45 8 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [January, 



The new year (1799) commenced with granting certificates to fuch 

 convicts as had completed their feveral terms of tranfportation. 

 A4any of thefe, having been fent out, who had not more than two 

 years to ferve after their arrival, proved, by claiming their difcharge, 

 a confiderable drawback on field labour, as well in Norfolk Ifland as 

 in New South Wales. But this was not the only evil. In this way 

 there were let loofe upon the public a number of worthlefs characters, 

 who, not having any means of getting out of the country, became a 

 troublefome and dangerous pefl, living by mifchief and robbery. 

 They alfo confumed a vaft proportion of the provifion which was 

 raifed in the colony. Still, as the law had fpent hx force againft them, 

 there was no denying them the restoration of their rights as free peo- 

 ple. The convicts had fuffered much through want of clothing and 

 .bedding. Indeed, during the late harveft, feveral gangs were feen 

 labouring in the fields, as free of clothing cf any kind as the favages 

 of the country. This had made them infolent and difcontented ; and 

 anonymous letters were dropped, threatening what they would do in 

 the proper feafon. Some of the Irifh had likewife taken up the idea 

 that Ireland had fhaken off its connection with England, and that 

 they were no longer to be confidered as convicts under the Britifh 

 government. This was a moft pernicious idea to be entertained by 

 fuch a lawlefs fet of people, and required the ftrong arm of govern- 

 ment to eradicate it. 



Agricultural concerns at this time wore a moft unpromifmg appear- 

 ance. The wheat proved little better than chaff, and the maize was 

 burnt up in the ground for want of rain. From the eftablimment of 

 the fettlement, fo much continued drought and fuffocating heat had 

 not been experienced ; the country was in flames, the wind northerly 

 and parching ; and fome mowers of rain which fell on the 7th were 

 of no advantage, being immediately taken up again by the exceffive 

 heat of the fun. 



On the 1 2th, Lieutenant Flinders and Mr. Bafs returned from the 

 examination of Van Diemen's Land. As the refult of this little voy- 

 age 



