NEW SOUTH WALES, 157 



nant-Gavernor with Mr. White, Mr. Laing, 

 three soldiers, t\v r o women, and nine men, em- 

 barked. On the 15th, before the departure of 

 the Lieutenant-Governor,, those convicts under 

 confinement were released*, and allotments of 

 land made to those who wished it. During 

 December, a farm of 25 acres was sold by 

 auction for 13l. The frequent failures of those 

 who attempted to escape from the colony, either 

 by stealing boats or going to the woods, by no 

 means lessened the desire of others, though sel- 

 dom many days expired without their returning 

 themselves, or being taken and brought back. 

 On the 24th arrived the Experiment Snow, front 

 Bengal, with a few provisions, spirits, sugar and 

 piece-goods, on speculation. On the departure of 

 Lieutenant-Governor Grose, the government 

 devolved on Captain William Patterson, of the 

 New South Wales corps. The loss by death in 

 1794, was only 59 persons. 



In January, 1795, the attention was turned to 

 preparing the ground for wheat. The Indian 

 corn, which was now ripening about Hawkes- 

 bury, promised at least 30,000 bushels of that 

 grain. Some of the young natives, who lived 

 among the settlers became so useful, that they 

 would in three or four hours do as much work 

 as was allotted to a convict for a dav's work. 

 At this time the heavy rains swelled the river 

 Hawkesbury to such a degree, that consider- 

 able damage was done to the crops of the 

 settlers and government. A bridge at Para- 



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