1 799-1 OT NEW SOUTH WALES. 487 



du&ive than ufual ; but the maize was likely to fall fliort from a 

 fimilar want of rain. 



At the clofe of January the Criminal Court of Judicature was af- 

 fembled; when a ferjeant of the New South Wales corps was con- 

 demned for a forgery, but recommended to the Governor's mercy by 

 the court ; another was condemned for a burglary ; and a third fen- 

 tenced to receive a fevere corporal punifhment, for having mot a 

 native at Botany Bay. Could the evidence of fome of thefe people 

 have been taken, it was fuppofed that he would have been capitally 

 convicted ; in which cafe he would certainly have fuffered, the Go- 

 vernor having determined to put that article of his Majefty's inftruc- 

 tions in force, which, in placing thefe people under the protection 

 of the Britifh Government, enjoined the punifhing of any injury 

 done to their perfons or property. When the culprit was brought 

 out to be punifhed, feveral of the natives attended ; and he received 

 in their prefence as much of his fentence as he could bear, they wit- 

 nefling his fufferings with the raoft perfect indifference. 



The weather was exceedingly hot during the whole of January. 



On the 8th of February, a prifoner who had been condemned to die 

 by the laft court fuffered the fentence of the law. The recollection of 

 his untimely end, and his admonitions from the fatal tree, could not 

 have departed from the minds of thofe who faw and heard him, when 

 another court fent another offender to make the fame atonement for his 

 numerous crimes. Indeed, the journal of this month would furnifh 

 little elfe than a catalogue of executions, robberies, and inftances of 

 depravity ; among which was the deftroying by fire the public gaol 

 at Sydney ; nor was any doubt entertained of its having been done 

 through defign, though it will be read with horror, that at that time there 

 were confined within its walls twenty prifoners, moft of whom were 

 loaded with irons, and who, with much difficulty, werefnatched from 

 the flames. Feeling for each other was never imputed to thefe mif- 

 creants ; and yet, if feveral were engaged in the commiffion of a crime, 

 they have feldom been known to betray their companions in iniquity. 



But 



