Anofficerwithadetachmentoftroops,wassentinpursuitofthem;
　　butafteraharassingmarchreturnedwithoutsuccess.Inthecourseofaweekthegreatestpartofthemwereeitherbroughtbackbydifferentpartieswhohadfalleninwiththem,orweredriveninbyfamine.
　　Uponbeingquestionedaboutthecauseoftheirelopement,thosewhomhungerhadforcedback,didnothesitatetoconfessthattheyhadbeensogrosslydeceivedastobelievethatChinamighteasilybereached,beingnotmorethan100milesdistant,andseparatedonlybyariver.
　　Theothers,however,ashamedofthemerrimentexcitedattheirexpense,saidthattheirreasonforrunningawaywasonaccountofbeingoverworkedandharshlytreated,andthattheypreferredasolitaryandprecariousexistenceinthewoodstoareturntothemiserytheywerecompelledtoundergo.Oneortwoofthepartyhadcertainlyperishedbythehandsofthenatives,whohadalsowoundedseveralothers.
　　Itrustthatnomanwouldfeelmorereluctantthanmyselftocastanilliberalnationalreflection,particularlyonapeoplewhomIregardinanaggregatesenseasbrethrenandfellow-citizens;andamongwhom,Ihavethehonourtonumbermanyofthemostcordialandendearingintimacieswhichalifepassedonservicecouldgenerate.ButitiscertainthatallthesepeoplewereIrish.
　　CHAPTERXVI
　　Transactionsofthecolonyuntil18thofDecember1791,whenIquittedit,withanAccountofitsstateatthattime.
　　TheGorgonhadarrivedonthe21stofSeptember,andthehourofdeparturetoEngland,forthemarinebattalion,drewnigh.IfIbeallowedtospeakfrommyownfeelingsontheoccasion,Iwillnotsaythatwecontemplateditsapproachwithmingledsensations:wehaileditwithraptureandexultation.
　　The'Supply',evertheharbingerofwelcomeandgladtidings,proclaimedbyherowndeparture,thatourswasathand.Onthe26thofNovembershesailedforEngland.Itwasimpossibletoviewourseparationwithinsensibility:thelittleshipwhichhadsooftenagitatedourhopesandfears,whichfromlongacquaintancewehadlearnedtoregardaspartofourselves,whosedoorsofhospitalityhadbeeneverthrownopentorelieveouraccumulatedwants,andchaseoursolitarygloom!
　　Inconsequenceoftheoffersmadetothenon-commissionedofficersandprivatesofthemarinebattaliontoremaininthecountryassettlersortoenterintotheNewSouthWalescorps,threecorporals,onedrummerand59privatesacceptedofgrantsofland,tosettleatNorfolkIslandandRoseHill.Ofthesemen,severalwereundoubtedlypossessedofsufficientskillandindustry,bytheassistanceofthepaywhichwasduetothemfromthedateoftheirembarkation,inthebeginningoftheyear1787,tothedayonwhichtheyweredischarged,tosetoutwithreasonablehopesofbeingabletoprocureamaintenance.Buttheonlyapparentreasontowhichthebehaviourofamajorityofthemcouldbeascribedwasfrominfatuatedaffectiontofemaleconvicts,whosecharactersandhabitsoflife,Iamsorrytosay,promisefromaconnectionneitherhonournortranquillity.
　　Thenarrativepartofthisworkwill,Iconceive,bebestbroughttoaterminationbyadescriptionoftheexistingstateofthecolony,astakenbymyselfafewdaysprevioustomyembarkationintheGorgon,tosailforEngland.
　　December2nd,1791.WentuptoRoseHill.Publicbuildingsherehavenotgreatlymultipliedsincemylastsurvey.Thestorehouseandbarrackhavebeenlongcompleted;alsoapartmentsforthechaplainoftheregiment,andforthejudge-advocate,inwhichlast,criminalcourts,whennecessary,areheld;butthesearepettyerections.
　　Inacolonywhichcontainsonlyafewhundredhovelsbuiltoftwigsandmud,wefeelconsequentialenoughalreadytotalkofatreasury,anadmiralty,apubliclibraryandmanyothersimilaredifices,whicharetoformpartofamagnificentsquare.Thegreatroadfromnearthelandingplacetothegovernor'shouseisfinished,andaverynobleoneitis,beingofgreatbreadth,andamilelong,inastraitline.Inmanyplacesitiscarriedovergulliesofconsiderabledepth,whichhavebeenfilledupwithtrunksoftreescoveredwithearth.Allthesawyers,carpentersandblacksmithswillsoonbeconcentredunderthedirectionofaveryadequatepersonofthegovernor'shousehold.Thisplanisalreadysofaradvancedastocontainninecoveredsawpits,whichchangeofweathercannotdisturbtheoperationsof,anexcellentworkshedforthecarpentersandalargenewshopfortheblacksmiths.Itcertainlypromisestobeofgreatpublicbenefit.Anewhospitalhasbeentalkedofforthelasttwoyears,butisnotyetbegun.Twolongsheds,builtintheformofatentandthatched,arehoweverfinished,andcapableofholding200patients.
　　Thesicklistoftodaycontains382names.RoseHillislesshealthythanitusedtobe.Theprevailingdisorderisadysentery,whichoftenterminatesfatally.Therewaslatelyoneveryviolentputridfeverwhich,bytimelyremovalofthepatient,waspreventedfromspreading.
　　Twenty-fivemenandtwochildrendiedhereinthemonthofNovember.
　　WhenatthehospitalIsawandconversedwithsomeofthe'Chinesetravellers';fourofthemlayhere,woundedbythenatives.IaskedthesemeniftheyreallysupposeditpossibletoreachChina.Theyansweredthattheywerecertainlymadetobelievetheyknewnothowthatataconsiderabledistancetonorthwardexistedalargeriver,whichseparatedthiscountryfromthebackpartofChina;andthatwhenitshouldbecrossedwhichwaspracticabletheywouldfindthemselvesamongacopper-colouredpeople,whowouldreceiveandtreatthemkindly.
　　Theyadded,thatonthethirddayoftheirelopement,oneofthepartydiedoffatigue;anothertheysawbutcheredbythenativeswho,findingthemunarmed,attackedthemandputthemtoflight.ThishappenednearBrokenBay,whichharbourstoppedtheirprogresstothenorthwardandforcedthemtoturntotherighthand,bywhichmeanstheysoonafterfoundthemselvesontheseashore,wheretheywanderedaboutinadestitutecondition,pickingupshellfishtoallayhunger.Deemingthefartherprosecutionoftheirschemeimpracticable,severalofthemagreedtoreturntoRoseHill,whichwithdifficultytheyaccomplished,arrivingalmostfamished.Ontheirroadbacktheymetsixfreshadventurerssallyingforthtojointhem,towhomtheyrelatedwhathadpassedandpersuadedthemtorelinquishtheirintention.Thereareatthistimenotlessthanthirty-eightconvictmenmissing,wholiveinthewoodsbyday,andatnightenterthedifferentfarmsandplunderforsubsistence.
　　December3rd,1791.Beganmysurveyofthecultivatedlandbelongingtothepublic.Theharvesthascommenced.Theyarereapingbothwheatandbarley.Thefieldbetweenthebarrackandthegovernor'shousecontainswheatandmaize,bothverybad,buttheformerparticularlyso.
　　InpassingthroughthemainstreetIwaspleasedtoobservethegardensoftheconvictslookbetterthanIhadexpectedtofindthem.
　　Thevegetablesingeneralarebutmean,butthestalksofmaize,withwhichtheyareinterspersed,appeargreenandflourishing.
　　Thesemicircularhill,whichsweepsfromtheoverseerofthecattle'shousetothegovernor'shouse,isplantedwithmaize,which,Iamtold,isthebesthere.Itcertainlylooksinmostpartsverygood——
　　stoutthickstalkswithlargespreadingleaves——butIamsurprisedtofinditsobackward.ItisatleastamonthlaterthanthatinthegardensatSydney.Behindthemaizeisafieldofwheat,whichlookstolerablyforthispartoftheworld.Itwill,Ireckon,yieldabouttwelvebushelsanacre.Continuedmywalkandlookedatalittlepatchofwheatinthegovernor'sgarden,whichwassownindrills,thegroundbeingfirstmixedwithaclaywhichitsdiscovererspretendedwasmarle.
　　Whateveritbe,thisexperimentbespeaksnotmuchinfavourofitsenrichingqualities;forthecornlooksmiserably,andisfarexceededbysomeneighbouringspotsonwhichnosuchadvantagehasbeenbestowed.
　　Wentroundthecrescentatthebottomofthegarden,whichcertainlyinbeautyofformandsituationisunrivalledinNewSouthWales.
　　Hereareeightthousandvinesplanted,allofwhichinanotherseasonareexpectedtobeargrapes.Besidesthevinesareseveralsmallfruittrees,whichwerebroughtintheGorgonfromtheCape,andlooklively;
　　ononeofthemarehalfadozenapplesasbigasnutmegs.Althoughthesoilofthecrescentbepoor,itsaspectandcircularfigure,soadvantageousforreceivingandretainingtheraysofthesun,eminentlyfititforavineyard.Passedtherivuletandlookedatthecornlandonitsnorthernside.OnthewesternsideofClarke's*housethewheatandmaizearebad,butontheeasternsideisafieldsupposedtobethebestinthecolony.Ithoughtitofgoodheight,andtheearswellfilled,butitisfarfromthick.
　　[*Dod,whoismentionedinmyformerjournalofthisplace,haddiedsomemonthsago.AndMr.Clarke,whowasputinhisroom,isoneofthesuperintendants,sentoutbygovernment,onasalaryoffortypoundsperannum.Hewasbredtohusbandry,underhisfatheratLewesinSussex;
　　andis,Iconceive,competenttohisofficeofprincipalconductoroftheagricultureofRoseHill.]
　　WhileIwaslookingatit,Clarkecameup.ItoldhimIthoughthewouldreapfifteenorsixteenbushelsanacre;heseemedtothinkseventeenoreighteen.IhavenowinspectedalltheEuropeancorn.
　　Amanofsolittleexperienceofthesemattersasmyselfcannotspeakwithmuchconfidence.Perhapstheproducemayaveragetenbushelsanacre,ortwelveattheoutside.Allowanceshould,however,bemadeinestimatingthequalityofthesoil,forthespaceoccupiedbyrootsoftrees,forinadequateculture,andinsomemeasuretowantofrain.Lesshasfallenthanwaswished,butthisspringwasbynomeanssodryasthelast.
　　IfindthatthewheatgrownatRoseHilllastyearweighedfifty-sevenpoundsandahalfperbushel.Mynextvisitwastothecattle,whichconsistsoftwostallions,sixmares,andtwocolts;besidessixteencows,twocow-calves,andonebull-calf,whichwerebroughtoutbytheGorgon.Twobullswhichwereonboarddiedonthepassage,sothatontheyounggentlemanjustmentioneddependsthestockingofthecolony.
　　TheperiodoftheinhabitantsofNewSouthWalesbeingsuppliedwithanimalfoodoftheirownraisingistooremoteforaprudentmantocalculate.
　　Thecattlelookingoodcondition,andIwassurprisedtohearthatneithercornnorfodderisgiventothem.Theenclosuresinwhichtheyareconfinedfurnishhardlyabladeofgrassatpresent.Therearepeopleappointedtotendthemwhohavebeenusedtothiswayoflife,andwhoseemtoexecuteitverywell.
　　Sunday,December4th,1791.DivineserviceisnowperformedhereeverySunday,eitherbythechaplainofthesettlementorthechaplainoftheregiment.Iwenttochurchtoday.Severalhundredconvictswerepresent,themajorityofwhomIthoughtlookedthemostmiserablebeingsintheshapeofhumanityIeverbeheld.Theyappearedtobeworndownwithfatigue.
　　December,5th.Madeexcursionsthisdaytoviewthepublicsettlements.
　　Reachedthefirst,whichisaboutamileinanorth-westdirectionfromthegovernor'shouse.Thissettlementcontains,byadmeasurement,134acres,apartofwhichisplantedwithmaize,verybackward,butingeneraltolerablygood,andbeautifullygreen.Thirteenlargehuts,builtintheformofatent,areerectedfortheconvictswhoworkhere;
　　butIcouldnotlearnthenumberoftheselast,beingunabletofindasuperintendantoranypersonwhocouldgivemeinformation.
　　Pondsofwaterheresufficienttosupplyathousandpersons.
　　Walkedontothesecondsettlement,abouttwomilesfarther,throughanunclearedcountry.HeremetDaveney,thepersonwhoplannedandnowsuperintendsalltheoperationscarriedonhere.Hetoldmethatheestimatedthequantityofclearedgroundhereat300acres.
　　Hecertainlyover-ratesitone-third,bythejudgmentofeveryotherperson.
　　Sixweeksagothiswasaforest.ithasbeencleared,andthewoodnearlyburntoffthegroundby500men,inthebefore-mentionedperiod,orratherinthirtydays,foronlythatnumberhavetheconvictsworked.
　　Hesaiditwastoolatetoplantmaize,andthereforeheshouldsowturnips,whichwouldhelptomeliorateandprepareitfornextyear.Onexaminingthesoil,Ithoughtitingenerallight,thoughinsomeplacesloamytothetouch.HemeanstotrytheRoseHill'marle'uponit,withwhichhethinksitwillincorporatewell.Ihopeitwillsucceedbetterthantheexperimentinthegovernor'sgarden.IwishedtoknowwhetherhehadchosenthisgroundsimplyfromtheconveniencyofitssituationtoRoseHill,anditseasyformfortillage,andhavingwater,orfromanymarkswhichhehadthoughtindicatedgoodsoil.HesaidthatwhatIhadmentionednodoubtweighedwithhim,andthathejudgedthesoiltobegood,fromthelimbsofmanyofthetreesgrowingonitbeingcoveredwithmoss.
　　"Are,"saidI,"your500menstillcomplete?"
　　"No;thisday'smustergaveonly460.Therestareeithersickandremovedtothehospital,orarerunawayinthewoods."
　　"Howmuchiseachlabourer'sdailytask?"
　　"Sevenrods.Itwaseight,butontheirrepresentingtothegovernorthatitwasbeyondtheirstrengthtoexecute,hetookoffone."
　　Thirteenlargehuts,similartothosebeforementioned,containallthepeoplehere.Toeveryhutareappointedtwomen,ashutkeepers,whoseonlyemploymentistowatchthehutsinworkinghourstopreventthemfrombeingrobbed.Thishassomewhatcheckeddepredations,andthoseendlesscomplaintsoftheconvictsthattheycouldnotworkbecausetheyhadnothingtoeat,theirallowancebeingstolen.Theworkinghoursatthisseasonsummerarefromfiveo'clockinthemorninguntilten;restfromtentotwo;
　　returntoworkattwo;andcontinuetillsunset.Thissurelycannotbecalledveryseveretoil;butontheotherhandmustberememberedtheinadequacyofarationofsaltprovisions,withfewvegetables,andunassistedbyanyliquorbutwater.
　　HerefinishedmyremarksoneverythingofapublicnatureatRoseHill.
　　Buthavingsufficienttime,Ideterminedtovisitalltheprivatesettlerstoinspecttheirlabours,andlearnfromthemtheirschemes,theirhopesandexpectations.
　　Inpursuanceofmyresolution,IcrossedthecountrytoProspectHill,atthebottomofwhichlivethefollowingthirteenconvicts,whohaveacceptedallotmentsofground,andarebecomesettlers.
　　Men'snames.Trades.NumberofNumberofacresacresineachincultivation.
　　allotment.
　　JohnSilverthorneWeaver4013/4
　　ThomasMartin"4011/2
　　JohnNicholsGardener402
　　WilliamButler*,andhiswifeSeaman50——
　　Lisk*Watchmaker404
　　WilliamParish,wife,andachildSeaman6023/4
　　WilliamKilby,andhiswifeHusbandman6011/4
　　EdwardPugh,wife,andtwochildrenCarpenter7021/2
　　SamuelGriffithJohnHerbertt**
　　JamesCastleJosephMarlow***
　　JohnWilliams,andhiswife
　　[*Inpartnership.[ButlerandLisk]
　　[**Notoutofhistime;butallowedtoworkhereathisleisurehours,ashehasdeclaredhisintentionofsettling.]
　　[***InasimilarpredicamentwithHerbert.]
　　Thetermsonwhichtheseallotmentshavebeengrantedare:
　　thattheestatesshallbefullycededforevertoallwhoshallcontinuetocultivateforfiveyears,ormore;thattheyshallbefreeofalltaxesforthefirsttenyears;butafterthatperiodtopayanannualquit-rentofoneshilling.Thepenaltyonnon-performanceofanyofthesearticlesisforfeitureoftheestate,andallthelabourwhichmayhavebeenbestoweduponit.Thesepeoplearetoreceiveprovisions,thesamequantityastheworkingconvicts,clothes,andmedicinalassistance,foreighteenmonthsfromthedayonwhichtheysettled.
　　Toclearandcultivatetheland,ahatchet,atomahawk,twohoes,aspadeandashovel,aregiventoeachperson,whethermanorwoman;andacertainnumberofcross-cutsawsamongthewhole.Tostocktheirfarms,twosowpigswerepromisedtoeachsettler,buttheyalmostallsaytheyhavenotyetreceivedany,ofwhichtheycomplainloudly.Theyallreceivedgraintosowandplantforthefirstyear.TheysettledhereinJulyandAugustlast.Mostofthemwereobligedtobuildtheirownhouses;
　　andwretchedhovelsthree-fourthsofthemare.Shouldanyofthemfallsick,therestareboundtoassistthesickpersontwodaysinamonth,providedthesicknesslastsnotlongerthantwomonths;fourdayslabourineachyear,fromeveryperson,beingallthatheisentitledto.
　　Togiveprotectiontothissettlement,acorporalandtwosoldiersareencampedinthecentreofthefarms,asthenativesonceattackedthesettlersandburntoneoftheirhouses.Theseguardsare,however,inevitablyatsuchadistancefromsomeofthefarmsastobeunabletoaffordthemanyassistanceincaseofanotherattack.
　　WithallthesepeopleIconversedandinspectedtheirlabours.
　　SomeIfoundtranquilanddeterminedtopersevere,providedencouragementshouldbegiven.Otherswereinastateofdespondency,andpredictedthattheyshouldstarveunlesstheperiodofeighteenmonthsduringwhichtheyaretobeclothedandfed,shouldbeextendedtothreeyears.
　　Theircultivationisyetinitsinfancy,andthereforeopinionsshouldnotbehastilyformedofwhatitmayarriveat,withmoderateskillandindustry.Theyhaveatpresentlittleinthegroundbesidesmaize,andthatlooksnotverypromising.SomesmallpatchesofwheatwhichIsawaremiserableindeed.ThegreatestpartofthelandIthinkbutindifferent,beinglightandstoney.Ofthethirteenfarmstenareunprovidedwithwater;
　　andatsomeofthemtheyareobligedtofetchthisnecessaryarticlefromthedistanceofamileandahalf.Allthesettlerscomplainsadlyofbeingfrequentlyrobbedbytherunawayconvicts,whoplunderthemincessantly.
　　December6th.Visitedthesettlementstothenorthwardoftherivulet.
　　ThenearestofthemliesaboutamileduenorthofMr.Clarke'shouse.
　　Hereareonlytheundernamedfivesettlers.
　　Men'snames.Trades.NumberofNumberofacresacresineachincultivation
　　[*Thesethreecultivateinpartnership.Brown,Bradbury,Mold.]
　　ThesesettlersareplacedonthesamefootingineveryrespectwhichconcernstheirtenureandtheassistancetobegrantedtothemasthoseatProspectHill.Nearthemiswater.ParrandBurnearemenofgreatindustry.Theyhavebothgoodhouseswhichtheyhiredpeopletobuildforthem.Parrtoldmethathehadexpendedthirteenguineasonhisland,whichneverthelesshedoesnotseempleasedwith.
　　Ofthethreepoorfellowswhoworkinpartnership,oneBradburyisrunaway.
　　Thismanhadbeenallowedtosettle,onabelief,fromhisownassurance,thathistermoftransportationwasexpired;butitwasafterwardsdiscoveredthathehadbeencastforlife.Hereuponhegrewdesperate,anddeclaredhewouldratherperishatoncethanremainasaconvict.Hedisappearedaweekagoandhasneversincebeenheardof.WereIcompelledtosettleinNewSouthWales,Ishouldfixmyresidencehere,bothfromtheappearanceofthesoil,anditsproximitytoRoseHill.Acorporalandtwoprivatesareencampedheretoguardthissettlement,asatProspect.
　　ProceededtothesettlementcalledthePonds,anamewhichIsupposeitderivedfromseveralpondsofwaterwhicharenearthefarms.
　　Hereresidethefourteenfollowingsettlers.
　　Men'snames.Trades.NumberofNumberofacresacresineachincultivation.
　　allotment.
　　ThomasKellyServant3011/2
　　WilliamHubbard,andwifePlasterer5021/4
　　CurtisBrand,andwifeCarpenter503
　　JohnRamsay,andwifeSeaman5031/2
　　WilliamField——3021/2
　　JohnRichards*Stone-cutter3041/2
　　JohnSummers*Husbandman30——
　　Varnell——301
　　AnthonyRope**,andwife,andtwochildrenBricklayer701
　　JosephBishop,andwifeNone5011/2
　　MathewEveringham,andwifeAttorney'sclerk502
　　JohnAnderson,andwife——502
　　EdwardElliot***Husbandman302
　　JosephMarshall***Weaver30
　　[*TheyRichardsandSummerscultivateinpartnership.]
　　[**Aconvictwhomeanstosettlehere;andispermittedtoworkinhisleisurehours.]
　　[***TheyElliotandMarshallcultivateinpartnership.]
　　TheProspectHilltermsofsettlementextendtothisplace.Myprivateremarkswerenotmany.SomespotswhichIpassedoverIthoughtdesirable,particularlyRamsay'sfarm;andhedeservesagoodspot,forheisacivil,sober,industriousman.Besideshiscornland,hehasawelllaidoutlittlegarden,inwhichIfoundhimandhiswifebusilyatwork.
　　Hepraisedherindustrytome;andsaidhedidnotdoubtofsucceeding.
　　Itisnotoftenseenthatsailorsmakegoodfarmers;butthismanIthinkbidsfairtocontradicttheobservation.Thegentlemanofnotradehisownwordstomewill,Iapprehend,attheconclusionofthetimewhenvictuallingfromthestoreistocease,havethehonourofreturningtodragatimberorbrickcartforhismaintenance.Thelittlemaizehehasplantedisdoneinsoslovenlyastyleastopromiseaverypoorcrop.
　　Hewholooksforwardtoeatgrapesfromhisownvine,andtositundertheshadeofhisownfig-tree,mustlabourineverycountry.
　　Hemustexertmorethanordinaryactivity.Theattorney'sclerkIalsothoughtoutofhisprovince.Idarebelievethathefindscultivatinghisownlandnothalfsoeasyataskasheformerlyfoundthatofstringingtogethervolumesoftautologytoencumber,orconveyaway,thatofhisneighbour.Hubbard'sfarm,andKelly'salso,deserveregard,frombeingbettermanagedthanmostoftheothers.Thepeopleherecomplainsadlyofadestructivegrubwhichdestroystheyoungplantsofmaize.
　　Manyofthesettlershavebeenobligedtoplanttwice,naythrice,onthesameland,fromthedepredationsofthesereptiles.Thereisthesameguardhereasattheothersettlements.
　　Nothingnowremainsforinspectionbutthefarmsontheriverside.
　　December7th.WenttoScheffer'sfarm.Ifoundhimathome,conversedwithhim,andwalkedwithhimoverallhiscultivatedground.Hehad140acresgrantedtohim,fourteenofwhichareincultivation,twelveinmaize,oneinwheatandoneinvinesandtobacco.Hehasbesidestwenty-threeacresonwhichthetreesarecutdownbutnotburntofftheland.
　　HeresignedhisappointmentandbeganhisfarmlastMay,andhadatfirstfiveconvictstoassisthim;hehasnowfour.Allhismaize,exceptthreeacres,ismean.Thishethinksmaybeattributedtothreecauses:
　　amiddlingsoil;toodryaspring;andfromthegroundnotbeingsufficientlypulverizedbeforetheseedwasputintoit.Thewheatisthinandpoor:hedoesnotreckonitsproduceatmorethaneightorninebushels.
　　Hisvines,900innumber,areflourishing,andwill,hesupposes,bearfruitnextyear.Histobaccoplantsarenotveryluxuriant:tothesetwolastarticleshemeansprincipallytodirecthisexertions.Hesaysandtrulythattheywillalwaysbesaleableandprofitable.Ononeoftheboundariesofhislandisplentyofwater.Averygoodbrickhouseisnearlycompletedforhisuse,bythegovernor;andinthemeantimehelivesinaverydecentone,whichwasbuiltforhimonhissettlinghere.
　　Heistobesuppliedwithprovisionsfromthepublicstore,andwithmedicalassistanceforeighteenmonths,reckoningfromlastMay.
　　Attheexpirationofthisperiodheisboundtosupporthimselfandthefourconvictsaretobewithdrawn.Butifheshallthen,oratanyfutureperiod,declarehimselfabletomaintainamoderatenumberofthesepeoplefortheirlabour,theywillbeassignedtohim.
　　Mr.Schefferisamanofindustryandrespectablecharacter.Hecameouttothiscountryassuperintendantofconvicts,atasalaryoffortypoundsperannum,andbroughtwithhimadaughteroftwelveyearsold.HeisbybirthaHessian,andservedinAmerica,inacorpsofYaghers,withtherankoflieutenant.Heneverwasprofessionally,inanypartoflife,afarmer,buthetoldme,thathisfatherownedasmallestateonthebanksoftheRhine,onwhichheresided,andthathehadalwaysbeenfondoflookingatandassistinginhislabours,particularlyinthevineyard.
　　Inwalkingalong,hemorethanonceshookhisheadandmadesomemortifyingobservationsonthesoilofhispresentdomain,comparedwiththebanksofhisnativestream.HeassuredmethatexclusiveofthesacrificeofhissalaryhehasexpendedmorethanfortypoundsinadvancinghisgroundtothestateinwhichIsawit.Oftheprobabilityofsuccessinhisundertaking,hespokewithmoderationandgoodsense.Sometimeshesaidhehadalmostdespaired,andhadoftenbalancedaboutrelinquishingit;
　　buthadasoftenbeencheckedbyrecollectingthathardlyanydifficultycanarisewhichvigourandperseverancewillnotovercome.Iaskedhimwhatwasthetenureonwhichheheldhisestate.Heofferedtoshowthewrittendocument,sayingthatitwasexactlythesameasRuse's.
　　Ithereforedeclinedtotroublehim,andtookmyleavewithwishesforhissuccessandprosperity.
　　NearMr.Scheffer'sfarmisasmallpatchoflandclearedbyLieutenantTownsonoftheNewSouthWalescorps,abouttwoacresofwhichareinmaizeandwheat,bothlookingverybad.
　　ProceededtothefarmofMr.Arndell,oneoftheassistantsurgeons.
　　Thisgentlemanhassixacresincultivationasfollows:rathermorethanfourinmaize,oneinwheat,andtheremainderinoatsandbarley.Thewheatlookstolerablygood,ratherthinbutofagoodheight,andtheearswellfilled.Hisfarmingservantguessestheproducewillbetwelvebushels,*
　　andIdonotthinkheover-ratesit.Themaizeheguessesatthirtybushels,whichfromappearancesitmayyield,butnotmore.Theoatsandbarleyarenotcontemptible.ThisgroundhasbeenturnedupbutonceTheaspectofitisnearlysouth,onadeclivityoftheriver,orarmofthesea,onwhichRoseHillstands.Itwasclearedofwoodaboutninemonthsago,andsownthisyearforthefirsttime.
　　[*IhavereceivedaletterfromPortJackson,datedinApril1792,whichstatesthatthecropofwheatturnedoutfifteenbushels,andthemaizerathermorethanfortybushels.]
　　December8th.WentthismorningtothefarmofChristopherMagee,aconvictsettler,nearlyoppositetothatofMr.Scheffen.Thesituationofthisfarmisveryeligible,providedtheriverinfloodsdoesnotinundateit,whichIthinkdoubtful.Thismanwasbredtohusbandry,andlivedeightyearsinAmerica;hehasnolessthaneightacresincultivation,fiveandahalfinmaize,oneinwheat,andoneandahalfintobacco.Fromthewheathedoesnotexpectmorethantenbushels,butheisextravagantenoughtoratetheproduceofmaizeat100bushelsperhapshemaygetfifty;ontobaccohemeanstogolargelyhereafter.
　　HebegantoclearthisgroundinApril,butdidnotsettleuntillastJuly.
　　Iaskedbywhatmeanshehadbeenabletoaccomplishsomuch?Heanswered,"Byindustry,andbyhiringalltheconvictsIcouldgettoworkintheirleisurehours,besidessomelittleassistancewhichthegovernorhasoccasionallythrownin."Hisgreatestimpedimentiswantofwater,beingobligedtofetchallheusesmorethanhalfamile.Hesunkawell,andfoundwater,butitwasbrackishandnotfittodrink.Ifthismanshallcontinueinhabitsofindustryandsobriety,Ithinkhimsureofsucceeding.
　　ReachedRuse'sfarm,*andbeggedtolookathisgrant,thematerialpartofwhichrunsthus:"Alotofthirtyacres,tobecalledExperimentFarm;
　　thesaidlottobeholden,freeofalltaxes,quit-rents,&c.fortenyears,providedthattheoccupier,hisheirsorassigns,shallresidewithinthesame,andproceedtotheimprovementthereof;reserving,however,fortheuseofthecrown,alltimbernowgrowing,orwhichhereaftershallgrow,fitfornavalpurposes.Attheexpirationoftenyears,anannualquit-rentofoneshillingshallbepaidbytheoccupierinacknowledgment."
　　[*SeethestateofthisfarminmyformerRoseHilljournalofNovember1790,thirteenmonthsbefore.]
　　Rusenowlivesinacomfortablebrickhouse,builtforhimbythegovernor.
　　Hehaselevenacresandahalfincultivation,andseveralmorewhichhavebeenclearedbyconvictsintheirleisurehours,onconditionofreceivingthefirstyear'scrop.Hemeanstocultivatelittlebesidesmaize;wheatissomuchlessproductive.Ofthecultureofvineyardsandtobaccoheisignorant;and,withgreatgoodsense,hedeclaredthathewouldnotquitthepathheknew,foranuncertainty.
　　Hislivestockconsistsoffourbreedingsowsandthirtyfowls.
　　Hehasbeentakenfromthestorethatis,hassuppliedhimselfwithprovisionsforsomemonthspast;andhiswifeistobetakenoffatChristmas,atwhichtime,ifhedeemshimselfabletomaintainaconvictlabourer,oneistobegiventohim.
　　CrossedtheriverinaboattoRobertWebb'sfarm.Thismanwasoneoftheseamenofthe'Sirius',andhastaken,inconjunctionwithhisbrotheralsoaseamanofthesameshipagrantofsixtyacres,onthesametermsasRuse,savethattheannualquit-rentistocommenceattheexpirationoffiveyears,insteadoften.ThebrotherisgonetoEnglandtoreceivethewagesduetothembothfortheirservices,whichmoneyistobeexpendedbyhiminwhateverhejudgeswillbemostconducivetothesuccessoftheirplan.Webbexpectstodowell;talksasamanshouldtalkwhohasjustsetoutonadoubtfulenterprisewhichheisboundtopursue.
　　Heissanguineinhope,andlooksonlyatthebrightsideoftheprospect.
　　Hehasreceivedgreatencouragementandassistancefromthegovernor.
　　Hehasfiveacresclearedandplantedwithmaize,whichlooksthriving,andpromisestoyieldadecentcrop.Hishouseandasmalloneadjoiningforpigsandpoultrywerebuiltforhimbythegovernor,whoalsogavehimtwosowsandsevenfowls,towhichheaddsalittlestockofhisownacquiring.
　　NearWebbisplacedWilliamRead,anotherseamanofthe'Sirius',onthesameterms,andtowhomequalencouragementhasbeengranted.
　　MysurveyofRoseHillisnowclosed.Ihaveinspectedeverypieceofgroundincultivationhere,bothpublicandprivate,andhavewrittenfromactualexaminationonly.
　　ButbeforeIbadeadieutoRoseHill,inallprobabilityforthelasttimeofmylife,itstruckmethatthereyetremainedoneobjectofconsiderationnottobeslighted:Barringtonhadbeeninthesettlementbetweentwoandthreemonths,andIhadnotseenhim.
　　Isawhimwithcuriosity.Heistall,approachingtosixfeet,slender,andhisgaitandmanner,bespeaklivelinessandactivity.Ofthateleganceandfashion,withwhichmyimaginationhaddeckedhimIknownotwhy,Icoulddistinguishnotrace.Greatallowanceshould,however,bemadefordepressionandunavoidabledeficiencyofdress.Hisfaceisthoughtfulandintelligent;toastrongcastofcountenanceheaddsapenetratingeye,andaprominentforehead.Hiswholedemeanourishumble,notservile.