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es wide and of considerable length。 They found no fresh water； but as their want of this article was not urgent； they did not make sufficient researches to pronounce that none existed there。* They saw； during the short time they stayed； two kangaroos and many traces of inhabitants。 The country at a little distance to the southward of the harbour is hilly； but that contiguous to the sea is flat。 On comparing what they had found here afterwards； with the native produce of Port Jackson； they saw no reason to think that they differed in any respect。
＇*Just before I left the country； word was brought by a ship which had put into Port Jervis； that a large fresh water brook was found there。＇
The second discovery was made by Captain Wetherhead； of the 'Matilda' transport； which was obligingly described to me； as follows； by that gentleman； on my putting to him the underwritten questions。
〃When did you make your discovery？〃
〃On the 27th of July； 1791。〃
〃In what latitude and longitude does it lie？〃
〃In 42 degrees 15 minutes south by observation； and in 148 1/2 east by reckoning〃
〃Is it on the mainland or is it an island？〃
〃It is an island； distant from the mainland about eight miles。〃
〃Did you anchor？〃
〃Yes； and found good anchorage in a bay open about six points。〃
〃Did you see any other harbour or bay in the island？〃
〃None。〃
〃Does the channel between the island and the main appear to afford good shelter for shipping？〃
〃Yes； like Spithead。〃
〃Did you find any water on the island？〃
〃Yes； in plenty。〃
〃Of what size does the island appear to be？〃
〃It is narrow and long； I cannot say how long。 Its breadth is inconsiderable。〃
〃Did you make any observations on the soil？〃
〃It is sandy； and many places are full of craggy rocks。〃
〃Do you judge the productions which you saw on the island to be similar to those around Port Jackson？〃
〃I do not think they differ in any respect。〃
〃Did you see any animals？〃
〃I saw three kangaroos。〃
〃Did you see any natives； or any marks of them？〃
〃I saw no natives； but I saw a fire； and several huts like those at Port Jackson； in one of which lay a spear。〃
〃What name did you give to your discovery？〃
〃I called it； in honour of my ship； Matilda Bay。〃
November； 1791。 A very extraordinary instance of folly stimulated to desperation occurred in the beginning of this month among the convicts at Rose Hill。 Twenty men and a pregnant woman； part of those who had arrived in the last fleet； suddenly disappeared with their clothes； working tools； bedding； and their provisions； for the ensuing week； which had been just issued to them。 The first intelligence heard of them； was from some convict settlers； who said they had seen them pass； and had enquired whither they were bound。 To which they had received for answer； 〃to China。〃 The extravagance and infatuation of such an attempt was explained to them by the settlers； but neither derision； nor demonstration could avert them from pursuing their purpose。 It was observed by those who brought in the account that they had general idea enough of the point of the compass in which China lies from Port Jackson； to keep in a northerly direction。
An officer with a detachment of troops； was sent in pursuit of them； but after a harassing march returned without success。 In the course of a week the greatest part of them were either brought back by different parties who had fallen in with them； or were driven in by famine。 Upon being questioned about the cause of their elopement； those whom hunger had forced back； did not hesitate to confess that they had been so grossly deceived as to believe that China might easily be reached； being not more than 100 miles distant； and separated only by a river。 The others； however； ashamed of the merriment excited at their expense； said that their reason for running away was on account of being overworked and harshly treated； and that they preferred a solitary and precarious existence in the woods to a return to the misery they were compelled to undergo。 One or two of the party had certainly perished by the hands of the natives； who had also wounded several others。
I trust that no man would feel more reluctant than myself to cast an illiberal national reflection； particularly on a people whom I regard in an aggregate sense as brethren and fellow…citizens； and among whom； I have the honour to number many of the most cordial and endearing intimacies which a life passed on service could generate。 But it is certain that all these people were Irish。
CHAPTER XVI
Transactions of the colony until 18th of December 1791； when I quitted it； with an Account of its state at that time。
The Gorgon had arrived on the 21st of September； and the hour of departure to England； for the marine battalion； drew nigh。 If I be allowed to speak from my own feelings on the occasion； I will not say that we contemplated its approach with mingled sensations： we hailed it with rapture and exultation。
The 'Supply'； ever the harbinger of welcome and glad tidings； proclaimed by her own departure； that ours was at hand。 On the 26th of November she sailed for England。 It was impossible to view our separation with insensibility： the little ship which had so often agitated our hopes and fears； which from long acquaintance we had learned to regard as part of ourselves； whose doors of hospitality had been ever thrown open to relieve our accumulated wants； and chase our solitary gloom！
In consequence of the offers made to the non…commissioned officers and privates of the marine battalion to remain in the country as settlers or to enter into the New South Wales corps； three corporals； one drummer and 59 privates accepted of grants of land； to settle at Norfolk Island and Rose Hill。 Of these men； several were undoubtedly possessed of sufficient skill and industry； by the assistance of the pay which was due to them from the date of their embarkation； in the beginning of the year 1787； to the day on which they were discharged； to set out with reasonable hopes of being able to procure a maintenance。 But the only apparent reason to which the behaviour of a majority of them could be ascribed was from infatuated affection to female convicts； whose characters and habits of life； I am sorry to say； promise from a connection neither honour nor tranquillity。
The narrative part of this work will； I conceive； be best brought to a termination by a description of the existing state of the colony； as taken by myself a few days previous to my embarkation in the Gorgon； to sail for England。
December 2nd； 1791。 Went up to Rose Hill。 Public buildings here have not greatly multiplied since my last survey。 The storehouse and barrack have been long completed； also apartments for the chaplain of the regiment； and for the judge…advocate； in which last； criminal courts； when necessary； are held； but these are petty erections。 In a colony which contains only a few hundred hovels built of twigs and mud； we feel consequential enough already to talk of a treasury； an admiralty； a public library and many other similar edifices； which are to form part of a magnificent square。 The great road from near the landing place to the governor's house is finished； and a very noble one it is； being of great breadth； and a mile long； in a strait line。 In many places it is carried over gullies of considerable depth； which have been filled up with trunks of trees covered with earth。 All the sawyers； carpenters and blacksmiths will soon be concentred under the direction of a very adequate person of the governor's household。 This plan is already so far advanced as to contain nine covered sawpits； which change of weather cannot disturb the operations of； an excellent workshed for the carpenters and a large new shop for the blacksmiths。 It certainly promises to be of great public benefit。 A new hospital has been talked of for the last two years； but is not yet begun。 Two long sheds； built in the form of a tent and thatched； are however finished； and capable of holding 200 patients。 The sick list of today contains 382 names。 Rose Hill is less healthy than it used to be。 The prevailing disorder is a dysentery； which often terminates fatally。 There was lately one very violent putrid fever which； by timely removal of the patient； was prevented from spreading。 Twenty…five men and two children died here in the month of November。
When at the hospital I saw and conversed with some of the 'Chinese travellers'； four of them lay here； wounded by the natives。 I asked these men if they really supposed it possible to reach China。 They answered that they were certainly made to believe （they knew not how） that at a considerable distance to northward existed a large river； which separated this country from the back part of China； and that when it should be crossed （which was practicable） they would find themselves among a copper…coloured people； who would receive and treat them kindly。 They added； that on the third day of their elopement； one of the party died of fatigue； another they saw butchered by the natives who； finding them unarmed； attacked them and put them to flight。 This happened near Broken Bay； which harbo