£36 HISTORY OF 



At the end of May, the settlers at the North- 

 ern farms were much troubled by the natives, 

 who came down in a body, and burnt several 

 houses. This was indeed unfortunate, as those 

 farms had very great industry bestowed on 

 them ; and as the land was of a superior quality 

 it had not but for these savages been thrown 

 away. 



On the 14th, there was a shower of hail- 

 stones of a very large size, most of them measur- 

 ing six inches in circumference. 



The Governor went to Paramatta on the 

 6th of June, to search for a proper place, for 

 settling as farmers some of the missionaries 

 from Otaheite, who wished to continue in New- 

 South Wales; and some free settlers lately 

 sent out by the Government, who with their 

 families arrived from England in the Barwell. 

 It is indeed very much to be lamented, that a 

 single ship was ever suffered to sail from Eng- 

 land for this country, without a portion, how- 

 ever small, of such persons, by which means 

 the country would have avoided many of the 

 miseries it w r as exposed to, in having, compara- 

 tively speaking, none but convicts to deal with. 

 On an examination of the country, he pro- 

 nounced it superior to any that had yet been 

 seen, and in quantity equal to what was wanted. 

 This land was good, well watered, and easy to 

 be cleared, and only distant from five to six 

 miles from Paramatta. Being satisfied with the 

 situation, he kindly recommended it to the 

 missionaries ; but some of them seemed so un- 

 decided as to give the Governor reason to sus* 



