S 2
fteeped in beaftly intoxication for a certain length o f time. All the
cautions which had occafionally been inferred in the public orders
againft this dangerous practice, had not proved o f any advantage to
‘thofe whofe benefit they were intended to promote; and it was
obferved with concern, that feveral fcenes o f Ihameful impofition,
which had been praCtifed by the retail dealers in this article., were
brought to light by this inveftigation.
Several convicts, who had ferved their refpeftive terms o f tranf-
portation, having applied to be difcharged from the vidtualling
books of the colony, and allowed to provide for themfelves, it was
determined, that once during a given time certificates of their having
fo ferved their feveral fentences fhould be granted to them,
together with the permiffion which they folicited. There was not
any difficulty in afcertaining the term o f the convifts fent from England,
as correct lifts o f their feveral fentences from the Secretary
o f State’ s office accompanied them : but it was not fo with thofe who
had been fent from Ireland, and who were more likely to be diflatis-
fied with any difappointment on this rather nice fubjedt, than any
other people in the fettlement. This was an evil o f fome magnitude
; and a reprefentation o f it had been made to the government
of that kingdom, but as yet no anfwer had been received.
The feafon for cropping the ground being near at hand., the
fettiers were informed, that fuch o f them' as had lent their men to
repair the roads would have them returned for the time that would
be required to fow the grain; -after that was performed, they
were expedted again to come forward, and finifh what they had fo
well begun.
The natives excited fome little degree o f curiofity about this time,
a large party from Broken-Bay having aflembled in the lower part
o f the harbour, whither thofe belonging to Sydney immediately repaired,
for the purpofe, it was reported, of meeting them in fight;
■ but it turned out to be nothing more than the ufual ceremony which
-a native o f Broken-Bay underwent, o f having feveral fpears thrown
at him, for having, it was faid, killed a perfon belonging to this
part o f the country. He went off unhurt, after fuftaining the appearance
o f much rage and violence from the friends o f the de-
ceafed.
A gang having been for fome time employed in making bricks,
the foundation of a building for two affiftant furgeons was marked
in this month. This was one o f the neceflary works already mentioned,
as the miferable quarters which thofe gentlemen occupied
were originally conftrudled' only o f fplit cabbage trees, and were at
this time quite decayed;
Some heavy rain fell during- the firft and- latter parts o f the
month, which it was hoped would eXtinguilh the ftill glowing
embers o f the vaft fires which had furrounded-the place, and which,
being fcattered over the country every dry and windy day, occa-
fioned new and dreadful conflagrations.
There were not any arrivals during the month, except that o f the
Colonial fchooner from the Hawkefbury, with a cargo o f Indian corn,
and fome wheat that had been damaged'by the weevil, an enemy
which had been imported among the rice from India.
March.] It appeared by the books in which were entered the certificates
granted'ter the coavidts who had again become free people,
that there were at this time not lefs than 600 men off the ftoreand
working for themfelves in the colony ; forming a vaft deduction of,
labouring people from the public ftrength, and adding a great many
chances againft the fafety of private arid public property, as well as-
perfonal fecurity.;
An extraordinary theft- was committed about the middle o f the
month, which very forcibly marked the inherent depravity of fome
of thefe mifereantsi While the miller was abfent for a Ih'ort time,
part of the fails belonging to the mill were ftolen. Now this machine
was at work for the benefit o f thofe very incorrigible vagabonds
who had thus,, for a time, prevented its being o f ufe to any one,.
and;