NEW SOUTH WALES. 151 



CHAP. VI. 



Ihe task of following the progress of the 

 country, becomes more satisfactory by far, than 

 in the earlier period of it. Want and its at- 

 tendant horrors do not so continually intrude 

 in the narrative. The settlement having be- 

 come more established. Crimes being so gene- 

 rally punished, and rewards for opposite con- 

 duct uniformly bestowed, certainly together, 

 held out a temptation much stronger to do 

 well than otherwise : notwithstanding which, 

 crimes of the blackest die must, it is much to 

 be feared, for many years stain the History of 

 New South Wales. 



The Arthur anchored in the Cove from Cal- 

 cutta, on the 1st of January, 1796, with a cargo 

 of various articles, on speculation ; and on the 

 2d, the Surprize returned from Norfolk Island, 

 whither she had been sent to learn the state of 

 Governor King's health, and to know if any 

 thing was wanted at that settlement. All the 

 information she brought was, that the Governor 

 was still very ill. / 



On the 16th, a play-house was opened at 

 Sydney, permission for which had been some 

 time granted to a number of the well-behaved 

 convicts. Their first performance was, " The 

 Revenge, and the Hotel." The principal per- 

 formers were Sparrow, the manager, H. Green, 



