第57章

Crossed the river in a boat to Robert Webb's farm.This man was one of the seamen of the 'Sirius',and has taken,in conjunction with his brother (also a seaman of the same ship)a grant of sixty acres,on the same terms as Ruse,save that the annual quit-rent is to commence at the expiration of five years,instead of ten.The brother is gone to England to receive the wages due to them both for their services,which money is to be expended by him in whatever he judges will be most conducive to the success of their plan.Webb expects to do well;talks as a man should talk who has just set out on a doubtful enterprise which he is bound to pursue.

He is sanguine in hope,and looks only at the bright side of the prospect.

He has received great encouragement and assistance from the governor.

He has five acres cleared and planted with maize,which looks thriving,and promises to yield a decent crop.His house and a small one adjoining for pigs and poultry were built for him by the governor,who also gave him two sows and seven fowls,to which he adds a little stock of his own acquiring.

Near Webb is placed William Read,another seaman of the 'Sirius',on the same terms,and to whom equal encouragement has been granted.

My survey of Rose Hill is now closed.I have inspected every piece of ground in cultivation here,both public and private,and have written from actual examination only.

But before I bade adieu to Rose Hill,in all probability for the last time of my life,it struck me that there yet remained one object of consideration not to be slighted:Barrington had been in the settlement between two and three months,and I had not seen him.

I saw him with curiosity.He is tall,approaching to six feet,slender,and his gait and manner,bespeak liveliness and activity.Of that elegance and fashion,with which my imagination had decked him (I know not why),I could distinguish no trace.Great allowance should,however,be made for depression and unavoidable deficiency of dress.His face is thoughtful and intelligent;to a strong cast of countenance he adds a penetrating eye,and a prominent forehead.His whole demeanour is humble,not servile.

Both on his passage from England,and since his arrival here,his conduct has been irreproachable.He is appointed high-constable of the settlement of Rose Hill,a post of some respectability,and certainly one of importance to those who live here.His knowledge of men,particularly of that part of them into whose morals,manners and behaviour he is ordered especially to inspect,eminently fit him for the office.

I cannot quit him without bearing my testimony that his talents promise to be directed in future to make reparation to society for the offences he has heretofore committed against it.

The number of persons of all deions at Rose Hill at this period will be seen in the following return.

A return of the number of persons at Rose Hill,3rd of December 1791

Quality.|Men.|Women.|Children |||of 10years |of 2years |under 2years

Convicts 13361330917

Troops 949152

Civil Department 70000

Seamen Settlers 30000

Free Persons 07212

Total number of persons 144014931521

[The convicts who are become settlers,are included in this number.]

Of my Sydney journal,I find no part sufficiently interesting to be worth extraction.This place had long been considered only as a depot for stores.It exhibited nothing but a few old scattered huts and some sterile gardens.Cultivation of the ground was abandoned,and all our strength transferred to Rose Hill.Sydney,nevertheless,continued to be the place of the governor's residence,and consequently the headquarters of the colony.

No public building of note,except a storehouse,had been erected since my last statement.The barracks,so long talked of,so long promised,for the accommodation and discipline of the troops,were not even begun when I left the country;and instead of a new hospital,the old one was patched up and,with the assistance of one brought ready-framed from England,served to contain the sick.

The employment of the male convicts here,as at Rose Hill,was the public labour.Of the women,the majority were compelled to make shirts,trousers and other necessary parts of dress for the men,from materials delivered to them from the stores,into which they returned every Saturday night the produce of their labour,a stipulated weekly task being assigned to them.In a more early stage,government sent out all articles of clothing ready made;but,by adopting the present judicious plan,not only a public saving is effected,but employment of a suitable nature created for those who would otherwise consume leisure in idle pursuits only.

On the 26th of November 1791,the number of persons,of all deions,at Sydney,was 1259,to which,if 1628at Rose Hill and 1172at Norfolk Island be added,the total number of persons in New South Wales and its dependency will be found to amount to 4059.

[A very considerable addition to this number has been made since I quitted the settlement,by fresh troops and convicts sent thither from England.]

On the 13th of December 1791,the marine battalion embarked on board His Majesty's ship Gorgon,and on the 18th sailed for England.