1792.] 



OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



getfoer in England, coppered, and fent out manned and officered ; by 

 which means too, the fettlement would have received many articles 

 which w r ere left behind to make room for her in the Pitt. 



In the latter end of March a malady of an alarming nature was per- 

 ceived in the colony. Four or five of the convi&s were feized with 

 infanity ; and, as the major part of thofe who were vifited with this 

 calamity were females (who, on account of their fex were not harafled 

 with hard labour, and who in general fhared largely of fuch little 

 comforts as were to be procured in the fettlement), it was difficult to 

 aflign a caufe for this diforder. 



With a dreadful fick lift, and death making rapid ftrides, April 

 commenced : a lamentable circumftance to thofe who had to provide 

 by their labour for the fupport of a colony, in which, from its great 

 diftance, not only from the parent country, but from every port where 

 fupplies could be procured, it became an object of the firft magnitude 

 and importance to endeavour fpeedily, and by every poffible exertion, 

 to place its inhabitants in a fituation that accident or delay might not 

 affect. His Majefty's fhip Guardian afforded a melancholy recollec* 

 tion how much the colony had already felt from mifadventure ; and 

 the delay which occurred in the voyage of the Lady Juliana tranfport 

 had proved equally calamitous. The recent circumftance of a fhip ar- 

 riving without a fupply of flour, and other unfortunate contingencies, 

 fpoke with a " warning voice," and loudly demanded that every arm 

 which could be raifed mould be exerted to make provifion againft the 

 hour of want. Few, however, in comparifon with the meafure of 

 their neceffities, were the numbers daily brought into the field for the 

 purpofe of cultivation ; and of thofe who could handle the hoe or the 

 fpade by far the greater part carried hunger in their countenances ; but 

 it was earneftly and anxioufly hoped and expected, that by the fpeedy 

 arrival of fupplies from England the full ration of every fpecies of 

 provifions would be once more iffued, when labour would be re- 

 newed with additional vigour and effect, health and ftrength be feen 

 refiding among them, and approaches of independence on Great 



Y 2 Britain 



