156 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [December, 



The Cove and the fettlement were now refuming that dull uni- 

 formity of uninterefting circumftances which had generally prevailed. 

 Trie Supply and Gorgon had departed, and with them a valuable part 

 of the fociety ; and in a few days after the Matilda and the Mary 

 Ann failed for the coaft of Peru. Thefe had fome convi&s on board, 

 who were permitted to fhip themfelves with the matters. 



A further reduction of one pound of flour from the ration took 

 place at the eonclufion of December ; and from the ftate of the pro- 

 vifion (lores, the Governor, on Chriflmas-day, could only give one 

 pound of flour to each woman in the fettlement. 



At Parramatta various offences were ftill committed, and many of 

 the convicls there not having any part of their week's ration remain- 

 ing when Tuefday or Wednefday night came, the Governor directed, 

 as he had before done for the fame reafon, that the provifions fhould 

 be iffued daily. . This meafure being difapproved, the convicts af- 

 fembled in rather a tumultuous manner before the Governor's 

 ho fife at Parramatta, to requeft that their provifions might be 

 ferved as ufual on Saturdays. The Governor refufed ; and as they 

 were heard to murmur and talk of obtaining by different means what 

 was refufed to entreaty (words fpoken among the crowd, and the per- 

 fon who was fo daring not being dift inguiiliable from the reft), he 

 affured them that, as he knew the major part of them were led by 

 eight or ten defigning men to whom they looked up, and to whofe 

 names he was not a ftranger, on any open appearance of difcontent, 

 he mould make immediate examples of them. Before they were dif- 

 miffed, they promifed greater propriety of conduct and implicit obe- 

 dience to the orders of their fuperiors, and declared their readinefs to 

 receive their provifions as had been directed. 



This was the hrft inftance of any tumultuous affembly among thefe 

 people, and was now to be afcribed to the fpirit of refiftance and vil- 

 lainy lately imported by the newcomers. 



The mod material public work of December was the completing 

 - and occupying of the new ftore on the eaft fide; its dimenfions were 



eighty 



