NEW SOUTH WALES. 51 



and interest, to forget the ways in which they 

 had lived, and to become good, honest, and 

 industrious members of the community. At 

 the end of his affectionate address three vollies 

 were fired, after which he received the honours 

 due to his rank on the parade, and Entertained 

 all the officers and gentlemen of the settlement 

 under a tent pitched on purpose. 



On mustering the convicts in the morning, 

 nine were found absent, for notwithstanding 

 .every care that could be taken, so ignorant 

 were they, that fearless of danger, some of 

 them intrcated, but in vain, to be taken on 

 board the French ships in Botany Bay. For 

 want of proper persons being sent out to act as 

 overseers, the convicts could not be kept to 

 work, as those who overlooked them, were only 

 such convicts as behaved well on the voyage, 

 so that having participated in the vices of 

 others, they had neither inclination or power 

 to exact obedient conduct. Thefts now began 

 to be discovered, and many tools secreted ; 

 these evils resulted in a great measure, from the 

 sailors bringing spirits on shore, which even 

 punishment could not prevent. The Criminal 

 Court, was assembled on the 11th of February, 

 for the trial of prisoners. One for an assault, 

 was sentenced to have 150 lashes ; the next for 

 robbing another convict of biscuit, was to be 

 confined on a rocky island for a week, on bread 

 and water; and the third, for stealing a plank, 



as sentenced to receive 50 lashes, but was 

 pardoned. 



