ioS ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY" August, 



The Surprife failed on thefirft of Auguft for Norfolk luand, having on 

 board thirty-five male and one hundred and fifty female convids, with 

 two fuperintendants, a deputy commiffiiry, and an affiftant-furgeon. 



On the 8th of the month the Scarborough failed for Canton, and 

 the Neptune was preparing to follow her; when fome of the convids, 

 who had come out in that fhip, put in before the Judge-advocate 

 their claims upon the Matter, Mr. Donald Trail, not only for clothing 

 and other articles, but for money, which they dated to have been 

 taken from them at the time of their embarkation, and which had 

 never been reftored to them. Many of thefe claims were difputed by 

 Mr. Trail, and others were fettled to the fatisfadion of the claim- 

 ants ; but of their clothing, knives, , buckles, &c. he could give no 

 other account, than that he was directed by the naval agent to deflroy 

 them at their embarkation for obvious reafons, tending to the fafety of 

 the fhip and for the prefervation of their healths. 



The Neptune failed on the 24th ; previous to which, information 

 having been received that feveral convids purpofed making their 0* 

 cape from the colony in her, the Governor fent an armed party of 

 foldiers to fearch the fhip, when two men and one woman were 

 found concealed among the fire-wood. They were taken on more, 

 and the men punimed for their attempt. 



An excurfion into the country had, in the courfe of the month, been 

 made by fome officers. They were abfent fix days ; and on their re- 

 turn reported, that they had proceeded in a direction S. S. W. of 

 Role Hill ; that they met with frefh water running to the north- 

 ward ; found the traces of natives wherever they went ; paffed through 

 a very bad country, interfered every wdiere with deep ravines ; and 

 had reafon to think that in rainy weather the run of water which they 

 met with rofe above its ordinary level between thirty and forty feet. 

 They law a flock of emus, twelve in number. 



It having been found that the arms and ammunition which were 

 cntrufied to the convids refiding at the diftant farms for their protec- 



tion 



