ined, to instruct the convicts, or direct a farm. The two
gardeners were said to be lost, having left the Guardian in a
small boat after the unfortunate accident, which deprived the
colony of her invaluable cargo.

The Neptune, Surprize, and Scarborough transports arrived at
Port Jackson the latter end of June, 1790, with about six hundred
casks of beef and pork, which were sent round from the Guardian,
and nineteen convicts, who had been transported in that ship.

In order to ascertain the time in which it is probable the
colony will be able to support itself, it will be necessary to
point out those circumstances, that may advance or retard the
settlement. It will depend on the numbers who are employed in
agriculture, and who, by their labour, are to provide for those
that make no provision for themselves.

Governor Phillip did not reckon on the little labour which may
be got from the women, though some were employed in the fields;
as the greatest part would always find employment in making their
own, and the men's cloathing, and in the necessary attention to
their children. The ground, which the military may cultivate,
will be for their own convenience. The providing of houses and
barracks for the additional number of officers and soldiers, the
rebuilding of those temporary ones, which were erected on their
first arrival, and which must be done in the course of another
year, as well as the building of more store-houses and huts for
the convicts as they arrive, employed a considerable number of
hands, and works of this kind will always be carrying on.

Temporary buildings on their first landing were absolutely
necessary; but they should be avoided in future; as, after three
or four years, the whole work is to be begun again; and the want
of lime greatly increases the labour of building with bricks, as
the builders are obliged to increase the thickness of the walls,
which cannot be carried to any height; at the same time, if very
heavy rains fall before the houses are covered in, they are
considerably damaged.

The annexed return will show in what manner the convicts are
employed at present; and the governor had increased the number of
those employed in clearing the land for cultivation, as far as it
would be possible to do it before January, 1791, except by
convalescents, from whom little labour could be expected. He
hoped next year, that a very considerable quantity of ground
would be sown with wheat and barle