17940 OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 257 



Thus had the infant colony of New South Wales ftill been 

 doomed to be the fport of contingency, the jarring interefls of men 

 co-operating with the dangers of the fea to throw obftacles in the 

 way of that long-defired independence which would free the mother- 

 country from a heavy refponfibility as well as expence, and would 

 deliver the colonifts from the conftant apprehenfion under which 

 they laboured, of being one day left to feek their fubfiftence among 

 the woods of the country, or along the mores of its coaft. 



In confequence of thefe fortunate arrivals the full ration of fait 

 meat was ordered ; and the deficiency on the lad ferving days was 

 completed to the full allowance. The laft of the wheat was ferved 

 on the 17th (a proper quantity being referved for feed) ; and on the 

 next provifion-day ten pounds of Indian corn were fubftituted inftead 

 of the allowance of wheat. Nothing but dire neceffity could have 

 induced the gathering and iffuing of this article in its unripened ftate, 

 the whole of it being foft, full of juice, and wholly unfit to grind. 

 Had the fcttlers, with only a common mare of honefty, returned the 

 wheat which they had received from Government to fow their 

 grounds the laft feafon, the reproach which they drew upon them- 

 felves, by not ftepping forward at fuch a moment to affift Govern- 

 ment, would not have been incurred 5 but though, to an individual, 

 they all knew the anxiety which every one felt for the prefervation 

 of the feed-wheat, yet when applied to, and told (in addition to the 

 fum of ten millings per bufhel) that any quantity which they might 

 choofe to put into the ft ore mould be brought from their farms with- 

 out any expence of carriage to them, they all, -or nearly all, pleaded 

 an infufficiency to crop their own ground ; a plea that was well 

 known to be made without a fhadow of truth. In confequence of 

 this refufal, (for their excufes amounted to as much,) the Lieutenant- 

 Governor directed all thofe fettlers whofe limited time for being 

 victualled from the public ftores had expired, to be ft ruck off the pro- 

 vifion-lift : a very juft punimment for their ingratitude ; as every ac- 

 commodation had conftantly been afforded them which was corw 



l l fiftent 



