384 HISTORY OF 



convicts and to avoid imposition wait her 

 arrival. 



As the Minerva had touched at Rio de Jane- 

 rio, she brought many articles for sale, from 

 that port as well as from England, most of 

 which were seriously wanted, but the prices 

 were so immoderate as to drain all the money 

 that could be procured. 



The arrival of the Minerva, was accompanied 

 with that of the Fhynne, a snow from Bengal 

 under Danish colours, chartered by the officers 

 of the colony, through an agent they sent 

 thither on purpose. She was laden on their 

 account with articles they were much in want of. 



The 18th a convict attempted to go alongside 

 the Minerva, and still persisting, though repeat- 

 edly warned to keep off, was shot by the centinel, 

 agreeable to his orders, and though tried was 

 of course acquitted. 



The natives having murdered two men who 

 had farms at the Hawkesbury, a few of the 

 settlers in the neighbourhood determined like 

 the native savages of the country to revenge 

 their death by retaliation. There were three 

 native boys living with a settler named Powell, 

 and two others. These innocent and unoffend- 

 ing lads selected as the object of their revenge 

 by these white savages. Having told them, 

 they thought they could find the guns of the 

 white men, they were sent for that purpose, and 

 soon brought them in. Powell and hi* com- 

 panions now began to execute their infernal 

 work of vengeance. For which purpose they 



