NEW SOUTH WALES. 81 



was very bad, the rain poured down in torrents, 

 doing* great damage among the huts of the 

 convicts. The allowance of spirits which had 

 hitherto been half a pint a day, was on the 1st 

 of March reduced to half that quantity. On 

 the 3d, two companies of marines, with their 

 officers, the Lieutenant-Governor, and a sur- 

 geon, embarked on board the ships Sinus and 

 Supply. On the following day, 11 6 male and 

 68 female convicts, and 27 children, were put 

 on board. Caesar was one of the male convicts, 

 who the Governor pardoned ; and one of an 

 opposite description, for his conduct had been 

 so good as to raise him to the privileges of 

 freedom, and he was now sent as an assistant 

 to a medical gentleman at Norfolk Island. 

 The Sirius and Supply sailed on the 5th. Capt. 

 Hunter left at the South Head, the gunner, 

 a midshipman, and six of the Sinus's crew. 

 Those who remained at Sydney had all the 

 Governor's attention, he visited the huts left 

 empty, by those gone to Norfolk Island, and 

 gave them to those whose huts were in a miser- 

 able state, and that this kindness might not 

 fail to have some good effect, they were told, 

 that unless, both the huts and gardens were 

 kept in a good state, they would be turned out, 

 and that they might have time to do this, 

 Wednesday afternoon and all Saturday was 

 allowed them. On the 27th, a still shorter 

 ration was found requisite to be adopted, and 

 4lbs. of flour, g-^lbs. of pork, and l-§-lb. of rice, 

 was all that could be allowed per week, for each 



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