HEW SOUTH WALES. 379 



tunes had proceeded from a want of attention 

 to their own interest ; many of them having 

 sold their last bushel for the imprudent gratifi- 

 cation of the moment, thus reducing their fa- 

 milies to distress and even nakedness. 



At the same time he informed them, he felt 

 much pleasure in being able to communicate to 

 them, that government intended to administer 

 every relief, by supplying the inhabitants with 

 both necessaries and comforts at a moderate 

 price. - x 



During the same day which the Britannia 

 sailed, the Plumier, a Spanish ship, anchored 

 in the cove; which ship was a prize to three 

 whalers that captured her near Cape Corientes, 

 on the coast of Peru. Her cargo principally 

 consisted of spirits and *wine, which being con- 

 demned by the Vice-admiralty Court as a law- 

 ful prize, were removed to the Supply, and an 

 order was issued, to forbid the landing of 

 spirits, wine, or malt liquor, till a regular 

 permit was obtained, which restriction was ex- 

 tended to wine and malt liquor, as spirits were 

 frequently landed as those articles. 



The Commissary was now enabled to issue 

 slop-cloathing to the convicts, as a quantity 

 had been received by the Walker ; but unfortu- 

 nately, however, much put on board arrived in 

 a damaged state. 



On the 14th of December, the Martha 

 schooner came in from Bass Strait; she brought 

 1000 seal-skins and 30 barrels of oil, which she 

 had procured among the islands. 



