1790.] OF NEW SOUTH WALES. $ 7 



The Lieutenant-governor, immediately after the lofs of the Sirius, 

 called a council of all the naval and marine officers in the fettlement ; 

 when it was unanimoufly determined, that martial law mould, he pro- 

 claimed ; that all private ftock (poultry excepted) fhould be confr- 

 dercd as the property of the ftate ; that juftice fhould be adminiftered 

 by a court-martial, to be compofed of feven officers, five of whom 

 were to concur in a fentence of death ; and that there mould be two 

 locks upon the door of the public ftore, whereof one key was to be 

 in the keeping of a perfon appointed by Captain Hunter in behalf 

 of the feamen ; the other to be kept by a perfon to be appointed in 

 behalf of the military. The day following, the troops, feamen, and 

 convids, being affembled, thefe refolutions were publicly read ; and 

 the whole confirmed their engagement of abiding by them by paffing 

 under the king's colour, which was difplayed on the occafion. 



The general melancholy which prevailed in the fettlement when 

 the above unwelcome intelligence was made public,, need not be de- 

 fcribed ; and when the Supply came to an anchor in the cove every 

 one looked up to her as to their only remaining hope. 



In this exigency, the Governor thought it neceffary to alienable all 

 the officers of the fettlement, civil and military, to determine on what 

 meafures were neceflary to be adopted. At this meeting, when the 

 fituation of the colony was thoroughly weighed and placed in every 

 point of view, it was determined to reduce ftill lower what was 

 already too low ; the ration was to be no more than two pounds and 

 a half of flour, two pounds of pork, one pint of peas, and one 

 pound of rice, for each perfon for feven days. This allowance was 

 to be iffued to all defer! ptions of people in the colony, children under 

 eighteen months excepted, who were to have only one pound of fait 

 meat. Every exertion was to be made both at Sydney and at Bo- 

 tany Bay, in fifliing for the general benefit. All private boats were 

 to be furrendered to the public ufe ; every effort was to be put in 

 pra&ice to prevent the robbing of gardens ; and, as one ftep toward 

 this, all fufpicious chara&ers were fecured and locked up during the 



night. 



