62 



ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY 



[July, 



fhoal feeh by Mr. Blackburn, and likewife an ifland and a ftioal feen 

 by Lieutenant Shortland ; all of which, if the obfervations of both 

 officers were equally correct, would, it was fuppofed, be found con- 

 tiguous to each other. Lieutenant Ball was directed to land upon the 

 ifland, if landing mould be found practicable ; and to determine, if 

 he could, the extent and fituation of the fhoals. 



On thefe fervices the Supply failed on the 6th of the month, on 

 which day the Governor fet off with a party on a fecond excurfion to 

 Broken Bay, in the hope of being able, from the head of that har- 

 bour, to reach the mountains inland. His Excellency returned to the 

 fettlement on the evening of the 16th, having difcovered a capacious 

 frefh- water river emptying itfelf into Broken Bay and extending to 

 the weftward. He was compelled to return without tracing it to its 

 fource, not having a fufficient quantity of provifions with him ; but 

 immediately made the necefTary preparations for going back to finifti 

 his examination of it ; and fet off on that defign with an increafed 

 party, and provifions for twenty-one days, on Monday the 29th. 



The Sirius had, in the gale of wind which me met with off Taf- 

 man's Head, fuftained much more damage, and was, upon inflec- 

 tion, found to have been weakened much more than was at firft con- 

 jectured. This was the greater misfortune, as, from the nature of 

 the fituation, many important fervices were yet to be rendered by her 

 to the colony. It became, therefore, a matter of public concern to 

 have her damages repaired and the fhip ftrengthened as expeditioufly 

 and efficacioufly as their abilities would admit. She accordingly drop- 

 ped down to the careening cove toward the latter end of the month. 



The gang employed at the brick fields had hitherto only made ten 

 thoufand bricks in a month. A kiln was now conftructed in which 

 thirty thoufand might be burnt off in the fame time; which number 

 the overfeer engaged to deliver. 



On July the 14th the Governor returned from his fecond vifit to 

 the river, which he named the Hawkefbury, in honour of the noble 

 lord of that name. He traced the river a confiderable diftance to the 



weftward, 



