if* ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [August,, 



was underftood that a claufe was to be inferted in all future contracts- 

 for fhipping for that country, fubjecting the matters to certain penal- 

 ties, on certificates being received of their having brought away any 

 convicts or other perfons without the Governor's permiffibn ; and as, 

 k was not probable that many of them would, on their return, refrain 

 from the vices or avoid; the fociety of thole companions who had been, 

 the caufe of their tranfportation to that country, not many could ob- 

 tain the fanction of the Governor for their return, unlefs. indeed they- 

 had well entitled themfelves to fuch indulgence by praife-worthy cont- 

 duet during their refidence in the colony. 



The month of September was uftiered in with rain and florrns of 

 wind, thunder, and lightning. At Parramatta and Toongabbe, as well 

 as at Sydney, much rain fell for feveral days. On the return of fine 

 weather, it was feen with general fatisfaction, that the wheat fown, 

 at the latter fettlement looked and promifed well-, and had. not fuffered. 

 from the rain. 



On the 30th, the Britannia failed for Du Iky Bay in New Zealand;, 

 and the fame night the Atlantic returned from Norfolk Ifland, after 

 fafely landing her, cargo. By her they learned, that the expectations 

 which had been formed of the crops at that place had been too fan- 

 guine ; but that their fait provifions lafted very well. Governor King^ 

 however, wrote that the crops then in the ground promifed fa- 

 vourably, although he would not venture to fpeak decidedly, as they 

 were very much annoyed by the grub. This was an enemy produced 

 by the extreme richnefs of the foil ; and it was remarked, that as the 

 land was opened and cleared, it was found to be expofed to the 

 blighting winds which infeft that ifland* 



The great havoc and deftruction which the reduced ration had oc* 

 cafioned among the birds frequenting Mount Pitt had fo thinned their 

 numbers, that they were no longer to be depended upon as a re- 

 fource. The convicts, fenfelefs and improvident, not only deftroyed 

 the bird, its young, and its egg, but the hole in which it burrowed ; 

 a circumftance which ought mod. cautioully to have been, guarded 



again ft ; 



