a complete account of the settlement-第8章
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he had not proceeded ten steps before he fell。 I ordered him to be carried to the hospital； where； when he arrived； he was found dead。 On opening the body； the cause of death was pronounced to be inanition。＇
Farther to contribute to the detection of villainy； a proclamation； offering a reward of sixty pounds of flour； more tempting than the ore of Peru or Potosi； was promised to any one who should apprehend； and bring to justice； a robber of garden ground。
Our friend Baneelon； during this season of scarcity； was as well taken care of as our desperate circumstances would allow。 We knew not how to keep him； and yet were unwilling to part with him。 Had he penetrated our state； perhaps he might have given his countrymen such a description of our diminished numbers； and diminished strength； as would have emboldened them to become more troublesome。 Every expedient was used to keep him in ignorance。 His allowance was regularly received by the governor's servant； like that of any other person； but the ration of a week was insufficient to have kept him for a day。 The deficiency was supplied by fish whenever it could be procured； and a little Indian corn； which had been reserved was ground and appropriated to his use。 In spite of all these aids； want of food has been known to make him furious and often melancholy。
There is reason to believe that he had long meditated his escape； which he effected in the night of the 3rd instant。 About two o'clock in the morning； he pretended illness； and awaking the servant who lay in the room with him； begged to go down stairs。 The other attended him without suspicion of his design； and Baneelon no sooner found himself in a backyard； than he nimbly leaped over a slight paling； and bade us adieu。
The following public order was issued within the date of this chapter； and is too pleasing a proof that universal depravity did not prevail among the convicts； to be omitted。
The governor； in consequence of the unremitted good behaviour and meritorious conduct of John Irving； is pleased to remit the remainder of the term for which he was sentenced to transportation。 He is therefore to be considered as restored to all those rights and privileges； which had been suspended in consequence of the sentence of the law。 And as such； he is hereby appointed to act as an assistant to the surgeon at Norfolk Island。
CHAPTER VII
Transactions of the Colony in June； July； and August； 1790。
At length the clouds of misfortune began to separate； and on the evening of the 3rd of June； the joyful cry of 〃the flag's up〃 resounded in every direction。
I was sitting in my hut； musing on our fate； when a confused clamour in the street drew my attention。 I opened my door； and saw several women with children in their arms running to and fro with distracted looks； congratulating each other； and kissing their infants with the most passionate and extravagant marks of fondness。 I needed no more； but instantly started out； and ran to a hill； where； by the assistance of a pocket glass； my hopes were realized。 My next door neighbour； a brother…officer； was with me； but we could not speak。 We wrung each other by the hand； with eyes and hearts overflowing。
Finding that the governor intended to go immediately in his boat down the harbour； I begged to be of his party。
As we proceeded； the object of our hopes soon appeared： a large ship； with English colours flying； working in； between the heads which form the entrance of the harbour。 The tumultuous state of our minds represented her in danger； and we were in agony。 Soon after； the governor； having ascertained what she was； left us； and stepped into a fishing boat to return to Sydney。 The weather was wet and tempestuous but the body is delicate only when the soul is at ease。 We pushed through wind and rain； the anxiety of our sensations every moment redoubling。 At last we read the word 'London' on her stern。 〃Pull away； my lads！ She is from Old England！ A few strokes more； and we shall be aboard！ Hurrah for a bellyfull； and news from our friends！〃 Such were our exhortations to the boat's crew。
A few minutes completed our wishes； and we found ourselves on board the 'Lady Juliana' transport； with two hundred and twenty…five of our countrywomen whom crime or misfortune had condemned to exile。 We learned that they had been almost eleven months on their passage； having left Plymouth； into which port they had put in July； 1789。 We continued to ask a thousand questions on a breath。 Stimulated by curiosity； they inquired in turn； but the right of being first answered； we thought； lay on our side。 〃Letters； letters！〃 was the cry。 They were produced； and torn open in trembling agitation。 News burst upon us like meridian splendor on a blind man。 We were overwhelmed with it： public； private； general； and particular。 Nor was it until some days had elapsed； that we were able to methodise it； or reduce it into form。 We now heard for the first time of our sovereign's illness； and his happy restoration to health。 The French revolution of 1789； with all the attendant circumstances of that wonderful and unexpected event； succeeded to amaze us*。 Now； too； the disaster which had befallen the 'Guardian'； and the liberal and enlarged plan on which she had been stored and fitted out by government for our use； was promulged。 It served also； in some measure； to account why we had not sooner heard from England。 For had not the 'Guardian' struck on an island of ice； she would probably have reached us three months before； and in this case have prevented the loss of the 'Sirius'； although she had sailed from England three months after the 'Lady Juliana'。
＇*These words bring to my mind an anecdote； which； though rather out of place； I shall offer no apology for introducing。 Among other inquiries； we were anxious to learn whether M。 de la Peyrouse； with the two ships under his command； bound on a voyage of discovery； had arrived in France。 We heard with concern； that no accounts of them had been received； since they had left Botany Bay； in March； 1788。 I remember when they were at that place； one day conversing with Monsieur de la Peyrouse； about the best method of treating savage people； 〃Sir〃 said he； 〃I have sometimes been compelled to commit hostilities upon them； but never without suffering the most poignant regret； for； independent of my own feelings on the occasion； his Majesty's （Louis XVI） last words to me； de sa propre bouche； when I took leave of him at Versailles； were： 'It is my express injunction； that you always treat the Indian nations with kindness and humanity。 Gratify their wishes； and never； but in a case of the last necessity； when self…defence requires it； shed human blood。' Are these the sentiments of a tyrant； of a sanguinary and perfidious man？〃
A general thanksgiving to Almighty God； for his Majesty's recovery； and happy restoration to his family and subjects； was ordered to be offered up on the following Wednesday； when all public labour was suspended； and every person in the settlement attended at church； where a sermon； suited to an occasion； at once so full of gratitude and solemnity； was preached by the Reverend Richard Johnson； chaplain of the colony。
All the officers were afterwards entertained at dinner by the governor。 And in the evening； an address to his excellency； expressive of congratulation and loyalty； was agreed upon； and in two days after was presented； and very graciously received。
The following invitation to the non…commissioned officers and private soldiers of the marine battalion； was also about this time published。
In consequence of the assurance that was given to the non…commissioned officers and men belonging to the battalion of marines； on their embarking for the service of this country； that such of them as should behave well； would be allowed to quit the service； on their return to England； or be discharged abroad； upon the relief taking place； and permitted to settle in the country His Majesty has been graciously pleased to direct the following encouragement to be held up to such non…commissioned officers and privates； as may be disposed to become settlers in this country； or in any of the islands comprised within the government of the continent of New South Wales； on the arrival of the corps raised and intended for the service of this colony； and for their relief； viz：
To every non…commissioned officer； an allotment of one hundred and thirty acres of land； if single； and of one hundred and fifty acres； if married。 To every private soldier； an allotment of eighty acres； if single； and of one hundred acres if married； and also an allotment of ten acres for every child； whether of a non…commissioned officer； or of a private soldier。 These allotments will be free of all fines； taxes； quit…rents； and other acknowledgments； for the space of ten years； but after the expiration of that period； will be subject to an annual quit…rent of one shilling for every fifty acres。
His Majesty has likewise been farther pleased to signify his royal will and pleasure； that a bounty of three pounds be offered to each non…commissioned officer and soldier； who may be disposed to continue in this country； and enlist in the corps appointed for the service of New South Wales； with a farther assurance； that in case of a proper demeanour on their part； they shall； after a farther service of five years； be entitled to double the former portion of land； provided they then choose to become settlers in the country； free of all taxes； fines； and quit…rents； for the space of fifteen years； but after that time； to be subject to the beforementioned annual quit…rent of one shilling for every fifty acres。
And as a farther encouragement to those men who may be desirous to become settlers； and continue in the country； his Majesty has been likewise pleased to direct； that every man shall； on being discharged； receive out of the public store； a portion of clothing and provisions； sufficient for his support for one year； together with a suitable quantity of seeds； grain； etc。 for the tillage of the land； and a portion of tools and implements of agriculture； proper for their use。 And whenever any man； who may become a settler； can maintain； feed； and clothe； such number of convicts as may be judged necessary by the governor； for the time being； to assist him in clearing and cultivating the land； the service of such convicts shall be assigned to him。
We were joyfully surprised on the 20th of the month to see another sail enter the harbour。 She proved to be the Justinian transport； commanded by Captain Maitland； and our rapture was doubled on finding that she was laden entirely with provisions for our use。 Full allowance； and general congratulation； immediately took place。 This ship had left Falmouth on the preceding 20th of January； and completed her passage exactly in five months*。 She had staid at Madeira one day； and four at Sao Tiago； from which last place she had steered directly for New South Wales； neglecting Rio de Janeiro on her right； and the Cape of Good Hope on her left； and notwithstanding the immense tract of ocean she had passed； brought her crew without sickness into harbour。 When the novelty and bol
