So ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [February, 



an uncertain and fcanty aid from any other fource, determined, and 

 about the middle of the month announced his determination, to de- 

 tach thither a large body of convi&s, male and female, together with 

 two companies of the marines. Some immediate advantages were ex- 

 peded to be derived from this meafure ; the garden ground that would 

 be left by thofe who embarked would be poOefTed by thofe who 

 remained, while the former would on their arrival at Norfolk Illand 

 •participate in the produce of luxuriant gardens, in a more conftant 

 fupply of fifh, and in the aiTalance that was occafionally obtained 

 from the birds which fettled on Mount Pitt. 



At the fame time that this intention was made public, the day of 

 their departure was fixed. The whole were to embark on board the 

 Sinus and the Supply in the beginning of the following month, and 

 were, if no fnip arrived from England to prevent them, to fail on 

 the 5th. Should, unfortunately, the necefiity of adopting the meafure 

 then exift, the Sirius was to proceed to China direc~i!y from Nor- 

 folk Illand to procure a fupply of provifions for the colony. China 

 was chofen, under the idea that fait provifions were to be obtained 

 there, and that it was preferable to fending to any of the iflands in 

 thofe feas, or to the Cape of Good Hope at that feafon of the year, 

 when the Sirius and her crew would have had to encounter the cold 

 and boifterous weather of a winter's pafTage. 



As the numbers on Norfolk Illand would be confiderably in- 

 creafed by the arrival of this detachment, the Governor thought the 

 prefence of a Lieutenant-governor necefTary, and commanded Major 

 Rofs to hold himfelf in readinefs to a£ in that capacity. Lieutenant 

 King was to be. recalled. 



On further confederation, it was deemed moil prudent for the Sirius, 

 after difembarking the troops at Norfolk Illand, to return to Port Jack- 

 fon, not only for the purpofe of wooding and watering, but in the 

 hope that the arrival of the expe&ed fupplies would ere that time 

 have rendered the voyage unneceffary ; and it was but reafonable to 

 fuppofe that this would happen. The Governor had, in all his dif- 



patches, 



