4 oS ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [April, 



'having heard any thing of her. Though it would be difficult, to ima- 

 gine to what purpofe the ftory of this woman's exiftence among the 

 natives had been twice fabricated, yet that it had been a mere fabrica- 

 tion from the fir ft: was evident. 



In confequence of fome complaints which were laid before the Go- 

 vernor, relative to exorbitant demands made by the public bakers upon 

 thofe who had occafion to employ them, and of the impofitions pra&ifed 

 as well in the quality as in the quantity of the bread returned in lieu 

 of the flour or grain delivered to them ; the Judge Advocate and two 

 other magiftrates were dire&ed to hold a meeting for the purpofe of 

 inquiring into the bufmefs, as well as for examining and regulating 

 the weights and meafures which were at that time in ufe in the 

 colony. An order was at the fame time iffued, recommending to the 

 fettlers of every diftricT:, that, as much pains had been taken to eftabiifh, 

 agreeably to their wifnes, the rate of wages paid for all kinds of labour, 

 they mould now attend ftri&ly to this regulation. There were reafons 

 for fufpedling that, notwithstanding the bond which they had entered 

 into, rigidly to adhere to the regulations which had been eftablifhed 

 for their benefit, fome among them were fo very deficient in ho- 

 neft principles as to attempt by various means to evade the regu- 

 lation, to the great injury of other more induftrious and more 

 honourable men. In order the more readily to detect a practice 

 fo fhameful and iniquitous, the Governor judged it requifite to hold 

 out a reward to thofe who would come forward and give fuch in- 

 formation as fhould be fufficient to prove the offence, by offering 

 one-third of the fum forfeited to the informer. The fettlers were 

 alfo called upon to give information of any labouring man who, 

 on offering himfelf for hire, fhould refufe to accept the regulated 

 wages. 



The natives at the Hawkefbury were in the month of April again 

 very troublefome. After plundering one fettler of all that they could 

 carry away, they burned his dwelling-houfe and a ftack of wheat. 



On 



