er to check their enormities. No doubt can be entertained,
that a humane and liberal government will interpose its authority, to
prevent the repetition of such flagitious conduct.

Although the convicts had landed from these ships with every mark of
meagre misery, yet it was soon seen, that a want of room, in which more
conveniences might have been stowed for their use, had not caused it.
Several of the masters of the transports immediately opened stores,
and exposed large quantities of goods to sale, which, though at most
extortionate prices, were eagerly bought up.

Such was the weakly state of the new corners, that for several weeks little
real benefit to the colony was derived from so great a nominal addition to
our number. However, as fast as they recovered, employment was immediately
assigned to them. The old hours of labour, which had been reduced in our
distress, were re-established, and the most vigorous measures adopted to
give prosperity to the settlement. New buildings were immediately planned,
and large tracts of ground, at Rose-hill, ordered to be cleared, and
prepared for cultivation. Some superintendents who had arrived in the
fleet, and were hired by government for the purpose of overlooking and
directing the convicts, were found extremely serviceable in accelerating
the progress of improvement.

July, 1790. This month was marked by nothing worth communication, except
a melancholy accident which befell a young gentleman of amiable character
(one of the midshipmen lately belonging to the 'Sirius') and two marines.
He was in a small boat, with three marines, in the harbour, when a whale
was seen near them. Sensible of their danger, they used every effort to
avoid the cause of it, by rowing in a contrary direction from that which
the fish seemed to take, but the monster suddenly arose close to them, and
nearly filled the boat with water. By exerting themselves, they baled her
out, and again steered from it. For some time it was not seen, and they
conceived themselves safe, when, rising immediately under the boat, it
lifted her to the height of many yards on its back, whence slipping off,
she dropped as from a precipice, and immediately filled and sunk. The
midshipman and one of the marines were sucked into the vortex which the
whale had made, and disappeared at once. The two other marines swam for
the nearest shore, but one only reached it, to recount the fate of his
companions.

August, 1790. In the be