NE\f SOUTH WALES. 6Y 



One of the most artful convicts, amused the 

 Settlement at Sydney Cove, with an account 

 of a gold mine, he pretended to have discovered, 

 and offered to conduct an officer to the spot. 

 A boat was got ready, but on landing at the 

 place, he prevailed on the officer to send away 

 the boat, and afterwards left him, and arrived 

 at the colony, some hours before the offiber, 

 saying he sent him for a guard, but before that 

 gentleman returned, he escaped into the wood, 

 and did not return till next day, when he had 

 50 lashes for the imposition ; however he per- 

 sisted that he had discovered a metal, of which 

 he produced a bit. The Governor returned 

 about this time from an excursion, and on hear- 

 ing his tale, ordered him to be again taken 

 down the harbour, and told the man, that if 

 it turned out a deception, he would put him 

 to death. This saved more trouble, for the 

 man confessed he had invented the tale to im- 

 pose on the crews of the Fishbourn and Golden 

 Grove, who under the idea of having gold dust 

 from him, would let him have cloathing, &c. and 

 the specimens exhibited, where made from part 

 of a brass buckle and a guinea, the remains of 

 which he produced ; for this trick he had 100 

 lashes, and wore a canvass frock with an R cut 

 and sewed on it, to render him a more conspi- 

 cuous rogue than the rest; but so ignorant were 

 many, that they believed he had really dis- 

 covered a gold mine, notwithstanding his con- 

 fession, and the rezvard he highly deserved, 

 justly obtained, and still publicly worq. 



