1*4 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [November, 



There being a fcarcity of wheat in the public ftores, owing to fome 

 local difappointments, the Governor was obliged to make a redudion 

 in the weekly allowance of that article, until the crops of the approach- 

 ing feafon fhould be gathered. 



Among the ads which difgraced the month of November was one 

 which befpoke uncommon depravity. A convid, who had formerly 

 been the fchool-feilow of the Rev. Mr. Johnfon, had been taken by 

 that gentleman, who greatly compaffionated his fallen (late, into his 

 fervice ; where he repofed in him the utmoft confidence, and treated 

 him with the kindeft indulgence. He had not been long in hishoufe 

 before Mr. Johnfon was informed that his fervant, having taken an 

 impreffion of the key of his ftore-room in clay, had procured one that 

 would fit the lock. He fcarcely credited the information ; but, being 

 urged to furnifh him with an opportunity, he confented that a 

 conftable fhould be concealed in the houfe, on a Sunday, when 

 all the family, this perfon excepted, would be attending divine 

 fervice. The arrangement fucceeded but too well. Concluding that 

 all was fafe, he applied his key, and was proceeding without any re- 

 morfe to plunder the room of fuch articles as he wanted ; when the 

 conftable, feeing his prey within his toils, ftarted from his conceal- 

 ment, and put an end to his depredations by making him his pri- 

 foner. 



Thus was this wretched being, without " one compun&ious vifiting 

 of nature," deteded in the ad of injuring the man, who, in the better 

 day of his profperity, had been the companion of his youth, and 

 who had kindly ftretched out his hand to fhelter him in the hour of 

 his adverfity. 



Although the fettlement of Port Jackfon had now been eftablifhed 

 within one month of ten years, yet little had been added to the flock 

 of natural hiftory which had been acquired in the firft year or two of 

 its infancy. The kangaroo, the dog, the opotTum, the flying fquir- 

 rel, the kangaroo rat, a fpotted rat, the common rat, and the large 

 fox-bat (if entitled to a place in this fociety), made up the whole ca- 

 talogue 



