222 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [August, 



tratcd by the vigilance and activity of the mafler and a fubaltern's 

 party of the New South Wales Corps. 



No {hip could have brought out their convicts in higher order, or 

 could have given ftronger proofs of attention to their health and ac- 

 commodation, than did this veffel. Each had a bed to hirnfelf, and a 

 new fuit of clothes to land in. On the part of the crown alfo, to fee 

 juftice done to the convi&s, there was a furgeon of the navy on board, 

 and a fuperintendant ; and on the part of the contractor, a furgeon 

 alfo. They had not any fick lift, and had loft only one man on the 

 paftage. 



Advices were received by this fhip, that adminiftration intended to 

 make arrangements for their being fupplied from Bengal with live 

 cattle ; and this became a favourite idea with every perfon in the co* 

 lony; for the fheep, though fmall, were found to be very productive, 

 breeding twice in the year ; and generally bringing two lambs at a birth. 

 The climate was alio found to agree well with the cattle of the Buf- 

 falo fpecies which had been received. 



The convicts, on quitting the Boddington, gave their Captain (Mr. 

 Robert Chalmers) three hearty cheers, as a token of their gratitude 

 for his humanity and good treatment of them. 



It being neceffary to mark with fome degree of feverity the offence 

 which had been committed by the two foldiers, a general court- mar- 

 tial was affembled for their trial. The Lieutenant-Governor, with 

 much humanity, forbore to charge them with a capital offence ; 

 bringing them to trial for abfenting themfelves from head-quarters 

 without leave, inftead of the more ferious crime of defertion. 



By the mutiny act, a general court-martial may, in Africa, confift 

 of lefs than thirteen commiffioned officers, but not lefs than five ; the 

 like provifion was alfo extended to New South Wales ; and nine officers 

 formed the court now affembled for the firft time in that colony, Cap- 

 tain Collins officiating as judge-advocate. The prifoners did not deny 

 the crime with which they were charged ; the corporal, after being re- 

 duced to the ranks, was fentenced to receive five hundred lames, and 



the 



