52 in breadth. Preparations were making for a fimilar building
at Parramatta, which was to be o f Smaller dimenfions than this at
Sydney.
The weather proved much too dry and fultry for the harveft.
Some rain fell toward' the latter end of the month; but it was
greatly feared that it came too late to be o f much benefit, to the
wheat or maize.
November.] Twice had the criminal court o f judicature lately
met for the trial of various offenders ; one o f whom, being clearly
convidted o f wilful perjury, flood in the pillory purfuarit to his
Sentence.
Inftead o f living peaceably and pleafantly at the governor’s houfe,
as he certainly might always have done, Ben-nil-long preferred the
rude and dangerous Society of his own countrymen, vifiting the
fettlement only when induced by the recollection o f the comforts
which-he could no where elfe obtain. Word was now brought
in, of his having been again Severely wounded in a conteft with
fome of the natives. This man had lately received and recovered
o f Several wounds, any one o f which would have been Sufficient to
have deftroyed a European. But thefe people in general owed
their exiftence more to their good habit of body (living free from
the ufe of Spirituous liquors arid the luxuries o f the table) than to
any other caufe. Unlefs this be admitted, it will be difficult to account
for their furviving the defperate wounds which they have been
often known to receive.
An inftance o f the fatal effects o f mifguided conduCt, and a too
late fenfe o f criminality, occurred in the tragical end of Nathaniel
Franklyn, the governor’s fteward. This man, whom he brought from
England, bad the whole care and management o f the governor’ s do-
meftic concerns entrufted to him. He had been repeatedly cautioned
by his matter againft the many artful and defigning acquaintances
which he had formed in the town, and .was pointedly defired
to be aware o f not Suffering himfelf to be influenced by their opinions.
13S
nions. | It was proved that he had not had fortitude enough to
withftand their folicitations, but had confented to rob the governor to
a very confiderable amount, abufing the confidence he had placed in
him, and making ufe of his name in a moft iniquitous manner. Of
the infamy o f his conduct he was* at laft fenfible, and, retiring,
into the fhrubbery in the garden o f the governor’s houfe, fhot himfelf
through the head.
The wretched ftate o f the- fettlement appeared but too plainly-
from this melancholy circumftance.
The complaints which were daily made o f the refradtory and
difobedient conduct o f the convict women rendered it abfolutely
neceffary that fome fteps fhould be inftantly taken to make them
more clearly u-nderftand the nature o f their fituation in this country,
and the duties that they were liable to perform. The governor,
therefore, judged it proper to defire that every officer or
other houfekeëper in the fettlement, who might have female fer-
vants in their families, would immediately forward to the judge-
advocate’ s office the names of Such as they employed. He alfo
forbade them to protedt from public labour any but thofe whom
they were permitted to retain ; and when at any time they were
dciirous' of difeharging from their employment any fervant of
this- description, they were to fend an intimation thereof, together
with a character of the perfon, to the fame office. As they had
never been limited in the number of women Servants which they
confidered requifite to their domeftic concerns, it. was hoped that
they would afford every affiftance in their power, which might lead-
tb- the detedtiori o f impo.fition, and Serve to corredt any abufe of fuch
indulgence.
To the lift o f public buildings, which, young as was the fettle-
ment, time had overthrown, was now added the government-houfe
at Parramatta; the roof o f which falling-in in fome bad weather,,
the building was furveyed, and found fo weak and decayed as not
to admit of repairs» It was therefore determined to take this en—
• ^ tirely