TRANSACTIONS AT NORFOLK ISLAND
October 1788 to February 1789
-Quantity of provisions received by the Golden
Grove.--Timber sent to Port Jackson.--Observations on the
navigation near Norfolk Island.--Number of persons on the
settlement.--Nepean and Phillip Islands described.--Corn
reaped.--A party sent to Ball Bay.--Talk-work of the
convicts.--The free people exercised.--Plot to seize the island
discovered.--Orders made public for the preservation of
regularity.--Oath of allegiance administered.--Provisions and
stores examined.-
The flood tide running strong all the morning of the 16th, and
the wind being to the eastward, prevented the Golden Grove from
working up; and though she fetched Point Ross in the afternoon,
the flood making, she was swept to leeward.
Having received instructions from Governor Phillip to send all
the useful timber I conveniently could to Port Jackson, I set the
men to work in cutting spars, and sawing boards for that purpose.
At day-light in the morning of the 17th, the Golden Grove stood
into the road and anchored, but the surf ran so high that no
boats could pass before low water, which was at three in the
afternoon, when I sent the Coble off; but as the surf increased,
I made the signal for her to be hoisted in, and soon afterwards
the transport got under weigh.
The next forenoon, the coble came on shore, and soon
afterwards the Golden Grove anchored in the road. The same
afternoon we landed eighteen casks of flour, and ten of salt
provisions.
Landing was very good until the evening of the 21st, and
during that time we received the whole of the stores and
provisions from the Golden Grove: I also received two sows and
fourteen young pigs belonging to the crown, and a she-goat, which
was the property of Mr. Collins, the judge-advocate. The
provisions received were--one hundred and twenty-six barrels of
flour, thirty-nine tierces of beef and twenty-two tierces of
pork, twenty-three firkins of butter, thirty-three casks of peas,
and five puncheons of rum, which were about seventeen months
provisions at the following ratio:--For one man for a week,
flour, seven pounds: beef, three pounds and a half: pork, two
pounds: butter, six ounces: peas, three pints. For one woman for
a week, flour, four pounds and a half: beef, two pounds and a
quarter: pork, one pound and a quarter: butter, four ounces:
peas, two pints. It should be observed, that the above ratio was
full avoirdupoise weight, without any deduction whatever.
During the night of the 22d, we had very strong gales of wind,
and at day-light, I perceived the Golden Grove had left the road;
I afterwards learnt that she parted her cable at ten o'clock, and
was not more than her own length to windward of the reef of rocks
which lie off the south-east end of Nepean Island in passing
it.
From this time to the 28th, we had only three days good
landing, during which a number of spars and planks were sent on
board the Golden Grove, for Port Jackson. Previous to the
departure of that vessel, I wrote a letter to Mr. Blackburn,
requesting him to communicate his remarks on the navigation round
these islands; as he had a better opportunity of making himself
acquainted with it than I possibly could have, to which he
returned the following answer; and, from the abilities of this
officer, I believe his observations are very accurate.
"North-north-west, about five miles from Duncombe Bay, there
is a bank of coarse sand and coral, with sixteen and seventeen
fathoms on it, between which and the anchoring place there are
twenty-five fathoms: there are also soundings north-east from
Phillip Isle, from thirty-five to twenty-five fathoms at least
four leagues off; at which distance it is foulest and shoallest.
The bearings, when at anchor in Duncombe Bay, were Cook's rocks
east-south-east, and the rocks off Point Howe, west-south-west
one quarter west, the landing rock south, distance off one mile;
the depth nineteen fathoms, coarse sand and coral. The best
anchorage in the Cascade Bay is with the great cascade
south-west, and Cook's Point north-east; distance off shore about
a mile and a half; the ground tolerably good. Cascade Bay is a
very good road in the strong south-west wind, and very smooth
water; the landing is easy, as is the access to the island. As
the ebb goes very strong nine hours to the eastward, the most
convenient place for anchoring off Sydney Bay, on account of the
boats, is, with the body of Nepean's Isle east-north-east half
east, or east by north; the flag-staff north-north-east half
east, Point Ross north-west by west, and the west end of Phillip
Isle south-south-east nineteen fathoms; _but here the ground is
rocky:_ the best anchoring is with the middle of Nepean Isle
east-north-east half east, the west end of Phillip Isle south by
east, the outermost breaker off Point Ross north-west by west
half west, the flag-staff north by east half east, and Collins's
Head north-east by east half east, seventeen fathoms clear
ground.
"The tides round the island are very strong, and from the
observations I have been able to make, and the difficulty we
always found in the Supply of getting from Cascade Bay round to
Sydney Bay, (which ever end of the island we tried at) I have
every reason to believe that the flood sets south-south-west, and
the ebb north-north-east: it flows about seven o'clock all round
the island: now as the ebb runs nine hours north-north-east, it
strikes directly against Rocky Point, which divides the tide, the
eastern part runs with rapidity through the islands, and then
resumes its former course of north-north-east: the other part
goes north-north-west past Anson Bay, round the west end of the
island, and then north-north-east; so that in coming from the
north side of the island (unless the wind gives aslant) you have
the tide right a-head which-ever end of the island you attempt to
get round. As to the flood it runs but three hours, and with
little strength."
The master of the Golden Grove's observations, which I
requested him to communicate to me, are as follow:--"The flood
comes directly from the south-east, strikes in with Ball Bay, and
sets up through between the islands: the other part, as it
divides itself, sets round the north-east part of the island; so
that a ship coming round from Cascade Bay, can never work up with
the wind to the southward and westward, as both tides take her
directly on the weather bow. From what I have seen of Ball Bay, I
by no means like it; my reason is, it is a bay that a ship can
never get out of with an _in-blowing wind_, and I do not
think it a safe one to ride in: the Cascade Bay I give much the
preference to, as it can hardly happen but a ship can get to sea
on one tack or another, and ride in very smooth water at anchor.
I could load the Golden Grove very well with timber or masts,
taking the advantage of the winds in Cascade and Sydney
bays."
As I was very much in want of a carpenter, a man who had been
discharged from the Sirius, and was on board the Golden Grove as
a sailor, offered to remain on the island on any terms, but I
could make no agreement with him, not being impowered to take any
step of that kind; I therefore informed him, that if he chose to
remain he must take it on himself: this he with great readiness
consented to, and I found him a great acquisition.
The Golden Grove sailed for Port Jackson on the 29th.
As an encouragement to the convicts who came by the Golden
Grove, I gave them from the time of their landing until the 30th
to build houses for themselves, and to clear away a little garden
ground. The huts were very soon built, being composed of logs,
and thatched with bullrushes and flaggs, which made them very
comfortable; and as a farther encouragement, I gave some of them
(who had the best characters) permission to build their houses in
the vale, and to clear away ground near them for their own
use.
The settlement now consisted of the following persons,
viz.
Mr. Stephen Dunnavan, midshipman of the Sirius 1
Mr. Thomas Jamieson, surgeon's first mate of ditto 1
Mr. John Altree, assistant-surgeon 1
Roger Morley, Robert Webb, Thomas Webb, seamen belonging to ditto 3
John Livington, carpenter, late belonging to ditto 1
Serjeant, corporal, six private marines 8
16 free.
Male convicts 29
Female convicts 17
The total number, besides two children, 62
Soon after the departure of the Golden Grove, I made public
the following extract from Governor Phillip's letter to me:--
"You will return any marine, convict, or other person, with
whose conduct you are not satisfied; and you are at liberty to
permit those, whose good behaviour merits the indulgence, to work
one day in the week on lots of land, one or two acres of ground
to a convict, which you will cause to be pointed out for that
purpose, and which they may consider as their own property while
they behave well; after the time for which they are sentenced may
expire, lands will be granted them, if they wish to remain as
settlers, and you may give them such part of the public stock to
breed from, as you may judge proper, forbidding any person on the
island ever to sell any fowl, hog, or any other animal, without
having first obtained your permission; and you are not to permit
the killing of any live stock until you have a sufficient
quantity on the island for your support, except in cases of
sickness.
"You will make the report to me, when opportunity offers, of
such who are not convicts, and who are desirous of settling on
the island; and you are at liberty to permit them to cultivate
ground for their own benefit, not exceeding ten acres to any one
person; they will receive the indulgence of such part of the live
stock as you may judge necessary to give them, but neither
settler, nor any other person on the island, is to be at liberty
to kill any animal without having obtained your permission.
Hereafter, grants will be made to those who wish to remain on the
island, of a larger extent of ground."
During the month of November, the weather was very warm,
except four days, when we had strong gales of wind from the
southward, which made it as cold as winter.
On the 14th, I planted about thirty rod of ground with Indian
corn: some which had been planted in September was now five feet
high, and the wheat grew so very rank that I was obliged to crop
it.
I went out in the coble on the 22d, and sounded between Point
Hunter and Nepean Isle: there is a good channel, and there are
not less than three fathoms close to Point Hunter; and on the
north side of Nepean Isle in mid-channel, there are eight fathoms
water.
On the 29th, I landed on Nepean Island, and found it to
consist entirely of one mass of sand, held together by the
surrounding cliffs, which are a border of hard rocks:
notwithstanding there was not the least appearance of earth or
mould on the island, yet there were upwards of two hundred very
fine pines growing on it; the surface was covered with a kind of
coarse grass.
The weather being now very hot, I changed the working hours,
and gave the labourers from half past ten o'clock until half past
twelve, to avoid the heat of the sun: they were employed in
clearing ground for cultivation, making shingles, cutting a road
from the settlement to Ball Bay, and reaping wheat and
barley.
The heat of the sun split the weather boarding with which my
house was covered; and it being very leaky, I fet the carpenters
and sawyers to work to put a new roof on, and to raise the house
five feet, in order to make room for stores and provisions.
At day-light in the morning of the 2d of December, I went in
the coble to Phillip Isle, where I landed on a rock, in a small
bay on the north side. It was with difficulty that I ascended the
first hills, which were covered with a sharp long grass that cut
like a knife; this was interspersed with brushwood. The soil is a
light red earth, and was so full of holes, which had been made by
the birds, that walking was very laborious. A small valley runs
the whole length of the island, in which, and on some of the
hills, a few pines grow, but I think the whole island does not
produce more than one hundred and fifty. I found no fresh water
on the island, but probably there may be some, as I saw a number
of hawks, pigeons, and parrots; but as I had only two convicts to
row the boat, I left the island, and got to Sydney Bay in the
evening.
On the 8th, I housed all the barley which had been raised on
an acre of ground, and was sown in June and July. During the
first of its growth, it had a most promising appearance, but when
the ear was shot and nearly filled, some heavy rains in September
laid a great part of it down, and the quantity destroyed by the
rats and quails was almost incredible: there was every prospect
of getting at least fifty bushels of grain, but the whole
quantity, when gleaned, yielded only ten bushels. The barley was
very fine, and 116 ears were produced from one grain. Garden
vegetables throve very well, and cabbages were cut weighing
twenty-six pounds each. I have no doubt but potatoes would thrive
very well here; unfortunately, we had only two sets on the
island, which were brought by the Golden Grove. Most of the
marines and convicts had now very good gardens, but the grub-worm
was a great and perpetual enemy to their vegetables.
It has already been observed, that 260 plants of wheat were
transplanted the beginning of June; these were threshed on the
15th, and the produce was three quarts of a very fine full
grain.
The weather often was very favourable for landing in
Sydney-Bay, and the boat was frequently sent out; but the surf
often rose presently afterwards which made it dangerous for her
to come on shore, so that she was obliged to go to Ball Bay, and
men were sent from the settlement to haul her up, which
occasioned a great loss of time: I therefore resolved to send Mr.
Altree, who was a very trusty young man, a gardener, and one
convict, together with three women to remain there, as they would
not only cultivate the ground in the valley, but would, at all
times, be ready to assist in hauling the boat up.
This party went to Ball-Bay on the 18th, where they found
landing as fine as could be wished, though the surf ran very high
in Sydney-Bay; the wind being at south, and blowing hard.
Some wheat was reaped on the 22d, which had been sown on the
11th of August: the grain was very full and fine, but as it was
sown late the stock was not so fine as might have been
expected.
The 25th, being Christmas-day, it was observed as a holyday.
The colours were hoisted at sun-rise: I performed divine service;
the officers dined with me, and I gave each of the convicts half
a pint of rum, and double allowance of beef, to celebrate the
festival: the evening concluded with bonfires, which consisted of
large piles of wood, that had been previously collected for the
occasion. Spring-tides were now at the height, and I sent every
person on the 26th to Ball-Bay to make the cut deeper, and to
clear away some stones which were washed into it. The wheat which
was sown the latter end of August, was reaped on the 29th, and
the Indian corn was nearly fit for the sickle.
I now began to perceive a very great difference between the
work done since the arrival of the convicts by the Golden-Grove,
and what was done before, in proportion to our numbers; the
reason was, that when the number of convicts was increased, I had
not persons sufficient to overlook them and keep them at work: I
therefore adopted the plan of talking them; for which purpose I
consulted those whom I thought conversant in the different
employments that were carrying on; and their opinions, added to
what I had observed myself, determined me to six the different
tasks as follow, with which they were all contented. Six men were
to cut the timber down on an acre of ground in one week: six men
to clear away and turn up an acre of ground fit for receiving
seed, in twenty-eight days: two sawyers to saw one hundred feet
of sawing each day. At these tasks the convicts would have an
opportunity of saving time to themselves; and, as that time was
to be employed in clearing gardens and ground to cultivate for
their own use, what was thus saved from the public work would not
be lost to society; although it was to be feared that some would
pass their time in idleness.
Having six musquets on the island, exclusive of the marines
arms, I thought it necessary to instruct the few free persons I
had (which were six) in the use of fire-arms, in case the marines
should be sick, or any other exigency should happen; I therefore
gave orders to Mr. Dunavan to exercise them every Saturday
morning; and the serjeant was to exercise the marines at the same
time, or oftener: I intended that the former, after they were a
little expert, should fire half a dozen rounds once a month.
I went in the boat on the 5th, and examined the north and west
side of the island, which I found every where surrounded by
perpendicular cliffs. I landed on the beach in Anson's-Bay, where
I found the remains of a canoe, which had been washed there by
the tide; a very good cocoa-nut was also found. This beach is
very small, and appeared to be a mere quicksand; there is no
fresh water near it, and the bay is surrounded by steep hills, on
which there grows a quantity of the flax-plant.
The 8th ushered a male child into the world, and as he was the
first born on the island, he was baptized by the name of Norfolk.
At noon on the 15th, parties were sent out in search of the
cockswain of the coble, who had lost himself in the woods, as he
was returning from Ball-Bay, where the boat had been hauled up
the preceding day at sun-set: he was found on the 18th, naked and
almost exhausted, insomuch that he was obliged to be carried to
the settlement, having received several deep cuts and bruises
which rendered him incapable of getting out of his bed for some
time.
Thomas Watts, a convict, was punished with twenty-four lashes,
on the 19th, for contemptuously refusing to work, and being
abusive to the corporal of marines, who reprimanded him for not
going to work with the rest of the convicts.
The weather, during this month, was very fine and settled, and
the wind northerly until the 22d; from which time to the end of
the month, we had constant heavy rain, without an hour's interval
of dry weather: such a continuance of rainy weather I never heard
of, and it was frequently attended with heavy gales of wind from
the north-east.
In consequence of some irregularities which had happened, I
found it necessary to assemble all the free people on the 23d,
and to read the articles of war.
The next day, Robert Webb, a seaman belonging to the Sirius,
but who was employed as a gardener on the island, came to me, and
signified a wish to speak with me in private, which being
granted, he informed me that a plan had been concerted among the
convicts, to surprize me, with the rest of the officers, marines,
and free people; and to possess themselves of the public stores,
and afterwards to endeavour to surprize the Supply, or any other
vessel that might come here, and make their escape from the
island. On my interrogating him, he said that Elizabeth Anderson,
a female convict, who lived with him, had given him this
information the day before, and on his doubting the truth of what
she advanced, she offered to convince him of the truth of her
assertion, by bringing him within hearing of a convict whom she
would entice to relate the plan; which being agreed to by Webb,
this morning (the 23d.) Elizabeth Anderson invited William
Francis (a convict) into the hut, to drink a dram, when he
related the circumstances of the plan, and how it was to be
carried into execution; Webb being at this time hid from the view
of Francis, by a piece of tent which was hung before the bed he
lay in.
As I thought it necessary to substantiate this information, I
caused Robert Webb and Elizabeth Anderson to be kept apart, and
took their depositions on oath separately, both of which
perfectly agreed in every particular, and were in substance as
follow:
"That yesterday (the 22d.) between nine in the morning and
noon, Elizabeth Anderson being washing, she sighed, when William
Francis, who stood near her, asked what she sighed for; she
answered, she was very low; William Francis then asked her, if
she could get her liberty, whether she would leave Webb, and on
her saying yes, he said, the first ship that comes here, except
the Sirius, we will every man and woman have our liberty, to
which we were all sworn last Saturday; and we (the convicts)
would have had it already, if the Sirius was not the first ship
expected, and the day that Watts was flogged was intended to have
been the day for making Mr. King and the free people
prisoners."
Francis added, "that it was proposed to take the Golden-Grove
on her passage, as they (the convicts) were all for it, except
one man, and he was the forwardest in the present plot. Robert
Webb appearing, put an end to this conversation; and Elizabeth
Anderson repeated to Webb all that passed between her and
Francis: on Robert Webb's suspecting the story being an invention
of hers; they agreed that he should lie concealed in the bed,
which had a curtain made of a piece of tent, while she should
endeavour to draw from Francis a fuller account of the plan laid
by him and the rest of the convicts; and this morning (the 23d.)
at day-light, Robert Webb being still in bed, Elizabeth Anderson
got up, and on seeing Francis near the hut, she wished him the
'good morrow,' and informed him that Webb was gone to town to
grind his tools; she then said, 'come Bill, sit down and drink a
little rum, it will do us both good, and drink to the boys of the
ship that will take us from this place:' to which health they
both drank. Elizabeth Anderson then asked Francis how long it was
since they (the convicts) had planned the scheme; he said they
were all sworn on this Saturday month past, at Thompson's, in the
vale, excepting Widdicome and Rice, (convict rope-makers,) who
were Mr. King's right-hand men, and therefore not to be trusted:
Lucas (the convict carpenter) had not been asked, but they were
sure he would be on their side, when they (the convicts) got the
day.
"Francis continued saying, 'I'll tell you how it is to be
done; the whole is left to my management, and the best time will
be the first Saturday after the arrival of any other vessel than
the Sirius. Most of the marines and free people will be
a-cabbaging*, and as Mr. King generally goes to the farm twice a
day, in his absence I will step into his house and hand out the
arms** to my men; then I will go out and take Mr. King, and after
that the other officers, and what marines are in camp, and the
rest as they come in from cabbaging: we will then put them all in
irons, two and two together, when they will be as helpless as
bees. We will then make the signal for a boat, and when she
lands, we'll _nab_ the boat's crew; then send the coble off
with Mr. King's compliments, and request another boat may be sent
to carry off plank, as the first boat was stove, and the coble
could not carry luggage: when the second boat comes, the people
belonging to it will be _nabbed_, and the two boats with the
coble will be filled with our people (the convicts) and the
women, and take possession of the ship. Three of the sailors
might remain, if they were willing, and one officer should be
kept to navigate the ship; the rest of the officers and ship's
company will be left on Nepean or Phillip-Island, with the coble,
from whence they might go to Norfolk-Island and liberate the
commandant.
[* Getting the wood-cabbages.]
[** The marines arms were kept in my
house.]
"Elizabeth Anderson then expressed her wishes that it might
succeed, and Francis left her."
The taking Webb and Anderson's depositions, and interrogating
them, took up two hours; and it being Saturday, most of the
convicts were out getting cabbages: there was a possibility that
the accusation against William Francis might be an invention;
yet, having received that information, it became necessary to use
every precaution against a surprize; I therefore ordered a
constant guard of three privates, to be commanded by Mr. Dunavan,
the serjeant, and corporal, and a guard-house was built between
my house and the surgeon's, in which the provisions and stores
were deposited. The store-house occupied by the marines, I
removed from the water side nearer to my house. Every person,
without exception, was ordered to live in the town, or camp, and
I recalled the party who had been sent to Ball-Bay.
Being still desirous to obtain fuller proof the criminality of
the parties concerned in this diabolical scheme, I desired
Messrs. Dunavan and Jamieson to watch the return of John Bryant,
a convict, who had always behaved very well: they were to
interrogate him respecting the plan laid by the convicts, and to
assure him of a pardon, if he would discover all he knew. I also
sent to the house of William Thompson, in the Vale, to search for
any written agreement that might have been drawn up, but none was
found; however, the persons employed in this search found a
quantity of Indian corn in a chest in Thompson's house, which,
from its not being quite hard, must have been stolen from the
King's grounds in Arthur's Vale, as there was no other on the
island.
The next step I took was to order William Francis, John
Thompson, Samuel Picket, and Joshua Peck to be taken into
custody, on their return from cabbaging.
Messrs. Dunavan and Jamieson met John Bryant, and persuaded
him to discover all he knew about the plot; presently afterwards,
they brought him before me, when he was sworn on the cross, being
a catholic, and I took his deposition; the substance of which was
as follows:
"That on the passage from Port Jackson to Norfolk-Island it
was talked among the convicts to take the Golden-Grove transport
from the officers and crew and run away with her, and on its
being proposed to Bryant he said they could be only fools to
think of such a thing. That in going out to work on the 14th of
this month with all the "convicts, Samuel Picket remarked how
easy it would be to take the island, by making the commandant
prisoner, when going to, or returning from the farm in Arthur's
Vale; after which, coming in and seizing the arms, and making
prisoners of the marines and other free people. It was soon
after agreed that the rest of the convicts were to be consulted,
and if they were willing, a meeting was to be held at John
Thompson's house in the Vale; Samuel Picket and Joshua Peck
being inmates of his."
The remainder of Bryant's deposition, respecting how the
island was to be taken, agreed in every particular with the
testimony of Elizabeth Anderson and Robert Webb.
I next sent for Joshua Peck, and examined him on oath, and
after much prevarication, he gave nearly the same account how the
business was to be conducted as the others had done, except as to
the manner how the officers were to be made prisoners, which was,
"that after "they had secured me, they were to go to Mr.
Dunavan's house at "the entrance of the vale, and take him and
conduct him to the farm, "where we were to be tied back to back;
after which, one of the "convicts was to be sent in with a
message as from me, to speak with "the surgeon, serjeant of
marines, and the rest, and they were to be "secured one by one as
they came out."
To Bryant and Peck, I put the two following questions, telling
them, that as their depositions and examination would be sent to
the Governor, it was necessary that they recollected the nature
of the oath they had taken, and to give a just answer.
Question.--Can you assign any reason for the aforesaid plot
being formed? Answer.--None, but the hopes of regaining our
liberty.
Question.--Have you at any time heard any convict on the
island express any discontent at the conduct of officers, or on
any other ground? Answer.--None.
It was now clear to me that a scheme had been entered into, in
which all the convicts were concerned, except the rope-makers and
carpenter already mentioned; and their succeeding in it, so far
as regarded the taking myself and the officers prisoners was not
to be doubted; for, I must own, that I was not sufficiently upon
my guard against the description of people I had to deal with; as
the apparent satisfaction which they often expressed at being on
this island in preference to Port Jackson, added to the great
indulgences they had frequently received from me, lulled any
suspicion of their having the most distant idea of the kind.
The second part of their plan, viz. that of taking any ship
which might come to the island, was very doubtful; but had the
first succeeded, the destruction of the provisions and stores
would have followed; and it is difficult to say what fatal
consequences would have ensued from the drunken state they would
have been in whilst the rum lasted: indeed, I must in justice to
them observe, that no sanguinary measures were thought of; on the
contrary, they proposed good treatment to myself and the free
people; but how far that intention would have been observed by a
set of men of their description, when in a state of drunken
madness, may easily be conceived.
I ordered Samuel Picket and William Francis to wear irons, and
the next day (Sunday), after prayers, I addressed the convicts,
and pointed out to them the absurdity of their plan, admitting
they had made themselves masters of a vessel. I endeavoured to
convince them of the advantages they enjoyed on this island,
where nothing but industry was requisite to insure them a happy
and comfortable livelihood; after which, I exhorted them to let
their future conduct wipe away the present impropriety of their
behaviour: those who distinguished themselves by a regular,
honest, and industrious line of conduct, I promised to
countenance and encourage, whilst those of a contrary description
were sure to be made severe and dreadful examples of. I likewise
cautioned them against stealing and plundering the grounds and
gardens; assuring them that they would be severely punished on
detection.
Having finished my address to the convicts, I caused the
following orders to be read, in addition to those which were
before made public for the preservation of order.
"The commandant strictly forbids any officer, soldier, free
person, or convict, male or female, ever absenting themselves
from the camp or town for ten minutes together, without having
first obtained leave from the officer charged with the guard, who
will obtain the commandant's leave, if he should think fit to
grant it. The officer of the guard will take an account of the
names of those who are absent on leave, on a slate, which will be
kept in the guard-house for that purpose.
Every person returning from that leave, is to acquaint the
officer of the guard of their return.
Every convict who is observed to go over the hill to the farm,
without having obtained leave, or going to work there, will be
fired at by the centinel.
The convicts, and not more than three together, are to build
houses for themselves, at their leisure hours, in such places as
will be pointed out.
No person for the future will be suffered to live out of the
camp.
John Thompson and Samuel Pickett are dispossessed of their
garden ground, in consequence of their ill behaviour.
Though I had not the most distant reason to suspect any free
person whatever, of being in the least disaffected, yet I judged
it necessary to finish this affair by administering the oaths of
allegiance and fidelity to the officers, marines, and free people
individually, in the presence of the convicts. The theft of the
Indian corn being fully proved, on the 26th, I ordered William
Thompson to be punished with fifty lashes; and Thomas Jones,
another convict, was punished with thirty-six lashes, for abuse
and insolence to Messieurs Jamieson and Dunavan.
The whole of the convicts were now employed in cutting down
trees, and clearing the ground near the houses, in order to give
more room for building others.
As the rains were very violent, and seemed to be set in, and
the heat of the weather had made much of our Indian corn to shoot
out, I began gathering that which was sown in September.
Joseph Long, a convict, was punished with twelve lashes on the
28th, for quitting his work and absenting himself without
leave.
The month of February commenced with heavy gales of wind and
deluges of rain, which greatly damaged the Indian corn, and
different plants that were seeding. The small patch of barley
which was cut on the 20th of last month, was quite spoiled by the
constant rain, and the swamp was entirely overflowed. On the 6th,
we had a very heavy gale of wind from the northward, attended
with lightning, which was the first I had seen since my arrival
on the island.
Two convicts were punished on the 9th, for absenting
themselves after ten o'clock at night from their quarters, with a
bad intention.
The 15th, being Sunday, after performing divine service, and
reading the orders, I forgave the prisoners, Samuel Pickett and
William Francis, for their ill behaviour in the affair of the
plot; but it was my intention to send Francis to Port Jackson the
first opportunity, as he was a worthless, troublesome
villain.
The heavy rains had now in a great measure subsided, and the
weather on the 16th being fair, we embraced that opportunity of
examining the provisions which were stowed in the cellars. On
getting up the ground tier of flour casks from under the
surgeon's house, I found a quantity of water had lodged amongst
them; and although they were well dunnaged, yet we found many of
the casks much damaged, and the flour in them spoiled; but the
quantity lost could not immediately be ascertained: however, it
was of the utmost consequence to have the whole overlooked, and
every person was employed till the 21st in cleaning the flour and
separating the damaged part of it from that which was dry and in
good condition.