time many spears were thrown, and some blows were inflicted with clubs; but all seemed determined on the death of Colebe; for the man whose life he had in so cowardly a manner taken away was much beloved by his countrymen.

Cole-be, finding that he must either submit to the trial usual on such occasions, or live in the continual apprehension of being taken off by a midnight murder and a single hand, determined to come forward, and suffer the business to be decided one way or the other. Having signified his resolution, a day was appointed, and he repaired armed to the place of rendezvous. The rage and violence shewn by the friends of the deceased were indescribable; and Cole-be would certainly have expiated his offence with his life, but for the interference of several of the military. Although active, and extremely dextrous in the use of the shield, he was overpowered, and, falling beneath their spears, would certainly have been killed on the spot; but several soldiers rushed in, and prevented their putting him to death where he lay, by bearing him off to the barracks.

Bennillong was present at this meeting; but, it was supposed, without intending to take any part in it either way. The atrocity of his friend's conduct had been such, that he could not openly espouse his quarrel; perhaps he had no stomach to the fight; and certainly, if he could avoid it, he would not, by appearing against him, add to the number of his enemies. He was armed, however, and unencumbered with clothing of any kind, and remained a silent spectator of the tumultuous scene, until the moment when the soldiers rushed in to save the life of Cole-be. His conduct here became inexplicable. On a sudden, he chose to be in a rage at something or other, and threw a spear among the soldiers, which dreadfully took effect on one of them, entering at his back, and coming out at his belly close to the navel. For this he would instantly have been killed on the spot, had not the provost-marshal interfered and taken him away, boiling with the most savage rage; for he had received a blow on the head with the butt end of a musquet.

It became necessary to confine him during the night, as well to prevent the mischief with which he threatened the white people, as to save him from the anger of the military; and on the following morning he quitted the town.

This man, instead of making himself useful, or shewing the least gratitude for the numberless favours that he had received, had become a most insolent and troublesome savage. As it was impossible sometimes to avoid censuring him for his conduct, he had been known to walk about armed, and heard to declare that it was for the express purpose of spearing the Governor whenever he saw him. This last outrage of his had rendered him more hateful than any of his countrymen; and, as the natives, who had so constantly resided and received so many comforts in the settlement, were now afraid to appear in the town, believing that, like themselves, those whom he had offended would punish all for the misconduct of one, it might rather be expected that Bennillong could not be far from meeting that punishment which he certainly provoked and merited.

There were at this time in the town of Sydney three schools for the education of children; and on the breaking-up for the Christmas holidays the Governor was gratified with the sight of 102 clean and decently-dressed children, who came with their several masters and mistresses, and paid their respects to his Excellency, who examined the progress of the elder scholars.

One moment's reflection on the vices that prevailed in the colony will be sufficient to excite a wish, that some institution could have been devised for separating the greater part of these (at present, innocent) members of the community from their vicious parents, where they could have been educated at the public expence, their propensities to evil corrected, and that turn given to their attainments which should secure them a stock of useful knowledge. An arrangement of this nature was every day becoming more necessary; there being not less than 300 young people already in the town of Sydney, very few of whom had been born in England.

CHAP. XXVI.

The Francis sail for the Wreck-Transactions-Stock and Land in Cultivation-Irish Convicts restless Disposition-Fate of those Convicts who escaped-Bennillong and his Wife-Report respecting the Wild Cattle-Journey to the Westward-Description of a new Bird.

THE commander of the wrecked ship Sydney-Cove, having solicited the Governor to spare him the Colonial schooner for the purpose of visiting the wreck of his ship, and the six men whom he had left upon the island in charge of what had been landed; though he could very ill part with the services of the vessel, yet, in consideration of the melancholy state of the people, and the chance that there might be of saving something for the benefit of the underwriters, his Excellency consented, and she sailed the latter end of December, with Captain Hamilton, to the southward.

The weather was now becoming extremely hot; and as, at that season of the year, the heat of the sun was so intense that every substance became a combustible, and a single spark, if exposed to the air, in a moment became a flame, much evil was to be dreaded from fire. On the east side of the town of Sydney, a fire, the effect of intoxication or carelessness, broke out among the convicts' houses, when three of them were quickly destroyed; and three miles from the town another house was burnt by some runaway wretches, who, being displeased with the owner, took this diabolical method of shewing their ill-will.

The public labour of the month at Sydney comprised the covering of the new store-house; finishing the church-tower; constructing another wind-mill; completing the barracks of the assistant-surgeons, with necessary offices; digging the foundation of a house for the master boat-builder; and taking down one of the old marine barracks, on the scite of which the Governor proposed to erect a granary.

At Parramatta and Tongabbe, the wheat was nearly all got in and secured. At the latter of these places, a capital barn had been erected for its reception, 90 feet in length, with a complete floor, on which eight or nine pairs of thrashers could be employed without inconvenience.

In order to mark the annual increase, it may be proper to insert in this place an account of the live-stock, and land in cultivation, at the close of the year 1797, belonging to government, to civil and military officers, to settlers, and others.

In addition to these, a considerable quantity of gardenground was in potatoes, callevances, and vines.

The Irish prisoners who had arrived in the last ships from that country, had, about the beginning of the year 1798, become so turbulent and refractory, and so dissatisfied with their situation, that, without the most rigid and severe treat ment, it was impossible to derive from them any labour whatever. In addition to their natural vicious propensities, they conceived an opinion that there was a colony of white people, which had been discovered, situated to the S. W. of Sydney, from which it was distant between three and four hundred miles; and where they were assured of finding all the comforts of life, without the necessity of labouring for them. In consequence of this extraordinary rumour, a plan had been formed, by some of these deluded people, of escaping from their then residence to this ideal one. The Governor, however, having received early information of the intentions of this party, sent a magistrate to them, desiring that he would expose the folly of their plan; but if, as was suspected, they should prove deaf to reason, and refuse to be convinced, he was to propose that any four whom they would select from their number, and whom they might think capable of travelling over steep and rocky mountains, through thick and extensive woods, and fording deep and rapid streams, should be furnished with as much provisions as each could carry; and further, for the protection of their lives during the journey, three other men, accustomed to the woods, and well acquainted with the savages of the mountains, should be ordered to attend them as far as they should find themselves able to proceed, or until a conviction of the impossibility of success in their mad attempt should induce them to return. The Governor, finding that they persisted in their intention of seeking this New World, directed a party of constables to way-lay and secure as many of them as they were able; which was effected, and sixteen were put into confinement. On speaking to them the following day, they appeared to be totally ignorant whither they were going; but, observing in them as much obstinacy as ignorance, his Excellency justly thought that he could not use an argument more likely to convince them of their misconduct, than by ordering a severe corporal punishment to be inflicted on those who appeared to be the principals in this business; and accordingly seven of them received each two hundred lashes.