There died this month Mr. Barrow, a midshipman belonging to his Majesty’s ship Supply.  His death, which was rather sudden, was occasioned by an obstruction in the bowels, brought on by bathing when very much heated and full.  He had attended divine service on the Sunday preceding his death, and heard Mr. Johnson preach on uncertainty of human life, little thinking how soon he was himself to prove the verity of the principal point of his discourse—­’That death stole upon us like a thief in the night.’

Two male convicts died at Sydney.  One of them, John Durham, had been for upwards of two years a venereal patient in the hospital; and died at last a wretched but exemplary spectacle to all who beheld him, or who knew his sufferings.  There died, during the year 1795, one assistant to the surgeons; one sergeant of the New South Wales corps; two settlers; thirteen male convicts; seven female convicts and one child; and one male convict was executed.  Making a total of twenty-six persons who lost their lives during the year.

CHAPTER XXX

The Arthur arrives from India
Francis from Norfolk Island
A playhouse opened
Her Majesty’s birthday kept
Stills destroyed
Ceres storeship arrives
and Experiment from India
Ship Otter from America
Natives
Harvest got in
Deaths
A hut demolished by the military
A Transport arrives with prisoners from Ireland
A criminal court held
Caesar shot
General court martial
Otter takes away Mr. Muir
Abigail from America arrives
A forgery committed
Works
The Reliance
Particulars respecting Mr. Bampton, and of the fate of Captain Hill
  and Mr. Carter
A Schooner arrives from Duskey-Bay
Crops bad
Robberies committed
Supply for Norfolk Island
Natives
Bennillong
Cornwallis sails
Gerald and Skirving die

1796.]

January] On the first of this month, the Arthur brig anchored in the cove from Calcutta.  Mr. Barber, who was here in 1794 in the same vessel, had been induced by the success he then met with to pay us a second visit, with a cargo similar as to the nature of the articles, but of much larger value than that which he then sold.  He had been thirteen weeks on his passage, and had heard nothing of the Britannia.

It appeared from the information he brought us, that the Cape of Good Hope might at that time be in the possession of the English.  Trincomale had surrendered to our arms; but of Batavia he could only say, that a strong party in the French interest existed there.

The Surprise, Captain Campbell, had arrived at Bengal after a long passage of eight months from this port.

In the evening of the following day the colonial vessel returned from Norfolk Island, having been absent just four weeks.  Lieutenant-governor King continued extremely ill.