***** 



1793.] OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 445 



figned by thefe men, was received by the Governor, in which they 

 profefled to repent of their former conduct, and implored forgivenefs. 

 They faid that they had been wrecked, and with difficulty got on 

 fhore, faving as much of the remains of their boat as enabled them to 

 build a fmaller one, in which they had returned, to furrender them- 

 felves to juftice ; pretending to have had their eyes opened to the 

 danger with which attempts at defertion from the colony muft ever 

 be attended, and promifmg to convince the minds of their ignorant 

 countrymen that every fuch attempt muft be followed by inevitable 

 ruin. The language of this letter was far above the capacity of any 

 of the party ; the truth was, they had propofed to live by piracy; 

 but after the lofs of their boat, being no longer able to procure provi- 

 fions, and in danger of being taken, they determined on giving them- 

 felves up as the fafeft courle they had left. 



They were armed with five mufquets ; and certainly had the will, 

 as well as the ability, to do a great deal of mifchief. They were 

 placed in confinement, and charges preferred againft them for piracy, 

 which was abfolutely neceflary ; as the fuffering of fuch offences to 

 pafs with impunity would have been productive of the greater!: evil. 



Sixteen months having elapfed fmce either provifions or Mores ha(l 

 been received, arrivals from England began to be rather anxioully ex- 

 pected. Public works went on 11 owl y ; the fervants of Government 

 being but few in proportion to the labour to be performed by them, 

 and all kinds of implements bad in quality, and icarce. 



There had been very little intermiffion of rain, thunder, and lighte- 

 ning, during the whole of this month. 



April opened with a neceflary act of juftice. Five men were ca- 

 pitally convicted, before the court of criminal judicature, of feizing 

 boats with an intent to efcape from the colony. One man was ca- 

 pitally convicted of a robbery; three were tranfported to Norfolk Iiland, . 

 and one was adjudged to corporal puniftiment. 



Two of the five condemned for feizing the boats fuffered death at 

 aSydney, after a week's preparation for that awful moment. Their 



companions 



