192 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [December, 



veaux, or fuch other Captain as may be doing duty with the detach- 

 ment." 



This was fubftituting the military for the civil officer, which before 

 this period had never been the cafe; the military power having 

 hitherto been confidered as requifite only for the protection of the 

 ■(tores, and the difcharge of fuch duties as belonged to their profeffion, 

 without any mare in the direction of the colony ; the commanding 

 officer of the corps or regiment ferving in the territory excepted, who 

 held likewife the civil appointment of Lieutenant-Governor. Similar 

 regulations took place at Sydney ; and in a few days after they were 

 enforced by another order, which dire&ed, " that all enquiries by the 

 civil magiftrate were in future to be difpenfed with, until the Lieu- 

 tenant-Governor had given directions on the fubject ; and the con- 

 victs were on no account to be punifhed but by his particular order." 



At Sydney, it had been ufual for the magiftrates to take examina- 

 tions, and make enquiry into the offences, either weekly, or as occafion 

 required, and to order fuch punifhment as they thought neceffary, al- 

 ways reporting their proceedings to the chief authority. 



It inuft be noticed, that at this time the civil magiftrates in the 

 colony confided of the Lieutenant-Governor and the Ju ige- Advocate 

 who were Juftices of the Peace by virtue of their refpective com- 

 miffions ; the Rev. Mr. Johnfon ; Auguftus Alt and Richard Atkins, 

 Efquires, who had been fworn in as magiftrates by authority of the 

 Governor. , . 



As no inconvenience had ever been experienced in the mode 

 which was pra&ifed of conducting the bufinefs of the fettlement, the 

 neceffity or caufe for thefe alterations was not directly obvious ; and 

 could not be accounted for from any other motive, than that pre- 

 ference which a military man might be fuppofed to give to carrying 

 on the fervice by means of his own officers, rather than by any 

 other. 



On the 17th a diftinction was made for the firft time in the ration, 

 the Commiflary being directed to iffue to the civil and military de- 

 partments, including fuperintendants, watchmen, overfeers, and fetrlers 

 l 3 from 



