lement; and the Situation of Affairs at the
Time of the Ship, which conveys this Account, sailing for England.

For the purpose of expediting the public work, the male convicts have
been divided into gangs, over each of which a person, selected from
among themselves, is placed. It is to be regretted that Government did
not take this matter into consideration before we left England, and
appoint proper persons with reasonable salaries to execute the office of
overseers; as the consequence of our present imperfect plan is such, as
to defeat in a great measure the purposes for which the prisoners were
sent out. The female convicts have hitherto lived in a state of total
idleness; except a few who are kept at work in making pegs for tiles,
and picking up shells for burning into lime. For the last time I repeat,
that the behaviour of all classes of these people since our arrival in
the settlement has been better than could, I think, have been expected
from them.

Temporary wooden storehouses covered with thatch or shingles, in which
the cargoes of all the ships have been lodged, are completed; and
an hospital is erected. Barracks for the military are considerably
advanced; and little huts to serve, until something more permanent can
be finished, have been raised on all sides. Notwithstanding this the
encampments of the marines and convicts are still kept up; and to
secure their owners from the coldness of the nights, are covered in with
bushes, and thatched over.

The plan of a town I have already said is marked out. And as freestone
of an excellent quality abounds, one requisite towards the completion
of it is attained. Only two houses of stone are yet begun, which are
intended for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor. One of the greatest
impediments we meet with is a want of limestone, of which no signs
appear. Clay for making bricks is in plenty, and a considerable quantity
of them burned and ready for use.

In enumerating the public buildings I find I have been so remiss as
to omit an observatory, which is erected at a small distance from
the encampments. It is nearly completed, and when fitted up with the
telescopes and other astronomical instruments sent out by the Board of
Longitude, will afford a desirable retreat from the listlessness of a
camp evening at Port Jackson. One of the principal reasons which induced
the Board to grant this apparatus was, for the purpose of enabling
Lieutenant Dawes, of the marines,