* 797-3 



OF NEW SOUTH WALES, 



4»9 



part of its entrance, finding deep water and good anchorage within* 

 The entrance of this river was but narrow, and covered by a high 

 rocky ifland, lying right off it ; fo as to leave a good paffage round the 

 north end of the ifland, between that and the (Lore. A reef connects 

 the fouth part of the ifland with the fouth more of the entrance of the 

 river. In this harbour was found a confiderable quantity of very 

 good coal, and lying fo near the water fide as to be conveniently 

 fhipped ; whLh gave it, in this particular, a manifeft advantage over 

 that difcovered to the fouth ward. Some fpecimens of this coal were 

 taken to Sydney. 



About the fame time an account was received from Norfolk Ifland, 

 of the American fnow Mercury having landed there the remainder of 

 the people which had been left by Captain Bampton in Dufky Bay, 

 when the Endeavour was wrecked there about twenty months before. 

 The Governor, not having any vefTel at Port Jackfon fit for fuch a 

 purpofe, had expreffed a wifh to the matter of the fnow to that effect, 

 when he was about leaving New South Wales ; which fervice he per- 

 formed under many difficulties, and brought off all that now remained 

 of thefe unfortunate people, amounting to 35 in number. 



On the 20th of the month, the Deptford, a fmall brig, arrived from 

 Madras, with a cargo of goods upon fpeculation for the Sydney mar- 

 ket. The fpirit of trade which had for fome time obtained in the co- 

 lony afforded an opening for adventurers to carry their goods to that 

 fettlement. The voyage from India was fhort and direct: ; and, from 

 the nature of their inveftments, they were certain of finding a ready- 

 fale, and an ample return upon the original invoice. But this inter- 

 courfe was found to be pregnant with great evil to the colony ; for, 

 preferring fpirits to any other article that Could be introduced, the 

 owners never failed to make the rum of that country an effential part 

 of every cargo. And though every poffible meafure was adopted to 

 prevent all that arrived from being landed, yet, fuch was the avidity 

 with which it was fought after, that, if not permitted, it was generally 

 got on more clandeftinely ; and very few mips carried back any of 



3 H 2 what 



