124 HISTORY OF 



that it became requisite, to let them see the 

 contrary, which was done in executing John 

 Crow, who was convicted some time before, but 

 had been respited twice. In a storm, on the 

 6th of December, a boat which came from Pa- 

 ramatta with corn, filled with water which ran 

 off the wharf, and sunk, by which 280 bushels 

 of Indian corn and a few of wheaten meal were 

 lost, except to the natives, who were so fond of 

 it that many tlived and brought up considerable 

 quantities. Spirits gained such an ascendency 

 over the weak minded, that they refused any-* 

 thing else in payment for labour while they 

 were to be obtained, and 'several officers' ser- 

 vants stole them from their masters. Sydney 

 had now increased, since Governor Phillip 

 quitted it 160 huts and 5 barracks. Towards 

 the close of December, a party of natives at* 

 tacked several settlers, and taking all their pro-* 

 visions, fled to the woods. 



Passage boats were allowed now to go from 

 Sydney to Paramatta. These were the property 

 of convicts who had served their time; the fare 

 was one shilling for each person, and all lug- 

 gage was paid Is. per cwt. for. In the year 

 1793, there died 7 soldiers, two settlers, 78 male 

 convicts, <26 female convicts, and 29 children ; 

 and with accidents, &c. the decrease was \53 

 persons. 



Amidst the variety of crimes continually 

 committed in New South Wales by the convicts, 

 murder had hitherto been excluded, but on the 

 £th of January, 1794, an elderly man, whose 



