NEW SOUTH WALES. 257 



being able to get back, it took him some con- 

 siderable time to run through it. 



Three deaths happened this month out of the 

 regular course : a woman died of the bite of a 

 snake ; another was drowned in attempting to 

 land at Norfolk Island ; and on the 19th died, 

 suddenly, Mr. Stephenson, the storekeeper at 

 Sydney. His death was not in the usual way, 

 neither had been the last few years of his 

 life; for by an upright conduct, and a faith- 

 ful discharge of the duties of his office, he se- 

 cured to himself the approbation of his supe- 

 riors. He had been emancipated for his good 

 behaviour, and thus enabled to execute the 

 office of store-keeper. 



As the election of constables took place an- 

 nually in December, the magistrates were re- 

 quested to be very particular in the persons 

 returned for that purpose ; as there was reason, 

 from many causes, to fear, that the frequent 

 escapes of prisoners from goal, must have been 

 attended with that uniform success they met 

 with, by the constables being tampered with, 

 so shameful was their neglect of that duty en- 

 trusted to their care. 



The wheat harvest over, the country, as hap- 

 pened too generally at this season, was in many 

 places on fire, when every person engaged in farm- 

 ing was reminded of the necessity of exerting 

 themselves tosecure their crops, againstaccidents 

 by fire. An admonition one would have thought 

 by no means requisite, as it so very materially con- 



