeed as easily as they had planned it, and had it not happened to be revealed by a female convict, to Mr. King's gardener, with whom she cohabited, there is no doubt but that this inconsistent plan would have been put in execution. Upon the discovery of their villainous intentions every possible precaution was taken to defeat them.

The first step was to clear the ground round the settlement to such a distance, that the woods should not conceal any preparations for a future attempt. By the activity of the free people and officers the flour, Indian corn, and stores were collected and removed to the commandant's house--a greater number of trees were blown down than could have been felled by fifty men in a month's labour.

In the progress of the storm, the whole of the bay and great part of the settlement was covered with water, and the gardens, public and private were totally destroyed. The island had lately received an increase of inhabitants so that at this time they mustered sixteen free people; fifty one male, and twenty three female convicts with four children, who were all in exceeding good health; a certain sign of the goodness of the climate.

The colony still increasing in numbers, it was thought necessary that they should have an additional military Force, accordingly in the month of June, Lieut.

A Sequel To A Voyage to Botany Bay

Cresswell of the Marines, and fourteen privates arrived from New South Wales. The greatest assiduity had been used in repairing the ravages of the hurricane, and by the month of August the country not only assumed its former cheerful appearance, but twenty acres of ground had been cleared and sown on the public account--a store-house was now erected capable of containing a large quantity of stores, and a road cut across the Island to Cascade Bay. The pine trees which were expected to have been a most valuable acquisition for malts and yards, of large ships, were found wholly unfit for the purpose; and no use could be yet made of the flax, owing to the ignorance of the people who had come out as professed flax dressers.

However the affairs of the colonists were in the most thriving state, and the harvest had returned more than twenty fold, though they had experienced much dry weather. After the harvest all the spare hands were employed in palisadoing a piece of ground two hundred feet, by one hundred and fifty, encircling the house of the commandant, the public stores, and a military barrack.

In the beginning of the year , governor Philip became uneasy at the non-arrival of supplies from England, as the provisions in store, at half-allowance to each man in the colony, would not hold out above four months.

They had on their landing a sufficient stock for two years; that time was now elapsed, and had it not been for the great care and economy of the governor, the whole colony must have perished with hunger. Towards the end of February, no vessels arriving, his excellency judged it absolutely necessary to divide the settlement: The Sirius was soon ready, and on the 6th. After a week's sail, they arrived at Norfolk Island, and sailing nearly round it, they at last found a spot on which the captain judged that he should be able to land his passengers in safety, the Island being almost entirely begirt with a shoal, or reef of sunken rocks, which caused a heavy surf on the least fresh of wind.

The debarkation took place on a rock which projects some distance into the sea, and continued for two days; no sooner had the last boat load landed, than the wind shifted, and set right on the shore; as it began to blow very strong, the ship was obliged to stand out to sea, leaving nearly three hundred people on shore without a possibility of landing any of the provisions or stores. This circumstance alarmed the new settlers, and the more so, as the weather grew so hazey that they soon lost sight of the ship; however, the next morning the Supply came to an anchor in the bay, but the greater part of the provisions and stores being in the Sirius, their apprehensions on her score were increased.

In this state of uncertainty they remained for four days, when to their great satisfaction at day break on the 20th. She soon after brought too, hoisted out the boats which were loaded with provisions and dispatched on shore. The ship falling very fast to leeward, captain Hunter thought it expedient to make sail, but the reef of sunken rocks extending farther than was imagined, which was now visible; as the sea began to rise the surf broke over them a considerable way out, so that it was not possible for the Sirius to weather it; upon which when they were sufficiently near they attempted to tack, but missed stays and fell off again; they were now obliged to wear her round in as small a space as possible, which was done, and they got under the same sail as before.

The ship continuing to fall to leeward, shoaling her water, and being baulked a second time in her attempt to tack, her anchor was let go, but before the cable brought her up, she struck upon the reef; in a few minutes after she bulged, and the water flowed into the hold. The masts were now cut away in order to lighten her, so that there might be a chance of her swinging over the reef in-shore, whereby the lives of those on board might be saved, which was effected in the course of the day, by means of a hawser, which was floated to the shore by a cask, and made fast to a tree.

The preservation of the stores and provisions was their next concern, and as the sea continued turbulent and the weather tempestuous their former fears of starving returned; there being now upon that small island five miles in length, and three in breadth no fewer than five hundred souls upon half-allowance of provisions, and that for a very short time, as the chief part was still in the most perilous state.

By great exertions, from twenty to thirty casks of provisions were brought from the wreck every day, with various other articles of public and private property; such things as would swim were thrown into the sea to take their chance of being wasted on shore by the surf, and guards were placed on the beach to prevent their being stolen by the convicts: Two of the convicts offered their services to bring on shore what live hogs they could save, but unfortunately they could not withstand the temptation of the spirit-room, in proceeding to which, they set the ship on fire in two places, which being perceived from the shore, a young man named Ascott, a convict, gallantly plunged into the surf, gained the wreck, extinguished the fire and forced the wretches out of the ship.

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Before the ship could be cleared, the weather became unfavorable, and the high surf rendered it unsafe for any person to go on board--'till at length a very heavy sea raised her bodily, and shifted her berth a cable's length nearer in-shore, so that it was much easier and safer to send on board, and the greater part of her cargo was safely landed: The Lieutenant Governor now called a council of all the naval and military officers, when it was determined that martial law should be proclaimed--that all private stock, poultry excepted, should be considered as the property of the state--that justice should be administered by a court martial, to be composed of seven officers, five of whom were to concur in a sentence of death; and that there should be two keys upon the door of the public store, whereof one was to be in the keeping of a person appointed by Captain Hunter, in behalf of the seamen, the other by a person in behalf of the military.

The day following the troops, seamen, and convicts, being assembled, these resolutions were publickly read, and the whole confirmed their engagement of abiding by them, by passing under his Majesty's Flag, which was displayed on a convenient spot, and every person passed under it, bowing as they passed which they were given to understand signified their assent this ceremony was performed with proper solemnity and great cheerfulness;--Hitherto every criminal, amenable to trial was to be sent to Port Jackson, with all the necessary evidence, and there tried, which had been attended with great inconveniences.

King, was dispatched in the Supply to Port Jackson with news of the loss of the Sirius, and to entreat that immediate relief might be sent, as the provisions were so very scanty, that the following short weekly allowance was obliged to be resorted to; viz. Observing great quantities of birds hovering over a hill which had been christened Mount Pitt, it was conjectured that they might draw some support from thence; accordingly some persons were sent to examine it--They found it perforated like a rabbit-warren, and full of nests; towards the evening such flocks came in from the sea that their numbers were incredible; the people made small fires which attracting their attention they dropped on the ground, and they killed as many as they pleased.

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When they are upon the ground they cannot raise themselves, owing to the length of their wings, and until they gain an eminence they cannot take to flight: More than six months passed ere any succours arrived from Port Jackson, and the people in general were very much reduced in bodily strength for want of food; when two ships arrived with provisions and a fresh reinforcement of convicts--these supplies were extremely providential, as their greatest resource, Mount Pitt, began to fail in the quantity of birds, and the fishing had entirely ceased.

It was at this time that Mr. Wentworth arrived, and was particularly noticed by Major Ross, who on account of his abilities and reputation immediately appointed him as a superintending surgeon of the Island. During the residence of Captain Hunter and the crew of the Sirius, he had employed them in blowing up some rocks which obstructed the passage through the reef; their efforts had been attended with great success; correct Surveys had also been made by Lieutenant Bradley, so that a landing was now effected in any weather.

The Lieutenant Governor had caused near two hundred acres of land to be cleared, having had great success in the first crops of Maize and Wheat--Two pieces of coarse canvass were manufactured and sent as a specimen to Governor Philip. Martial law being discontinued, some prisoners for capital offences were sent to New South Wales to be tried, but for want of sufficient evidence they were acquitted--much inconvenience was experienced from this mode--as all the witnesses were obliged to be embarked to attend the trial.

But as the courts here will always be the superior courts, it will not be easily remedied. Captain Hunter, his officers and men took their passage to Port Jackson, after sharing the fatigues and anxieties of the settlers for the space of eleven months, leaving the Island in a comparative state of plenty. Soon after captain King, now promoted to the rank of a master and commander; also appointed Lieutenant Governor of the settlement, arrived with his family in the Atlantic transport, and relieved Major Ross, who returned to New South Wales, with his detatchment, on board the Queen.

The frequent visitations to Mount Pitt had greatly thinned the numbers of the birds; more owing to the thoughtless wantonness of the convicts than the quantity killed; for they not only destroyed bird, its young and the egg, but the hole in which it burrowed, and from which they had the most positive orders to refrain; as nothing was more likely to make them forsake the Island. The governor having discovered that the Island abounded in lime--stones, built a handsome and convenient house for himself, with store houses, Barracks for the soldiery, and other public buildings: Two of them were accordingly prevailed on to venture to Norfolk Island, where they resided near a twelvemonth; and having given such instructions as enabled the colonists to manufacture it tolerably well, began to evince a hankering after their own country; the governor therefore was resolved by the first opportunity to gratify their wishes; and that he might be sure that they did not experience any neglect, or ill usage, determined to accompany them himself--He accordingly embarked on board the Britannia, and in a few days restored them to their native country, and their friends.

A jealousy had subsisted for some time between the Soldiery, the free men, and others of the Settlers; frequent sparring and acts of violence had taken place, till at length on the 18th. He being present immediately ordered one of the soldiers to be put under an arrest. As soon as the play was finished, the rest of the soldiers in a body repaired to their own commanding officer; and boldly demanded the release of their comrade. On his refusing their request, they signified that they would release him themselves; upon which the officer spiritedly remonstrated with them, and they dispersed.

They made no movement towards putting their threats in execution, nevertheless when their conduct was reported to the governor, he convened all the officers together, and laid before them what he had heard; also an account of a determination among the soldiers to release from the halberts any of their comrades, who should be ordered punishment for any injury or offence done to a settler: On the next day the detatchment was sent from their quarters in parties upon different duties, unarmed, when the marines, and settlers who were of the late militia took their arms.

On their return, twenty of them were selected as ringleaders, ten of whom were sent to Port Jackson in irons to be tried for mutiny, the other ten received punishment on the island; others were confined for a short time, when the rest returning cheerfully to their duty the affair blew over, and things went on as tranquilly as before. All remembrance of former scarcity began now to be done away, and upwards of fifty thousand bushels of maize, might have been sent to Port Jackson, had the Lieutenant Governor though proper to fall in with the proposals of Mr.

King--His harvests had been extremely productive, and he had purchased from the settlers the surplus of their first-crops;--bills for the amount of which he drew upon government in favour of the respective owners;--but as they required to be approved by the Lieutenant Governor, they were sent to Port Jackson for that purpose: King had been fully warranted in this procedure not only by the idea that the corn would be acceptable, but that it was one of the express conditions on which the settlers had received their respective allotments, under the regulations of Governor Philip; which was, that the overplus grain and stock should be purchased from them at a fair market price; this circumstance gave great discontent among the settlers, many of whom gave up their farms, and went to Port Jackson.

The ground now cleared, comprised near six thousand acres, about one half of the Island, and the greater part was in high cultivation in and , and produced upwards of forty thousand bushels of grain; but from the impolitic check given to private industry as before mentioned, the quantity gradually decreased to nearly one half--the ground thus neglected became over-run with strong thick weeds, which gave harbour to the numerous rats with which the island abounds, besides the injury done to the soil, which was much to be lamented; however, it is to be hoped that--as through the humane interference of governor Hunter the corn bills are now paid, and a notification that all the surplus grain would be purchased in future by government--the industrious disposition of the settlers will again revive.

The inhabitants on the island are divided into six classes, First, the Civil and the Military--second, Settlers by grant, or lease, Freeman hired, and Convicts taken off the stores by officers; the third class consists of Convicts allowed to officers as servants and overseers. Those employed in husbandry for the public, and other incidental work, compose the fourth class. The fifth and sixth comprize the women and children. There were two schools;--one for young children who were instructed by a very decent woman;--the other kept by a man, who taught reading, writing and arithmetic, for which he was well qualified, and was very attentive: It was unfortunate that these as well as the other children were destitute of every article of cloathing, except such as the store afforded, which was not at all calculated for them in that warm climate.

The state of the flax-manufactory is not such as to boast of, being in great want of tools; they have but one loom, and the only cloth they at present make is a canvas something finer than No. Before the arrival of the two New Zealanders no progress had been made in this manufacture, and it was with great difficulty they could be persuaded to give any information respecting it, and indeed as the work is generally performed in New Zealand by the women, they were not competent to give the fullest instruction: The convicts are employed according to their respective trades, and work from day-light till eight o'clock,--from nine till noon, and from two in the afternoon till sun-set.

On Fridays and Saturdays they are allowed to work for themselves, or whoever chuses to hire them; they are also indulged by government with the loan of tools and materials. Husbandmen and Labourers work from day light 'till one o'clock, and have the rest of the day to themselves, which is found to be more eligible than letting them break off to their meals.

The price of labour for a convict is from five to six pounds per annum--A Freeman, clothed and victualled, twelve pounds. Wentworth left the island were very reasonable; Fresh Pork, six pence a pound; Pickled Pork, eight pence; Wheat from seven to ten shillings a bushel; Potatoes three shillings the hundred weight; Fowls from sixpence to a shilling; Ducks from ten pence to fifteen pence; Turkeys, seven shillings and sixpence; Geese, ten shillings; She Goats, eight pounds each; Goats flesh, eighteen pence per pound; these last articles were dear, owing to the scarcity; but on the whole not more than one third of the price they bore here.

European commodities were nearly at the same price. The inhabitants amounted to nearly one thousand, about six hundred men, and the remainder women and children: At this time plenty reigned throughout the island, every barn was full and several thousand pounds of fresh pork had been cured, and fifty tons of salt provisions in store; so that it may now be stated that the colony is fully and completely established. Governor King having by unremitting exertions brought his little colony to this degree of perfection; now turned his thoughts towards England, as the only means of restoring his health, which had been greatly impaired; and on the 23rd.

In the commencement of the year the colony was prodigiously alarmed on account of the great scarcity of provisions--The public store had never been in such a reduced state; a reduction of two pounds of wheat per week, had taken place, and only one serving of salt provisions left, which was only half a week's-allowance; after that period, bread and water would be the only resource of the greater part of the inhabitants; but fortunately on Saturday the 8th. A ship had been contracted for, with Mr. Bampton, from India about a year ago, the return of which was hourly expected; we had also hopes of the Daedalus, from the North West Court of America--She had left England with a cargo of provisions, and articles of traffic, and joined Captain Vancoover at Nootka Sound.

On their passage out, the agent of Transports, Mr. Hergist, was unfortunately killed, with Mr. Gootch, an astronomer, who was going to join Captain Vancoover, at Whahoo, one of the Sandwich islands. These people are described by Mr. Mears, in his Voyages, as a very--quiet inoffensive people, which description begat a confidence in them, so that they went on shore unarmed; the savages no sooner had them in their possession than they fell upon them, and most inhumanly murdered them.

An armed party was sent from the ship but too late; for the two gentlemen were already massacred, and the horrid cannibals were preparing to broil and eat them; however, they drove them into the woods, and gathering the mangled limbs together, buried them on the beach. A boat with an officer was sent down the harbour, and returned in the evening with the information that a ship under English colours had stood a considerable way into the bay, but being headed by a violent squall, she split her foretop sail, and was compelled again to put to sea.

It was certain that the ship must be a stranger; for had any person on board had any knowledge of the harbour, they might with great safety have run her into Spring Cove; the sea running very high the officer could not board her without the most imminent danger. As it grew dark the gale encreased, and morning was anxiously expected, but it produced us nothing but disappointment and uncertainty; we saw no more of her on that day, but the wind veering about to the great joy of every individual in the settlement, she hove in sight again no Monday the 10th.

The brig had on board a small quantity of beef and pork, some sugar, rum, and coarse calicos--To our great surprise she brought no news of Mr. Bampton; nor had there been an account of his arrival at any of the ports in India. When he sailed from this place he expressed his determination of attempting a passage between this country and new Guinea. The navigation through this passage is mentioned as the most dangerous ever performed by any navigator; it had been passed by captain Blygh, and he was twenty days running thro' the passage.

One day coming to an anchor to avoid danger, the Providence broke two of her anchors; and at last brought up near the shore, when eight canoes daringly attacked her, and killed and wounded several of her people--some of these canoes were seventy feet long, and contained six and twenty persons. To the disappointment which the colony sustained from the failure of the contracts already mentioned, for cattle and provisions; these accounts alarmed every one for Mr. Bampton's safety, and they feared that his ship had been wrecked on some of those shoals with which the streights abound, and that his officers and people had fallen a sacrifice to the natives.

In consequence of these fortunate arrivals, full allowance of salt meat was issued; and as soon as the cargoes were landed, the former deficiencies of allowance were made up to every individual. Had the settlers returned the wheat which they had received from government to sow their grounds last season, no such necessity would have existed; and it was certainly their duty to have stepped forward at this moment to assist the colony; but though they all knew the anxiety that prevailed to preserve the seed wheat, yet when applied to, they all pleaded that they had not sufficient to sow their grounds for the present season--This plea was well known to be without the least shadow of truth; In consequence, the governor ordered all those whose time of being victualled had expired, to be struck off the list, and left to provide for themselves, a punishment which they richly deserved--some of them had been permitted to receive their rations for more than a year after their EIGHTEEN MONTHS had expired--the term specified by government.

The distresses of the colony did not seem to make any amendment in the morals of the convicts. Gambling still prevailed among them to its fullest extent. One of the overseers, very much addicted to this ruinous passion, had given great offence to some of the prisoners, whereupon they formed a plan to rob him the first time he was observed to be favoured by fortune. He was accordingly surrounded one evening when at play, and having won a hazard of twenty five dollars, they rushed upon him as he was gathering up the stake, and secured the whole. He was fortunate enough to seize one of them with ten of the dollars in his hand, but lost the remainder.

The offender was one who some time since had been reprieved at the foot of the gallows; he instantly received a severe corporal punishment, and the overseer, Mc. Koy, a sharp reprimand; in extenuation, he confessed that gaming had been his profession for many years, and that had it not been for this vice he should never have visited this country in the degrading situation of a convict. In the month of April the Daedalus returned from Nootka, by her we learnt that Captain Vancoover had been to Whahoo, and that three of the natives had been delivered to him by the chief of the island, for the purpose of being sacrificed to the manes of Mr.

Gootch and Lieutenant Hergist. The poor devils, asert remaining some time on board the Discovery, were taken one by one into a canoe, and put to death along--side the ship, by one of the chiefs, with a pistol; the effects of which equally astonished the executioner and the spectators.

One of the natives of Port Jackson, who had taken the name of Collins, had conceived a friendship for Lieut. Hanson, and had made the voyage with him. The point was soon determined--they shivered a spear together, and Wyatt, who was wounded in the contest, was obliged to yield up the lady to her former lord, who, after having asserted his right by the force of arms, appeared indifferent about the reward, and was seen soon after traversing the country in quest of another wife.

Some of the natives perceiving that we were desirous of other fresh water rivers besides the Hawksbury, assured us that at a small distance from Botany Bay there was a large river which ran into the sea. Accordingly two of the soldiers who could be depended on, were sent from the South shore of Botany Bay, well armed; with provisions for a week. Having penetrated about twenty miles to the Southward of Botany Bay they came to a pretty deep bay, which they went round; but discovered no traces of fresh water.

The native evinced no disappointment, but returned as cheerfully and as well pleased as if he had led them to the banks of the finest river in the world. An Irish attorney, a convict, about this time planned an excursion of a different nature; which was to seize one of the long boats, and in her endeavour to find his way to Batavia. There were about a dozen concerned, and they had procured a quantity of provisions; casks, sails, and many other necessary articles were provided, and when the discovery was made were found in the the house of the principal.

As there were no seamen among them, it was very lucky that they were prevented from putting to sea; as during the night they were to sail, it blew a violent gale of wind, and they must all have inevitably gone to the bottom. All that government had to regret in these desertions was the loss of the boats; for the colony would not sustain any injury from the evasion of a few malcontents, who were too idle to labour, and constantly promulgating their own seditious opinions among the other convicts.

Wilkinson the mill-wright was drowned in a pond which he ventured into after a duck he had shot, and getting entangled among the weeds, disappeared, though he was an expert swimmer, and there were several settlers by, who had been with him on the party, but could give him no assistance. This unfortunate man was brought out in the Neptune as a convict, and had worked undistinguished among his fellow prisoners near three years, before it was discovered that he possessed any mechanical talents; nor very probably would they ever have been known, had they not been called forth by a desire of rivalling a mill-wright, of the name of Thorpe, who had been sent out by government.

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