320 HISTORY OF 



gully betwixt Sydney and Paramatta, was car- 

 ried away by tbe torrent and drowned. The 

 cattle suffered much, and some of both the pub- 

 lic and private stock perished. 



The storm did so much damage, that the set- 

 tlement was thrown back at least 12 months in 

 those works, which would have been shortly 

 completed. The weather had never been so se- 

 vere as at the beginning of this month. The set- 

 tlement had from the fires of the summer, and 

 the floods and gales of the winter, suffered very 

 considerably. In addition to these, g<reat in- 

 convenience arose from the late unproductive 

 harvest, as well as from an exhausted store in 

 the articles of clothing and bedding, the hostile 

 disposition of the natives, and the absence of 

 morality, honesty, and industry in the colonists. 



Every exertion was made to redress the mis- 

 fortunes suffered by the late tempest, and it 

 •was hoped they would be surmounted during 

 the present year. The erection of the stone 

 prison at Sydney, was found very expensive, 

 the Governor therefore called a meeting of the 

 -officers, inhabitants, and landholders, and pro- 

 posed a portion to be furnished by each, of 

 money, as well as labour ; which was agreed to 

 by them ; and that building was carried on at 

 their expense, the public stores only furnishing 

 the iron wanted. 



On the 29th, the Albion arrived from Eng- 

 land, having made the quick passage of only 

 three months and 15 days. She brought £00 

 tierces of salt pork, and some dispatches. 



