*79 2 '1 OF NEW SOUTH WALES. i 93 



from the marines, fix pounds of flour, and but two of rice per week, 

 inftead of three pounds of flour and five of rice, which was the allow- 

 ance of the convi&s. This diftinttion was intended to be difcon- 

 tinued whenever the full ration could be ferved. 



The ftock which had been diftributed among the fettlers by Go- 

 vernor Phillip for the purpofe of breeding from, appeared to have 

 been thrown away upon them when viewed as a breeding-ftock for 

 fettlers. No fooner was the Atlantic out of fight, than the major part 

 of them were offered for fale ; and there was little doubt, that had 

 they not been bought by the officers, in a very few weeks mod of 

 them would have been deftroyed. By this conduct, as far as their 

 individual benefit was concerned, they had put it out of their power 

 to reap the advantage which the Governor intended by his bounty to 

 them ; but by this means the ftock was faved, and had fallen into 

 hands that certainly would not wantonly deftroy it. There were 

 fome among the fettlers who had exchanged their fheep for goats ; 

 •but in general they were fo ignorant and improvident as to accept of 

 nothing but fpirits as the price of what, if properly ufed, would have 

 been to them invaluable. 



About this time they were vifited by the Hope, an American fhip 

 from Rhode Ifland, with a fmall cargo of provifions and fpirits for 

 fale. The matter declared that his putting into harbour was for the 

 purpofe of procuring wood and water ; thus making the fale of his 

 cargo appear to be but a fecondary object with him. 



As the colony had not yet feen the day when it could have inde- 

 pendently faid, " We are not in want of provifions ; procure your 

 wood and water, and go your way .;" the Lieutenant-Governor di- 

 rected the commiffary to purchafe fuch part of his cargo as the colony 

 flood in need of ; and two hundred barrels qf American-cured beef, 

 at four pounds per barrel ; eighty barrels of pork, at four pounds ten 

 {hillings per barrel ; forty-four barrels of flour, at two pounds per 

 barrel ; and feven thoufand fix hundred gallons of (raw American) 

 fpirits, at four millings and fix-pence per gallon, were purchafed. 



