2o2 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [February, 



board, when he failed* one bull, twenty-four cows, two hundred and 

 twenty fheep, one hundred and thirty goats, Eve horfes, and fix affes ; 

 together with a quantity of beef, flour, rice, wheat, gram, paddy, 

 and fugar ; a few pipes of wine, fome flat iron, and copper fufficient 

 for the Hoop's bottom which had been received in frame by the Pitt ; 

 a large quantity of fpirits, and fome -canvas. In the article of ftock, 

 however, Mr. Bampton had been unfortunate. His cattle died i of 

 the fheep more than half perifhed ; one horfe and three affes died ; and 

 very few of the goats furvived the voyage, though by no means a 

 long one, having been performed in eight weeks, and in good weather. 

 This mortality evidently did not proceed from any want of proper care, 

 but was to be afcribed to their having been embarked immediately on 

 being taken from the fields, and confequently wanting that (lamina 

 which a fea voyage required. The fettlement not yet being in poffef- 

 fion of that plenty, ,which would have warranted the rejecting of a. 

 cargo of provifions, particularly when brought on fpeculation, this 

 was purchafed, although not immediately wanted ; but it was confi- 

 dered that the hour of diftrefs might again arrive, and occafion might 

 occur that would excite a wifh, perhaps in vain,, for a, cargo of provi,- 

 fions from Bengal. In addition to thefe reafons, it mult be remarked, 

 that the different articles which were purchafed were of the beft quar 

 lity, and offered on reafonable terms. 



There had arrived in the Chefterfield a perfon who was formerly a, 

 convict, and who had been allowed to quit the country in the Admiral 

 Barring-ton, which veffel he had left, and embarked at the Cape with, 

 Mr. Alt, in his fhip, by which means he returned back to the fettle- 

 ment of Sydney, where he circulated a report, that feveral of the con*- 

 vicls who had got on board of thefe two mips,, had been landed by 

 order of the matters at an ifland which they met with in their paffage 

 to Batavia,, inhabited indeed, but by favages ; and that thofe who re- 

 mained experienced fuch inhuman treatment, that they were glad to 

 run away from them at the firft port where any civilifed people were 

 to be found. He was himfelf among this number, and now declared 



that 



