45 6 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [December, 



An inftance of the fatal effects of mifguided conduft, and a too late 

 fenfe of criminality, occurred about this time in the tragical end of 

 Nathaniel Franklyn, the Governor's deward. This man, whom he 

 had brought from England, had the whole care and management of 

 his Excellency's domeftk concerns intruded to him. He had been re- 

 peatedly cautioned by his mader againft the many artful and defigning 

 acquaintances which he had formed in the town j it was proved, how- 

 ever, that he had not poflefled fortitude enough to withdand their foil- 

 citations, but had confented to rob the Governor to a very confiderable 

 amount, abufing the unlimited confidence which had been placed in 

 him, and making ufe of his name in a mod iniquitous manner. Of 

 the infamy of his conduct he was at lad fatally fenfible ; and, retiring 

 into a fhrubbery in the garden of his injured matter's hoafe, mot 

 himfelf through the head. 



The harveft, which was begun in November, was completed early In 

 December ; but, owing to a mod tedious and unfortunate drought of 

 ten months, the wheat did not turn out more than one-:hird of what 

 had been expected. 



On the 19th the Francis fchooner arrived from Norfolk Ifland, where 

 all were in good health. Lieutenant Shortland, who had received 

 directions to fearch for Sir Charles Middleton ifland and fhoal, on his 

 return produced his journal and a chart of the various traverfes which 

 he had made in queft of the ifland, and compared them with thofe 

 made formerly by Lieutenant (now Captain) Ball in his Majedy's 

 armed brig Supply, who had been fent by Governor Phillip exprefsly 

 on the fame piirftut. The extend ve range taken by thofe two officers 

 in the feareh, and their not having met with even any indications of 

 land near that fituation, left little reafon to believe in the exidence of 

 the ifland. That of the fhoal was not fo doubtful, there being much 

 reafon to believe that a dangerous bank or fhoal did fomewhere there- 

 abouts exid. 



The Indifpenfable and Britannia whalers, which had been fiftiing 

 on the coaft, returned on the 29th, for the repairing of fome defects 



4 ' and 



