4*3 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [January, 



latlon of the fettlement, that they had never before heard of it ; nor had 

 they any idea of the permanency of an order, many of them feeming 

 to think it iifued merely for the purpofe of the moment. 



It was much to be regretted, that there exifted a neceflity for 

 placing a confidence in thefe people, as in too many inftances the 

 truft. was found to be abufed ; but, unfortunately, to fill many of 

 thofe offices to which free people alone mould have been appointed 

 in the colony, there were none but convicts. From thefe, it will 

 readily be fuppofed, the belt characters were felected ; fuch as had 

 merited by the propriety of their conduct the good report of the offi- 

 cers on board the fhip in which they had been tranfported, and who 

 had carried with them into thofe (hips a better name than their fel- 

 lows from the prifons in which they had been confined. Thofe who 

 were qualified to inftruct and direct others in the exercife of profef- 

 fions, were appointed to act as overfeers, with gangs under their com- 

 mand ; fevera! of whom had given evident proofs, or ftxong indica- 

 tions, of returning difpofitions to honeft induftry. 



There w r ere others, however, who had no claim to this praife. 

 Among thefe muft be particularifed William Bryant, to whom, from 

 his having been bred a fifherman, was given the direction and ma- 

 nagement of fuch boats as were employed in fifhing ; every encou- 

 ragement was held out to this man to keep him above temptation ; a 

 hut was built for him and his family ; he was always prefented with a 

 certain part of whatever fifh he caught; and he was not allowed to 

 want for any thing that was necefTary, or that was fuitable to a per- 

 fon of his defcription and fituation. But he was detected in fecreting 

 and felling large quantities of fiih, a practice which he had purfued 

 from his firft appointment. For this he was feverely punimed, and 

 deprived of all the comforts which he had fo ill deferved. 



The magazine at the Point being now completed, the powder be- 

 longing to the fettlement was lodged fafely within its walls. 



It being of importance to the colony to afcertain the precife fitua- 

 tion and extent of the reefs feen by Mr. Blackburn, in the Golden 



Grove 



