*794«] OF NEW SOUTH WALES. m 



Holland," not quite fo terrible as in England they had be^n taught 

 to exped. 



Every preparation for accommodating the Lieutenant-Governor 

 and his family being completed on board the Dasdalus, he embarked 

 in the evening of the 15th. With him went the principal furgeon of 

 the colony ; alfo Mr. Bain> the chaplain of the New South Wales 

 corps, and a furgeon's mate. 



In the morning of the 24th of December the fignal was made at 

 the fouth-head for a veffel, which came in about three o'clock, and 

 proved to be the Experiment, a fnow, from Bengal, laden with fpirits, 

 fugar, piece-goods, and a few calks of provifions ; the fpeculation be- 

 ing fuggefted by the agent for the Sugar Cane and Boddington. The 

 Experiment had had a paflage of three months from Calcutta. From 

 Mr. E. M'Lellan, the matter, the inhabitants of Port Jackfon learned 

 that a large fhip, named the Neptune, had been freighted with cat- 

 tle, &c. in purfuance of the contract entered into with Mr. Bampton, 

 and had failed from Bombay in July; but was unfortunately loft in 

 the river by failing againft the monfoon : when Mr, Bampton might 

 be expected, therefore, was very uncertain. 



The direction of the colony, during the abfence of the Governor 

 and Lieutenant-Governor, devolving upon the officer higheft in rank 

 then on fervice in the colony, Captain William Paterfon, of the New 

 South Wales corps, on Chriftmas-day took the oaths prefcribed by his 

 Majefty's letters patent. This officer, expecting every day the arrival 

 of Governor Hunter, made no alteration in the mode of carrying on 

 the different duties of the fettlement now entrufted to his care and 

 guidance. 



At the latter end of the month a general mufter was ordered of all 

 the male convids, together with the perfons who had ferved their 

 feveral terms of tranfportation, as well thofe refiding at Sydney and 

 Parramatta, as thofe on the banks of the river Hawkefbury. The 

 following ration was alfo ordered, the maize being nearly expended : 



TO 



