Mr. Bampton having given his ship such repairs as he was able in this port, the Endeavour and Fancy sailed for India on the 18th.  He purposed touching at New Zealand and at Norfolk Island.  We found after their departure, that, notwithstanding so many as fifty persons whose transportation had expired had been permitted to leave the colony in the Endeavour, nearly as many more had found means to secrete themselves on board her.  As she was to touch at Norfolk Island, hopes were entertained of getting the runaways back again, as the loss even of one man’s labour was at this time an object of consequence.

As many labouring people as could be got together were employed during the month in receiving such articles as had been brought in the king’s ships for the colony.

The weather during the month was very variable; and three women and two men died.  Of these one was much regretted, as his loss would be severely felt; this was Mr. J. Irving, who, dying before the governor arrived, knew not that he had been appointed an assistant to the surgeons with a salary of fifty pounds per annum.

October.] The police and civil duties of the town and district of Sydney were now regulated by civil magistrates.  At Parramatta, Lieutenant McArthur continued to carry on the duties to which he had been appointed by Lieutenant-Governor Grose, the public service at that place requiring the inspection and superintendance of an officer.

On Sunday the 4th of this month the Young William, the storeship whose unavoidable delay in her sailing we had regretted on the arrival of the governor without her, anchored safe in the cove from England, after a short passage of four months and nine days, with a cargo of provisions only.  She sailed from Spithead in company with the Sovereign, another storeship, on the 25th of May, taking her route by the way of Rio de Janeiro, where she anchored on the 12th of July, leaving it on the 21st of the same month; and meeting with very bad weather nearly the whole of the voyage, she shipped great quantities of water; and, being very deeply laden, the vessel was considerably strained.

By letters received from this ship we learned, that some promotions had taken place in the New South Wales corps.  Captain Nicholas Nepean had obtained the commission of second major; Lieutenant John McArthur had succeeded to his company; Lieutenant John Townson had got the company late belonging to Captain Hill; and Ensigns Clephan and Piper were made lieutenants, all without purchase.  Messrs. Kent and Bell, the naval agents, who left this country in the Britannia in September 1794, arrived safely in England in March last.

In consequence of this arrival the governor had it in his power to issue a better, though not so ample a ration of provisions as he could have desired.  The supply had not been sufficient to allow him to order more than four pounds ten ounces and two thirds of an ounce of pork, and four pounds of flour, to the convicts.  The same quantity of salt meat was ordered for the military; but they received two pounds of flour more than the prisoners.  The other parts of the weekly ration remained nearly the same as before, except the article of sugar, the convicts receiving six ounces instead of one pound and a half of that article.