86 



ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY 



[April, 



ven, and ftood for Sydney Bay at the South end of it, where he 

 found the Supply ; and it being fignified by fignal from the fhore, 

 (where they could form the beft judgment,) that the landing might be 

 effected with any boat, he brought- to in the windward part of the 

 bay, with the fhip's head off the fhore. Boats had put off from the 

 fhip, it being perceived that Hie fettled very much to leeward, the 

 tacks were got on board, and every fail fet that was pomble to get 

 her free from fhore. Notwithstanding which, me could not weather 

 the reef oil the South-weft end of the bay, the wind having at that 

 time fhifted very unfavourably. The fhip was then thrown in flays, 

 which fhe miffed, being with great difficulty wore clear of the break- 

 ers, and brought to the wind on the other tack, when every fail was 

 again fet. Finding that fhe Mill drifted faft upon the more, another 

 attempt was made to ftay her; but being out of trim it did not fuc- 

 ceed. All the meets and 1) all yards were then let fly, and an anchor 

 -cut away; but before it reached the ground fhe (truck with violence 

 on the reef, very foon bulged, and was irrecoverably loft. Her of- 

 ficers and people were all faved, having been dragged on fhore, 

 through the furf, on a grating. 



This day, which untoward circumftances had rendered fo difmal, 

 was remarkably fine, and at the unfortunate moment of this cala- 

 mity there was very little wind. On the fecond day after, permif- 

 fion was given to two convids to go off to the fhip, and endeavour 

 to bring on fhore what live hogs they might be able to fave ; but, 

 with all that lamentable want of refolution and confideration which 

 was characteriftic of thefe people when any temptation was placed 

 before them, they both got intoxicated with what liquor had efcaped 

 the plunder of the feamen, and fet the fhip on fire in two places. A 

 light on board the fhip being obferved from the more, feveral (hot 

 were fired at it ; but the poor wretches would neither put it out, nor 

 come on fhore ; when a young man, a convict, with great intrepidity 

 w°nt off through the furf, extinguished the fire, and forced them out 

 of the fhip. 



The 



