5793-1 



OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



201 



lotments of one hundred acres each, were marked out for the clergyman 

 (who, to obtain a grant there, relinquifhed his right to the land allot- 

 ted for the minifter), for the principal furgeon, and two officers of the 

 corps. 



Early in February, the fettlers who came out in the Bellona took 

 poffeflion of their grounds. Being all free people, one convid: ex- 

 cepted, who was allowed to fettle with them ; they gave the appella- 

 tion of" Liberty Plains** to the diftrid in which their farms were fitii- 

 ated. The conditions under which they engaged to fettle were, " To 

 have their paffages provided by Government* ; an affortment of tools 

 and implements to be furniihed them from the public (lores ; to be 

 fupplied with two years' provifions ; their lands to be granted free of 

 expence ; the fervice of convicts alfo to be affigned them, and thefe 

 were likewife to have two years' provifions, and one year's clothing." 



Many more officers availed themfelves* of the affent given by Go- 

 vernment to their occupying lands, and fixed fome at Parramatta, and 

 others in different parts of the harbour. They began their fettlements 

 in high fpirits ; the neceffary tools and implements of hufbandry were 

 furniihed to them from the ftores ; and they were allowed each the ufe 

 of ten convids. From their exertions the Lieutenant-Governor was 

 fanguine in his hopes of being enabled to increafe confiderably the cul- 

 tivation of the country ; they appeared, indeed, to enter vigoroufly 

 into his views ; and not being reftrained from paying for labour with 

 fpirits, they got a great deal of work done at their feveral farms (on 

 thofe davs when the convi&s did not work for the public), by hiring 

 the different gangs j the great labour of burning the timber after it 

 was cut down, requiring fome fuch extra aid. 



On Monday the 25th, the Shah Hormuzear, of four hundred tons 

 burthen, arrived from Calcutta, commanded by Mr. Bampton, who 

 had embarked fome property on a private fpeculation. He had on 



* Government paid for each perfon above ten years of age, the fum of eight pounds eight 

 millings ; and allowed one fhilling^r diem for vidualling them, and fix-pence per diem for every 

 one under that age, 



