*793-3 OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 2 %x 



and fome of its branches were torn off. In the evening they were 

 decently buried in one grave, to which they were attended by many 

 of their fellow-prifoners. Mr. Johnfon, to a difcourfe which he after- 

 wards preached on the fubjecl:, prefixed as a text thefe words from the 

 firft book of Samuel, " There is but a ftep between me and death." 



This was the firft accident of the kind that had occurred in the 

 colony, though lightning -more vivid and alarming had often been feen 

 in ftorms of longer duration. 



While every one was expecting the colonial veffel, the Francis, 

 from New Zealand, the fignal for a fail was made on the 29th ; and 

 fhortly after, the Fairy, an American fnow, anchored in the cove from 

 Bofton in New England, and laft from the ifland of St. Paul, whence 

 Hie had a paflage of only four weeks. 



The mafter expreffed a furprife that the inhabitants of Sydney had 

 not any fmall craft on the coaft, as he obferved a plentiful harvefl of 

 feals as he came along. He had touched at Port Jackfon merely to 

 refrefh, not having any thing on board for fale ; his cargo confifting 

 wholly of articles of traffic for the north-weft coaft of America. 



Two of the fettlers, Williams and Rufe, weary of independence,, 

 fold each his farm, with the houfe, crop, and ftock ; the firft for fome- 

 thing lefs than one hundred pounds, the other for forty. Both thefe 

 people had to feek employment until they could get away ; and Wil- 

 liams was reduced to work as a hireling upon the ground of which 

 he had been the mafter. But he was a ftranger to the feelings which 

 would have rendered this circumftance difagreeable to him. 



The greateft inconvenience attending this transfer of landed pro- 

 perty was, the return of fuch a mifcreant as Williams, and others of 

 his defcription, to England, to be let loofe again upon the public. 

 The land itfelf went into the poffeffion of people who were interefted 

 in making the moft of it, and who would be more ftudious to raife 

 plentiful crops for market. 



About four hundred and twenty acres of Indian corn were planted; 

 at the different fettlements for the coming feafon's crop* 



