,1788.
Jsbtuary.
5tb. A ftorehoufe has been begun, For the purpofe
of receiving the ftores and provisions of the three tranfports
bound to China. On a mufter of the thi^lpprning,
fome were found to be miffing, and fuppofed to have* gone
to Botany Bay, in hopes! of being received' on board the
French Ships; which are faid to be Short of hands, and-made
more fo by the lofs they had recently fuftained, as before
mentioned.
7th. The governor’ s commiffionj and that for eftablifli-
ing a criminal court of judicature, admiralty cOuft,' &e.
were read. After this was done the troop® under arms fired
three volleys; when his excellency thanked the földiérs for
their Steady and good conduct; which Major Rofs caufed fo
be inferted in the general order book. T,he governor then
addreffed the convi&s in a Short fpeech, extremely well
adapted to the people he had to govern, and who were then
before him. Among many circumftances that would tend
to their future happinefs? and comfort, he recommended
marriage ; affuring them that an indiscriminate and illegal
intercourfè would be puniShed with the greateft feverity
and rigour. Honefty, obedience, and induftry, he told
them, would make their Situation comfortable j whereas
a contrary
afj&ntraryijine.of conduct would jfujye^ them to ignominy,
Severities, arid puniShment. When the ceremony was concluded,
his excellency, attended by all the officers of the
colony, withdrew to a tent pitched for the occafion, where
a cold dinner was laid out; and after the cloth was.
removed, many loyal and public toads were; drank.
8th. A party o f the. gentlemen of the garrifon let out
by land to: pay a vifit to the French at Botany Bay ;, from
whom they met with the moft hofpitable, polite, ' and
friendly I reception and treatment. Many of the convidts
who. had been miffing had been at Botany Bay. They had
offered themfelves to the French navigators on any terms,
but not one of them had been received. This refufal
obliged them to return 5 and. when they came' back they
were real obje&s of pity. Confeious of the puniffiment that
awaited fo imprudent and improper an experiment, they
had flayed out as long as the cravings of nature would permit,
and were nearly half Starved. A woman named Ann
Smith, and a man, have never Since been heard of. They
are fuppofed to have miffed their way as they returned, and
to have perilhed for want. As the French commodore had
given his honour that he would not admit any of them on
x ■ board,