*793-J OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 2lg 



About the middle of the month, all the wheat which was to be Town 

 on the public account was got in, at and near Toongabbe 5 the quan- 

 tity of ground was about three hundred and eighty acres. The wheat 

 of lad feafon being now nearly thrafhed out, fome judgment could be 

 formed of its produce ; and it was found to have averaged between 

 feventeen and eighteen bulhels an acre, A large quantity of wheat 

 had alfo been fown the prefent feafon by individuals, amounting to 

 about one thoufand three hundred and eighty-one bufhels ; every en- 

 couragement having been given to them to fow their grounds with 

 that grain. 



The frequent commiiTion of crimes occafioned the criminal court 

 of judicature to be aiTembled ; when one man was fentenced to die ; 

 but the court having recommended him to mercy on account of his 

 youth, being only fixteen years of age, the Lieutenant-Governor as 

 readily forgave as the court had recommended him ; but that the pri~ 

 foner might have all the benefit of fo awful a fituation, the change in 

 his fate was not imparted to him until the very moment when he was 

 about to afcend the ladder from which he was to have been plunged 

 into eternity. He had appeared fince his conviction as if devoid of 

 feeling ; but on receiving the information of a pardon being granted 

 him, he fell on his knees in an agony of joy and gratitude. The 

 folemn fcene appeared likewife to make a forcible impreffion on his fel- 

 low-prifoners who were prefent. 



The weather of the winter 1793 having been colder than any that 

 they had yet experienced, great exertions were made to clothe all the 

 labouring convicts ; and for that purpofe the work of the taylors had 

 for fome time been confined to them. Every male received one cloth 

 jacket, two canvas frocks, one pair of fhoes, and one leathern cap. 

 The females alfo had been clothed. 



On Wednefday the 24th, the veffel which came from England in 

 frame, being at length completed, was, with the afliftance of Mr. 

 Raven and his fhip, hove down to low-water-mark, where fhe floated 

 with the tide, and was hauled fafely along-fide the Britannia. The ce- 



f f 2 remony 



