gratifying thereby their predilection for iron, which, strange as it may sound to us, they would have preferred to gold.  Unfortunately, iron was too precious even here to part with, unless for an equivalent; and it became necessary to convince them of it.  Two men and one woman were killed, the seamen who fired on them declaring (in their usual enlarged style of relation) that they had driven off and pursued upwards of three thousand of these cannibals.  They readily parted with any quantity of their flax, bartering it for iron.  As the valuable qualities of this flax were well known, it was not uninteresting to us to learn, that so small a vessel as the Fancy had lain at an anchor for three months in the midst of numerous and warlike tribes of savages, without any attempt on their part to become the masters; and that an intercourse might safely and advantageously be opened between them and the colonists of New South Wales, whenever proper materials and persons should be sent out to manufacture the flax, if the governor of that country should ever think it an object worthy of his attention.

From New Zealand the Fancy proceeded to Norfolk Island, and now came hither in the hope of meeting with, or hearing of Mr. Bampton.

From that settlement we gained the following information: 

The Salamander touched there, and the Resolution appeared off the island, but had no communication with the shore.

A heavy gale of wind, accompanied with a slight shock of the earth, had done considerable damage, washing away a very useful wharf and crane at Cascade, but which the governor meant immediately to replace.

The produce of the wheat this season on government’s account amounted to three thousand bushels, and that of settlers to fifteen hundred.  The Indian corn promised a very plentiful crop; but the settlers were much discouraged by their bills of the last year remaining still unpaid.  Much of that corn was obliged to be surveyed, and two thousand bushels had been condemned.

Swine were increasing so rapidly on Phillip Island, now stocked by government, that Mr. King thought he should be able for some time to issue fresh pork during four days in the week.  The flour was expended; of salt meat there was a sufficiency in store for eight months.  The whole number of persons on the island amounted to nine hundred and forty-five.

A convict well known in this settlement, Benjamin Ingraham, being detected in the act of housebreaking, put an end to his own existence by hanging himself, thus terminating by his own hand a life of wretchedness and villany.

On the 17th St. Patrick found many votaries in the settlement.  Some Cape brandy lately imported in the Britannia appeared to have arrived very seasonably; and libations to the saint were so plentifully poured, that at night the cells were full of prisoners.

Settlers, and other persons who had Indian corn to dispose of, were this month informed, that they would receive five shillings per bushel for all they might bring to the public stores.  They were likewise told, that a preference would be given to those who had disposed of their wheat to government.