comforts as were necessary for persons in their weak and wretched condition. They proceeded to the spot pointed out by Mr. Clarke, the supercargo, as that where they had lost sight of their companions; but after the most anxious endeavours could discover only some trifling articles, which were known to have been in their possession; and these being bloody, it was conjectured that they had been killed in their very helpless conditions by the natives, whom, in the course of their long march, they had found frequently very kind, and at other times extremely savage. To add to the probability of this having been their end, Mr. Clarke mentioned the morose, unfeeling disposition of the carpenter, who often, when some friendly natives had presented him with a few fish, growled that they had not given him all, and insisted, that because they were black fellows, it would be right to take it by force. By some illiberal and intemperate act of this nature, there was much reason to believe he had brought on himself and his ill-fated companion, the mate (a man cast in a gentler mould), a painful and premature death.

Mr. Clarke, and the two other people who arrived with him, were very much exhausted, and could not probably have borne up much longer against the toil that attends travelling in such a country as the unsettled part of New Holland every where presents. All possible attention, however, being paid to their situation, they quickly recovered their strength and spirits.

Several instances have already been given of the danger and difficulty that attended travelling through the woods; in which many people have either wandered till they died, or have been assassinated by the natives. Every caution that humanity could suggest had been given; yet even at this advanced period of the settlement an instance occurred which proved to how little purpose. A soldier, who had taken his passage in a boat to go to the Hawkesbury, prevailed on the erew to land him on the south shore of Broken Bay, intending to proceed to the settlement by land; but which he was never able to accomplish. Several parties were sent in search of him, but they returned unsuccessful, and no doubt could be entertained of his end having been truly deplorable; as was that of a very fine girl of ten years of age, who about the same time was burnt to death by a stubble field having taken fire while she was in the midst of it. The flames were so rapid, that she was unable to escape from them, and perished in the most extraordinary and terrible manner.

On the 27th of May, the ship Britannia anchored between the heads from Ireland, having on board 150 male and 50 female convicts from that kingdom, with an officer and 25 recruits for the New South Wales corps. On the same day the colonial Schooner, and a long boat, sailed to the southward, to bring away. the remainder of the ship's company belonging to the unfortunate Sydney Cove.

The want of cordage has heen already mentioned. The settlement was likewise so much distressed for canvas, that the largest and best boat in it was useless from the want of sails.

Very little rain had fallen during May.

On the 2d of June, the Ganges arrived from Ireland, with convicts from that kingdom, and a detachment of recruits for the New South Wales corps. These convicts appeared in much better health than those lately arrived in the Britannia; indeed, the latter complained so much of having been illtreated during the passage, that the Governor thought it right to institute an enquiry into their complaints; when it appeared that they had been deserving of punishment, but that it had been administered with too much severity, in the opinion even of the surgeon who was present. As these punishments had been inflicted by the direction of the master, without consulting any of the officers on board as to the measure of them, he was highly censured, as was also the surgeon, who could stand by and see them inflicted without remonstrating with the master; which he declined because he had not been consulted by him.

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Early in June the Governor visited the settlement at Parramatta, for the purpose of examining that part of the country which he designed to cultivate on the public account; and to observe how the convicts who had lately arrived, the major part of whom had been sent thither, were provided for. The cattle which had been landed from the Supply had been also sent thither, and were, with the government stock at Toongabbe, thriving exceedingly.

The ground that it was proposed to clear on the public account was not more than two miles and a half from Parramatta, and most advantageously situated in point of fresh water, having a chain of large and excellent ponds in its vicinity. The spot was marked out by the deputy surveyor whereon to erect the necessary buildings; and the whole was named Portland-Place.

In consequence of the proclamation which had been issued, one of the runaway convicts delivered himself up, and another was taken: they appeared to be half starved; yet their sufferings were not sufficient to prevent similar desertions by others, nor a repetition of the offence in themselves; such was the strong aversion which these worthless characters had to any thing that bore the name of work. More labour would have been performed by one hundred free people from any part of England or Scotland, than had at any time been derived from three hundred of these, with all the attention that could be paid to them. Had two hundred families of decent labouring farmers been sent out as settlers a few years since, and had a few convicts to assist them been placed wholly under their direction and authority, the cultivation would have been much further advanced; and, in point of provisions, those families would have been living in luxury. More grain than could be consumed would have been grown, instead of crops which in some years were barely sufficient to last until the following harvest.

After exciting some apprehensions for her safety, his Majesty's ship the Reliance anchored in the Cove on the 26th, from the Cape of Good Hope, having had a very stormy passage. She brought 26 cows, 3 bulls, and about 60 sheep.

The conclusion of June saw the finishing of the new gaol, which was surrounded by a strong and high fence. It was eighty feet in length, the sides and ends were constructed of strong logs, a double row of which formed each partition. The whole was divided into twenty-two cells, the divisions of which were logs. The floor and the roof were of the same solid materials, over which was a coat eight inches deep of stiff clay, and the roof was thatched. Every accommodation for prisoners was to be found in separate buildings in the prison yard; in which also was a distinct brick building for debtors, fenced off from the felon side (to use an Old Bailey distinction) by a strong and high paling. This, inclosing a spot of ground which had been marked out on the west side of the Cove for a ship yard, landing provisions from the transports, and completing the granary, had formed the principal labour in which the public gangs were employed during the month, throughout which the weather had been remarkably dry.

In the beginning of July, the Francis returned from the wreck of the Sydney Cove, bringing the remainder of her crew, except six, whom Captain Hamilton, her commander (and the only European belonging to her then alive), had left in charge of that part of her cargo which had been saved. The Eliza long-boat, which sailed from the island with them, had on board a few Lascars and some property; but having had to encounter a very heavy gale of wind, and not arriving with the schooner, many doubts were entertained of her safety. These were greatly augmented by a severe storm which came on twelve days after the arrival of the Francis, The wind blew a hurricane, doing much mischief, and the rain fell in

torrents.

The cattle that arrived in the Reliance were landed, and looked extremely well. The two Colonial ships had been employed eight months on this voyage to and from the Cape,

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and had added 51 cows, 3 bulls, a few horses, and about 90 sheep, to the stock of domestic cattle in the colony.

This species of provisions was multiplying largely; but the salt meat was decreasing so fast, that it became necessary to issue only half the usual ration of pork.

Early in August, the Britannia and the Ganges sailed on their respective voyages. In the latter went several convicts who had become free, and some of the marine soldiers who had been discharged from the New South Wales Corps, having completed their second engagement in that regiment. They had talked of becoming settlers; but the restless love of change prevailed, and they quitted the colony.

Mr. Clarke, of the ship Sydney Cove, having mentioned that, two days before he had met the people of the boat which had brought him to Port Jackson, he had fallen in with a great quantity of coal, with which he and his companions made a large fire, and had slept by it during the night, a whale-boat was sent off to the southward, with Mr. Bass, the surgeon of the Reliance, to discover where an article so valuable was to be met with. He proceeded about seven leagues to the southward of Point Solander; where he found, in the face of a steep cliff, washed by the sea, a stratum of coal, in breadth about six feet, and extending eight or nine miles to the southward. Upon the summit of the high land, and lying on the surface, he observed many patches of coals, from some of which it must have been that Mr. Clarke was so seasonably supplied with fuel. He also found in the skeletons of the mate and earpenter of the Sydney Cove, an unequivocal proof of their having unfortunateiy perished, as was conjectured.

From the specimens of the coal which were brought in by Mr. Bass, the quality appeared to be good; but, from its almost inaccessible situation, no great advantage could ever be expected from it; and, indeed, were it even less difficult to be procured, unless some small harbour should be near it, it could not be of much utility to the settlement.