1 790.] 



OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



8r 



patches, uniformly declared the ftrong neceffity there was for having 

 at lead two years provifion in (lore for fome time to come ; and as 

 this information, together with an exact account of the fituation of 

 the colony, had been tranfmitted by feven different conveyances, if 

 only one had arrived fafely, it could not reafonably be doubted that 

 fupplies would be immediately difpatched. From the length of time 

 too which had elapfed fince the departure of the laft mips that failed 

 direct for England (full fifteen months), it was reafonable to fuppofe 

 that they might arrive within the time that the Sirius would be 

 abfent. 



The month of February palled in the arrangements and prepara- 

 tions requifite on the occafion, to which the weather was extremely 

 unfavourable; heavy rains, with gales of wind, prevailing nearly the 

 whole time. The rain came down in torrents, filling up every trench 

 and cavity which had been dug about the fettlement, and caufing 

 much damage to the miferable mud tenements which were occupied 

 by the convicts ; yet, bad as the weather was, feveral gardens were 

 robbed, and, as at that time they abounded with melons and pump- 

 kins, thefe became the objects of depredation in common with other 

 productions of the garden. 



March commenced with a reduction in the allowance of fpirits to 

 half the ufual quantity. Thus was the gradual decreafe in the ftores 

 followed by a diminution of the before fcanty comforts or rather ne- 

 ceffaries. 



One immediate confequence, and that an evil one, was, the effect 

 of the intended embarkation for Norfolk Ifland. It being found that 

 great quantities of ftock were killed, an order was immediately given 

 to prevent the further deftruction of an article fo eifentiai in their p re- 

 lent fituation, until fome neceffary regulations could be publifhed ; but 

 the officers and people who were about to embark were not included 

 in this prohibition. The mention of future regulations in this order 

 inftantly begat an opinion among the convicts, that on the departure 

 of the fhips all the live ftock in the colony would be called in, or 



M that 



