ever that they had an abundance of vegetables at that settlement. At Sydney the principal robberies at this time were of gardens.

A kangaroo was killed near Rose Hill of the weight of one hundred and eighty pounds. Shooting, which had never before been considered in the light of a resource, was now become an operation of no small importance. Three convicts of remarkable skill in this way, were thought so deserving of encouragement, especially considering the fatigues they underwent, that a larger ration was allotted to them than to any other persons. To supply a deficiency of salt, two large iron boilers were erected at the east point of the cove, and the salt produced by the simple process of boiling sea water was issued to the convicts and settlers.

The native (Benillong) who had been brought up to the settlement the year before, and had nearly begun to be reconciled to his new way of life, thought this no improper time to withdraw.

CHAPTER XIII.

Apprehensions of famine.

THE month of June commenced with rain and wind. The elements seemed in unison with the feelings of the unhappy colonists, amongst all classes of whom the most fearful apprehensions now prevailed. The time was arrived beyond which it was impossible much longer to postpone absolute famine. The present period had been reached without it, only by the greatest exertion, contrivance, and self-denial. The governor, whose courage was ever ready where courage was of use, could by no efforts conceal his perturbation. The most manly hearts had nearly yielded to despair. It was at this crisis, that at three in the afternoon of the 3rd, the long-expected signal at the Look-out was descried. The whole settlement was instantaneously in motion and confusion, Every countenance wore the expression of eagerness, joy and anxiety. Although it blew very hard at the time, the governor's secretary, accompanied by Captain Tench and Mr. White immediately went off

and at some risk (for a strong sea was running into the port) reached the ship in time to give directions by which she might be placed in safety in Spring Cove. She proved to be the Lady Juliana transport from London, last from Plymouth; from which latter place she had sailed on the 29th of the preceding July (full ten months before) with two hundred and twenty-two female convicts. Strong westerly winds and bad weather prevented her getting into Sydney Cove for some days, when the weather moderating, she was towed up to the settlement. Upon examining the quantity and state of the provisions brought by her, it was found that in consequence of the length of her voyage and the circumstance of twenty casks of flour being spoiled, but above all from the additional consumption that such an increase of people must cause, it would not be prudent to make an addition of more than a pound and a half of flour to the wretched weekly ration.

The news brought by this vessel was almost sufficient to throw the colony into its former state of dejection. The loss of the Guardian with all the melancholy and discouraging circumstances attending it, was now for the first time known in the colony. At the time of the

accident the long boat and four others left her, with part of the ship's company and a number of passengers: but the long boat was the only one known to be saved when the Lady Juliana left the Cape, having been fortunately seen by a French ship. On board this boat were the master and purser as also the Rev. Mr. Crowther, who was coming out to divide the religious duties of the settlement with Mr. Johnson. Government had also sent out in the Guardian, twenty-five convicts who were either farmers or artificers, together with seven persons engaged to serve as superintendants of convicts. Two professed gardeners were amongst the persons supposed to be lost. The superintendants came on to the settlement in the transport. The convicts remained for the present at the Cape.

The anxiety of the colonists was in a great degree renewed. They argued that if Government relied on, the arrival of the Guardian, without making allowance for the possibility of accident, the colony was still in all probability lost; and it was observed that the sailing of no other ship, actual or intended, was announced by the transport. Had the supposition in question been admitted, so might very justly the conclusion that was drawn from

it: but happily the British Government did not reason so lightly, and on the 20th, nearly three weeks after the arrival of the Lady Juliana, the Justinian storeship, after a passage from England of five months, anchored in the cove. She had been off the entrance of the harbour so early as the 2nd, but by a sudden change of wind aided by a current, had been driven to the northward and very nearly lost in a heavy gale, upon some dangerous rocks. This vessel brought an ample cargo of provisions, without any accession to the numbers of those who were to consume them, and the full ration was now at length issued out. It was now known that three more transports might be hourly expected with convicts, and also with the first detachment of a corps raised expressly for the service of the colony, and commanded by Major Grose late of the 29th regiment, who had been appointed lieutenant-governor in the room of Major Ross, and was to follow with another detachment in the Gorgon man of war of forty-four guns, by which ship it was intended that the marines should return to England. Early in the morning of the 23rd one of the men at the Look-out discerned a sail to the northward, but the weather becoming thick, soon lost sight of it. The bad weather