54 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [January, 



been tried for the death of their comrade Bulmore, which happened 

 in a contcft with one of them in November. The liquor that they 

 had procured from the flore was the caufe of druukennefs ; and this 

 was productive of many diforders, for which as foldiers they were 

 more than once puniflhed. To thefe circumftances. muft he added 

 (what, perhaps, mufl be confidered as the root of thefe evils) a con- 

 nexion which fubfifted between them and Tome of the word of the 

 female convicts ; at whofe huts, notwithftanding the internal regula- 

 tions of their quarters, they found means to enjoy their ill-acquired 

 plunder. 



On the morning of their execution, one of them declared to the 

 clergyman who attended him, that the like practices had been carried 

 on at the (tore at Rofe Hill by fimilar means, and with fimilar fuc- 

 cefs. This was immediately attended to, but no difcovery could be 

 made. It was, however, generally believed, that the foldier would 

 not in his dying moments hav,e falfeiy accufed men of a crime which 

 they had never committed, and that nothing but their conftancy to 

 each other had prevented a difcovery of their guilt. 



While thefe tranfactions were paffing at Sydney, the little colony 

 at Norfolk liland had been threatened with an infurrection. The 

 Supply returned from thence on the 24th, after an abfence of five 

 weeks, and brought from Lieutenant King, the commandant, infor- 

 mation of the following chimerical fcheme : — The capture of the 

 ifland, and the fubfequent efcape of the captors, was to commence by 

 the feizure of Mr. King's perfon, which was intended to be effected 

 on the firft Saturday after the arrival of any fhip in the Bay, except 

 the Sirius. They had chofen that particular day in the week, as it 

 had been for fome time Mr. King's cuftom on Saturdays to go to a 

 farm which he had eftabliihed at fome little diftance from the fettle- 

 ment ; and the military generally chofe that day to bring in the cab- 

 bage-palm from the woods. Mr. King was to be fecured on the way 

 to his farm. A meflage, in the commandant's name, was then to be 

 fent to Mr. Jamifon, the furgeon, who was to be feized as foon as he 



got 



