-It was hoped by the governor, that this order would convince
the people particularly ftiled defenders, that, i f they continued to be
troublefome, they would not very readily efcape from the punilh-
ment to which their turbulent and reftlefs conduit might entitle
them.
From the acceffion o f numbers to the public gangs, the different
•works :in hand at Sydney and Parramatta went rapidly on. At
the former of thefe places the erection o f a granary, 72 feet in
length and 22 in breadth, was begun on the weft fide of the main
ftreet, there not being a building for the reception o f grain yet
prepared in that townfhip.
Boats were fent round to the Hawkefbury, for various articles
wanted at Sydney. From that part o f the fettlement, the timber moft
ufeful for boat and other buildings was occafionally received; fhingles
alfo o f a good fort were brought round; and frequently the boats
returned loaded with grain. It has been fhewn, in the account o f
this colony already publifhed, that the farms upon the fertile banks
o f that river were fuperior, in point o f foil, to any near the principal
fettlement ; and that, had they been in the hands o f good and
induftrious charadters, they would have produced abundant crops,
and enriched their owners. But every day’ s experience evinced,
that the people thus fortunately fituated were, unluckily, feme of
the moft profligate wretches in the colony; and their diftance from
the immediate feat of government added much to the inconvenience.
Such of thefe farms as were fituated on the low grounds were often
overflowed after very heavy falls o f rain ; but this circumftance was
in no way injurious to the farmer, unlefs it happened when the
grain was ripening.
Among other local arrangements which took place, and were
extremely ufeful, muft be reckoned the numbering o f the houfes
•of the towns of Sydney and Parramatta, and dividing them into
portions; with a principal inhabitant at the head o f each divifion
fion, who was charged with the peace and good order o f the dif-
ftridt in which he lived.
The frame o f the Log Prifon at Sydney was got up in the courfe
of this month, to the great annoyance of the worthlefs, who feemed to
anticipate the lodging in it which they merited,
j At Parramatta and Toongabbe a very few old ftacks o f wheat belonging'
» government were opened for the purpofe of being thralhed
out, when they were found to have been much injured by vermine.
In the courfe of this month, Bennillong, who had returned to
all the habits o f favage life, claimed the protection o f the governor
from the menaces o f feveral o f his countrymen,, who,, he with much
agitation informed him, had affembled in a confiderable body near
the Brick-fields,* to lie in wait for him ; and where, if polfible, they
intended to kill him ; he having, as they fufpe&ed, killed a man
near Botany-Bay. This he pofitively denied having done, and the
governor difpatcbed him to the place, guarded by fome of the military,
where he explained to his countrymen that he had not killed
the man in queftion, or any man; and that the foldiers were fent
■ with him, to convince them that the governor would not fuffer him,
his old friend and fellow voyager (it muft be remembered that Bennillong
returned from England with the governor in His Majefty’s
fhip Reliance), to be ill treated by them on any falfe pretence ; and
that he was determined to drive- every native away from Sydney
who fhould* attempt it. This threat had a good effed. Many o f
them were much alarmed when they faw in what manner and by
whom Bennillong was attended ; and to be driven from a place
whence they, derived fo- many comforts, and fo much Ihelter in bad.
weather, would have been feverely felt- by moft o f them.
In the firft part o f the month the weather was not very good;;
about the middle fome fhowers fell very feafonably for the harveft;
and towards the latter part the regular land and fea breezes had fet
in, which kept the weather cool and pleafant.
• Adjacent to the town of Sydney.
November,.