tune that would ruin the flock of hogs, and reduce the fettlement
confiderably in the article o f bread.
That he might afcertain what quantity o f grain he had to depend
on, all thofe who cultivated ground were directed to give in by a
certain time a return of the Wheat and other grain in their pof-
feffipn.
B y the Diana whaler, which arrived from Norfolk-Ifland, information
was received, that the wheat harveft had been more productive
there than ufual; but the maize was likely to fall Jhort
from a fimilar want o f rain.
Wheat at this time bore a high price in Norfolk-Ifland, the
fettlers who had raifed refufing to fell it, on account o f the high
rate of wages, at lefs than fifteen (hillings per bufheL
On the night o f the 24th, the adding commiffary’s houfe was
broken into, and robbed o f articles to a confiderable amount. The
thieves appeared to have got in at the ofiice window, and loofened
the bricks o f a partition w a ll; by which opening they got into the
ftore-room, and, forcing the locks off- the chefts and trunks, carried
away every thing that they could manage.
One evil among others which attended the frequent arrival o f
(hips in the port was, the ready market which thefe plunderers
found for difpofing of their ftolen goods; the feamen not hefitating
to become the purchafers on leaving the place.
The criminal court of judicature was affetnbled at the clofe o f
the month ; when one man, a ferjeant o f the New South Wales
corps, was condemned for forgery, but recommended to the governor’s
mercy by the court;' another was condemned for a burglary,
and a third fenteneed to receive a fevere corporal punifhment,
for having (hot a native (man) at Botany Bay. Could the evidence
of fome o f thefe people have been taken, it was fuppofed
that he would have been capitally convicted, in which cafe he
would certainly have buffered, the governor being determined to
put
put that article o f hi® Majefty’s inftruaions in force, which, in
placing thefe people under the prote&ion o f the Britifh Government,
onjoined the punilhing anyinjury done to their perfons or property,
a c c o r d in g to the degree and nature of the offence.
When this man was brought out to be punifhed, feveral of the
natives were afferrtbled for the purpofej and he received in their
prefence as much Of his feotence as he could bear, they witneffmg
his fufferings with the mod perfect indifference.
The weather was exceedingly hot during the whole of January.
February.] Deplorable was the catalogue of events that prefented
itfelfin this mouth: executions, robberies, and accidents.
On the 8th a prifoner, who had been condemned to die by the
laft court, differed the fentence of the law. The recolle&ion o f his
untimely end, and his admonitions from the fatal tree, could not
have departed from the minds o f thofe who faw and heard him,
when another court fent another offender to the fame tree and for the
fame crime. Samuel Wright had been once before refpited at the
gallows. On the morning o f his execution, the wretched man
•attempted to cut his-throat; but as he only very (lightly wounded
himfelf, it may be fuppofed that he merely hoped, by delaying
the execution, to gain time to effedt an efcape.
Before this court, was brought part o f a neft o f thieves, who
had lately ftolen property to the amount of feveral hundred
pounds; but none o f them were capitally convifted, being fen-
tenced either to be tranfported to Norfolk-Ifland, or corporally
puniflied.
It might be fuppofed, that thefe executions and punifhments
would have operated as a^ check to the cpmmiflion of offences; but
they appeared to be wholly difregarded, and enormity had not yet
. attained its full height.
On the night of the n th , between the hours of eleven, and
twelve, the public gaol at Sydney, which coft fo much labour and
expence to ere&, ,w.as fet on fire, and foon completely confumed.
The