1794-] OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 251 



naked, and fo nearly ftarved, that in mod cafes humanity interfered 

 between them and the punifhment which they merited. They, in 

 general, pleaded the infufficiency of their prefent ration to fupport a 

 labouring man. At that period, it was true, the labouring convift 

 was menaced with the probability of fullering greater want than had 

 ever been before experienced in the fettlement. One fortnight more 

 would fee the public (lores cleared of its lad ounce of provifions. 

 But even this fituation, bad as it was, was flill alleviated by the affift- 

 ance that the officers, fettlers, and others were able to afford to thofe 

 whom they either retained in their fervice or occafionally hired for 

 labour as they wanted them. Some who were off the (lore, and who 

 well remembered their own diftreffes in the years 1789 and 1791, 

 declared, that with a little induftry, and being allowed the indulgence 

 of going out in a boat, they could even at that time have earned a 

 better fubfiftence than if they were employed by Government and fed 

 from a full ftore. Nothing was loft ; even the fhark was found to be 

 a certain fupply ; the oil which was procured from its liver was fold 

 at one {hilling the quart ; and but very few houfes in the colony were 

 fortunate enough to enjoy the pleafant light of a candle. 



The feed-wheat had as yet efcaped, and might remain untouched 

 for a fortnight. To lofe that, would be to repel every advance which 

 had been made toward fupporting themfelves, and to crufti every hope 

 of independence. All that had been done in cultivation, every acre 

 which was preparing for the enfuing crop, would long have remained 

 a memorial of their diftrefs ; and where exifted the mind that could 

 have returned to the labour of the field with that cheerful fpirit or 

 ^nergy which would have been neceffary to enfure future fuccefs ? 



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C H A P. 



