J 793-1 OF NEW SOUTH WALES. _ 2l$ 



marked, that but for the purchafes which had been mod fortunately 

 made, the colony muft at that moment have been again groan- 

 ing under the oppreffion of a very reduced ration ; and as none of 

 thefe incidental fupplies could be known in England, it was fair to 

 conclude, that the probable, nay certain diftrefs of thefe lucklefs peo- 

 ple, muft have been adverted to, and that mips with provifions were 

 now not very diftant. Under this idea, although on the 2 2d no fup- 

 plies had arrived, the Lieutenant-Governor determined to wait one 

 week longer before he direded the neceffary reduction. It was al- 

 ways a painful duty to abridge the food of the labouring man, and 

 had been much too often exercifed in that country. The putting ofr^ 

 therefore, of the evil day for another week, in the hope of any decreaie 

 being rendered unneceflary by the arrival of fupplies, met with general 

 applaufe. 



On the Monday following, at nine o'clock at night, the joyful tidings 

 were announced of the arrival of the Britannia, for whofe fafety fears 

 had been entertained, eight months having elapfed fince me had left 

 that port. To doubt her welcome, would be to conclude that the 

 inhabitants had had their whole flock of feeling exhaufted by the 

 various trials to which they had been expofed. 



Mr, Raven touched at Dufky Bay in New Zealand y and of the 

 timber which he found there he made a very favourable report, pro- 

 nouncing it to be light, tough, and in every refpeffc fit for mails or 

 yards. From New Zealand the Britannia, after rounding Cape Horn, 

 proceeded to the ifland of Santa Catherina, on the Brafil coaft, where the 

 Portuguese have a Settlement, and from whofe Governor Mr. Raven 

 received much civility during the eighteen days that he remained 

 there. Not being able at this place to procure any of the articles 

 which he was inflru&ed to purchafe, (one cow and one cow- calf ex- 

 cepted,) he flood over to the African continent, and arrived at the 

 (pape of Good Hope on the 24th of March. At this port he took on 

 board thirty cows ; three mares 5 .twelve goats ; a quantity of flour, 

 Sugar,, tobacco and Spirits; with other articles, according to the orders 

 . of 



