3 i4 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [December, 



feiture, for the ufo thereof, " fuch timber as might be growing or to 

 grow hereafter upon the land fo granted, which mould be deemed fit 

 for naval purpofes." 



The Governor, who had been afraid, from the exiftence of the cat- 

 tle being eftablimed, that fome of the vagabond convicts might be 

 tempted to find them out, and fatisfy their hunger by killing them 

 from time to time, as they might find opportunity, was not furprifed 

 to hear that two of them had been deftroyed. A very ftricl: inquiry 

 into the report, however, convinced him that it had been raifed only 

 for the purpofe of trying how fuch a circumftance would be regarded, 

 His Excellency thought it neceffary, therefore, to (rate in public orders, 

 that " Having heard it reported, that fome perfon or perfons, who 

 had been permitted to carry arms for the protection of themfelves 

 and property, had lately employed that indulgence in an attempt to 

 deftroy the cattle belonging to government, which were at large in 

 the woods, he declared that if it mould be difcovered that any perfon 

 whatever mould ufe any meafure to deftroy or otherwife annoy them, 

 they would be profecuted with the utmoft feverity of the law." A 

 reward was alfo held out to any perfon giving information. 



The harveft having commenced, the Governor fignified to the fet- 

 tlers, that " although it had hitherto been the intention and the prac- 

 tice of Government to give them every poflible encouragement, as well 

 as others who had employed themfelves in growing corn, by taking 

 off their hands all their furplus grain at fuch prices as had from time 

 to time been thought fair and reafonable, it was not, however, to be 

 expe&ed, as the colony advanced in the means of fupplying itfelf 

 with bread, that fuch a heavy expence could be continued. He, 

 therefore, recommended to them to confider what reduction in the 

 price of wheat and Indian corn they could at prefent fubmit to, as 

 their offers in that refpecl would determine him how far it might be 

 neceffary in future to cultivate on the part of Government, inftead of 

 taking or purchafing a quantity from individuals at fo great a price. 

 This propofal, he thought, could not be confidered otherwife than as 



fair 



