mi-] 



OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



421 



The month of October commenced with the lofs of another boat, 

 which was taken from Parramatta by fome people who got unobferved 

 out of the harbour. The three men who were put on fhore from the 

 former boat at the time (he was feized upon, being in this party, it 

 was fuppofed they were connected in fome way with thofe who were 

 in that boat, and whom they might know where to find. An armed 

 boat from the Supply was immediately difpatched after them ; but it 

 returned as unfuccefsful as Lieutenant Shortland had been. 



From this circumftance, joined to the badnefs of the weather from the 

 time of their departure, which had been unufually itormy, there was 

 every probability of their having become the victims of their own teme- 

 rity. In thefe two bpats 15 convicts had made their efcape, 6 of whom 

 had been tranfported for life ; fix others were from Ireland, of whofe 

 term of tranfportation no account had been fent out. Whatever might 

 be the fate of thefe people, the evil was of great extent ; fince all that 

 could be known of them to their fellow-prifoners was, that they had 

 fuccefsfully effected their efcape. Had Bryan and his party, who 

 went off with one of the King's boats in the year 1791, inftead of 

 meeting with the compailion and lenity which were exprelTed in Eng- 

 land for their ftifferings, been fent back, and tried in New South 

 Wales for taking away the boat, and other thefts which they had com- 

 mitted, it was probable that others might have been deterred from 

 following their example. 



Such was the increale of crimes, that thrice in October was the 

 court of criminal judicature affembled. The offences that came under 

 their cognizance were thofe of murder, perjury, and forgery ; and two 

 men were tried for having killed a native youth well known in the 

 fettlement ; but it appearing to the court that he had been accidentally 

 fhot, they were acquitted. The natives certainly behaved i\\ r and 

 often provoked the death they met w T ith ; but it is much to be feared 

 that they had been on many occafions wantonly deftroyed. One of 

 the criminals was condemned to fuffer death ; another to be burned 

 in the hand and imprifoned twelve months ; two were banifhed to 



Norfolk 



