i 79 6.] OF NEW SOUTH WALES, 3^ 



had facrificed the deareft connexions in life, a wife and family ; and 

 finally yielded to the preffure of accumulated calamity. His conduct 

 while in exile had been that of a pious, honeft, worthy character: nor 

 had his political principles ever manifefted themfelves ; but all his foli- 

 citude feemed to be, to evince himfelf the friend of human nature. 

 Requicfcat in pace ! 



Toward preventing the indifcriminate fale of fpirits which prevailed 

 in the fettlements, the governor thought that granting licences to a 

 few perfons of good character might have a beneficial effect ; ten per- 

 fbns were felected by the magiftrates, to whom licences for twelve 

 months were granted ; and as, from the very frequent ftate of intoxi- 

 cation in which great numbers of the lower orders of people had 

 for feme time pa ft been fee 11, there was great reafon to fufpect that a 

 greater quantity of fpirituous liquors had been landed from the differ- 

 ent mips which had entered the port than permits had been obtained 

 for, it became highly neceffary to put a flop, as early as poffihle, to a 

 practice which was pregnant with all kinds of mifchief. The governor, 

 therefore, judged it neceffary, the more effectually to fupprefs the 

 dangerous practice of retailing fpirits in this indifcriminate way, not 

 only to grant licences under the redactions above mentioned, but to 

 defire the aid of all officers, civil and military, as they regarded the 

 good of his ^Majefty's fervice, the peace, tranquillity, and order of the 

 colony, to ufe their utmoft exertions for putting an end to a fpecies of 

 traffic, from which the deftruction of health and the ruin of all in- 

 duftry were to be expected. 



On the 1 8th of April the Supply returned from Norfolk Ifland, 

 having been abfent only three weeks and four days, the quickeft paf- 

 fage that had been yet made to and from that ifland. She was fol- 

 lowed a few hours after by the fnow Sufan from Rhode Mand, having 

 been at fea two hundred and thirty-one days, not touching any where 

 on her paffage. 



The Americans were obferved to make this voyage from motives of 

 frugality, failing direct for the port ; but they were at the fame time 



t t 2 obferved 



