306 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [September, 



return among them as Governor, was prefented to his Excellency a 

 few days after his public appearance in that important capacity. 



That he might as fpeedily as poffible be acquainted with the (late of 

 the colony, he ordered a general mutter to be taken, in order that 

 correa accounts might be obtained of the number and diftribution of 

 every perfon (the military excepted) in the different diftrifls ; and he 

 propofed in perfon to infped the ftate of the feveral farms. 



The Endeavour and Fancy failed for India on the 18th. It was 

 found, after their departure, that, notwithstanding fo many as fifty 

 perfons, whofe tranfportatipn had expired, had been permitted to leave 

 the colony in the Endeavour, nearly as many more had found means 

 tofecret themfelves on board her. This was the more vexatious, as 

 the lofs of even one man's labour had become an object of confequence 

 at this time. 



The weather throughout the month had been very variable ; and 

 three women and two men had died. 



On the 4th of October there came into harbour the Young WiK 

 Ham, that ftore-fhip whofe return to port when Governor Hunter 

 left England, had been fo very much regretted in the colony. She 

 had had a fhort paffage of only four months and nine days, having 

 on board provifions only. Her arrival enabled the Governor to iffue 

 a better, though not fo ample a ration of provifions as he w^ould mod 

 willingly have done. 



The report of the general mufter which had been ordered, having 

 been laid before the Governor, he thought proper to make fome regu- 

 lations in the afhftance afforded by Government to fettlers and others 

 holding grants of land. To the officers who occupied grounds, was 

 continued the number of men allowed them by Lieutenant-Governor 

 Grofe; viz. ten for agriculture, and three for domeftic purpofes. Notwith- 

 ftanding this far exceeded the number which had at home been thought 

 neceffary, the Governor did not conceive the prefent to be the mo- 

 ment for reducing it, much as he wanted men. A wheat harveft was 



9 approaching • 



