NEW SOUTH WALES. S73 



person in his ship, and must undoubtedly have 

 felt himself in an awkward situation, in being 

 brought before a court for the breach of an order 

 issued but a short time to guard him and others 

 against the very offence he had committed. 



The Hillsborough, when searched, had no less 

 than thirty convicts on board, against the orders, 

 but these were without the knowledge of the 

 officers, being secreted by the seamen. Soon 

 after these transactions, both ships sailed on 

 their voyages. 



Though by the measures adopted, it was sup- 

 posed none had escaped in the ships, yet many 

 were still known to be in the woods. On the 

 15th a young ox was missed from the stock- 

 yard at Toongabbe ; with the hope of discover- 

 ing the offenders, a notice was issued, holding 

 out a conditional emancipation, and permission 

 to become a settler, to any convict for life, who 

 would come forward with the information neces- 

 sary to convict the persons concerned ; and an 

 absolute emancipation, with permission to quit 

 the colony, to any one transported only for a 

 limitted time; but nothing ever transpired that 

 could lead to a discovery t 



Wheat at this time getting low in the stores 

 rendered it necessary to deduct two pounds from 

 the twelve which were issued, an addition was 

 made to the allowance of salt meat, eight pounds 

 and a half of beef being issued instead of five, 

 and five pounds of pork in the room of three. 

 This was to continue until the new crops were 

 gathered which wore at present a promising- 



