1798.] OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 437 



From the inconceivable hardfhips which they underwent, they 

 would, to a man, have gladly returned, could they have hoped that 

 their punimment would have been any thing fhort of death. Finding 

 it impoflible for fuch a number of difcontented beings to continue of 

 one mind, or be able to procure food in their miferable fituation for 

 fo many, they judged it neceflary, from a motive of felf-prefervation, 

 that one half mould deceive the other half; and while they were afleep, 

 thofe who were prepared took away the boat, leaving, their feven 

 wretched and unfufpecting companions upon the de folate ill and, the- 

 fituation of which this man could not defcribe fo as to enable the Go- 

 vernor at any time to find it. Their number now being reduced to 

 feven, and thinking themfelves in danger fo near the fettlement, they 

 had been lurking for fome time about Broken Bay, with a view of 

 capturing a better boat loaded with grain from the Hawkefbury ; and 

 this they effe&ed by taking that which we have mentioned, and after- 

 wards a fmall one, containing upwards of fifty bufhels of wheat. 

 After putting their prifoners into the fmaller boat, they in the large 

 one ftood off to the northward ; where it was very probable they 

 would, lofe their boat, {he being of fuch afize, that if they mould get 

 on more by any accident, they would not be able to launch her again, 

 and muft finally perim. 



Here we find extreme ignorance, accompanied by great cunning, 

 producing cruelty; for nothing lefs can be faid of their abandoning 

 the miferable uninformed companions of their crime. Self-prefer- 

 vation was their plea ; but was there not a method within their reach, 

 which might have preferved the whole ? Might they not have returned 

 to Sydney, and thrown themfelves upon that mercy which they had fo 

 often feen exercifed toward offenders. Even had no fuch examples* 

 however, given them room for hope, the poffeffion of one fpark of 

 generofity, one ray of manly feeling, would have forbid their dooming 

 the wretched companions of their guilt to perifh by the hands of fa- 

 vages, or by the more lingering pangs of hunger; but this^is one 



proof 



