$:S ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [May, 



About this time fome proportions had been made, and a cor- 

 refpondence entered into between the fecretary of the Bengal Go- 

 vernment and the gentleman who had been employed as the private 

 agent of the officers of the fettlement, refpeding the tranfportation * 

 of Indian convids to New South .Wales. As this was a meafure, 

 though open to no objection whatever, which muft be fubmitted to 

 adminiftration before it could be adopted, the correfpondence which 

 had parTed on this occafion was fent home. 



It was propofed by the Governor of Bengal, to victual and main- 

 tain their convids for one year after their landing ; after which, 

 they were to be fupported by the fettlement. As fuch a defcrip- 

 tion of people might be very ufefully employed there, and would 

 be far more manageable than the convids from England or Ireland, 

 it was hoped that the plan might meet the approbation of his Ma- 

 jefty's minifters. 



It fhould feem that fome favourable ideas of the fettlement had 

 obtained in India ; for by the fame conveyance three gentlemen of 

 refpedability addreffed the Governor, ftating to him their defire of 

 embarking their families and property, and becoming fettlers ; but 

 as the terms they propofed would have been attended with a confi- 

 derable expence to the crown, the Governor, though well aware of the 

 advantages which the colony would derive from having fuch perfons 

 refident among them, found himfelf compelled to lay their propofals 

 before the Secretary of State. 



In the month of May two criminals had fuffered death ; and June 

 commenced with the execution of three more. If examples of this 

 kind could ftrike terror into the minds of the fpedators, they cer- 

 tainly had not lately been without thefe falutary though dreadful lefTons. 



Governor Hunter having received orders to fend the Buffalo to 

 England, feveral gentlemen, whq had obtained permiffion to take 

 their pafiage in her, difpofed of their live ftock ; by which a very con- 

 fiderable addition was made to that belonging to the crown. 



Early 



