During this month the bricklayer’s gang and some carpenters were sent down to the Look-out, to erect two huts for the midshipmen and seamen of the Sirius who were stationed there, where the stonemason’s gang were employed quarrying stone for two chimneys.

The greatest quantity of fish caught at any one time in this month was two hundred pounds.  Once the seine was full; but through either the wilfulness or the ignorance of the people employed to land it, the greatest part of its contents escaped.  Upwards of two thousand pounds were taken in the course of the month, which produced a saving of five hundred pounds of pork at the store, the allowance of thirty-one men for four weeks.

Very little labour could be enforced from people who had nothing to eat.  Nevertheless, as it was necessary to think of some preparations for the next season, the convicts were employed in getting the ground ready both at Sydney and at Rose Hill for the reception of wheat and barley.  The quantity of either article, however, to be now sown, fell far short of what our necessities required.

CHAPTER X

The Lady Juliana transport arrives from England
The Guardian
His Majesty’s birthday
Thanksgiving for His Majesty’s recovery
The Justinian storeship arrives
Full ration ordered
Three transports arrive
Horrid state of the convicts on board
Sick landed
Instance of sagacity in a dog
A convict drowned
Mortality and number of sick on the 13th
Convicts sent to Rose Hill
A town marked out there
Works in hand at Sydney
Instructions respecting grants of land
Mr. Fergusson drowned
Convicts’ claims on the master of the Neptune
Transactions
Criminal Court
Whale

June.] The first and second days of this month were exceedingly unfavourable to our situation; heavy rain and blowing weather obstructed labour and prevented fishing.  But it was decreed that on the 3rd we should experience sensations to which we had been strangers ever since our departure from England.  About half past three in the afternoon of this day, to the inexpressible satisfaction of every heart in the settlement, the long-looked-for signal for a ship was made at the South Head.  Every countenance was instantly cheered, and wore the lively expressions of eagerness, joy, and anxiety; the whole settlement was in motion and confusion.  Notwithstanding it blew very strong at the time, the governor’s secretary, accompanied by Captain Tench and Mr. White, immediately went off, and at some risk (for a heavy sea was running in the harbour’s mouth) reached the ship for which the signal had been made just in time to give directions which placed her in safety in Spring Cove.  She proved to be the Lady Juliana transport from London, last from Plymouth; from which latter place we learned, with no small degree of wonder and mortification, that she sailed on the 29th day of last July (full ten months ago) with two hundred and twenty-two female convicts on board.