The Swallow Packet arrives on her way to China
Articles sold
The Minerva arrives from Ireland with convicts
The Fhynne from Bengal
Three settlers tried for murdering two natives
Assessment fixed to complete the gaol
February
Military rations
A soldier shoots himself
A whaler from America, with a Spanish vessel, her prize
The Hunter from Calcutta
The Friendship with Irish convicts arrives
Inutility of some of these prisoners
Clothing issued
Tax on spirits to complete the gaol
Transactions
A new magazine begun
March
The Reliance sails for England
A mountain eagle shot
The Martha arrives from Bass Strait
Settlers sell their sheep
Flood occasioned by bad weather
April
Criminal court held
The Speedy arrives from England with Lieutenant-Governor King
The Buffalo from the Cape
Regulations

1800.] January.] On the third day of this month, the Swallow, East-India packet, anchored in the cove, on her voyage to China.  She brought information of the capture of the Dutch fleet in the Texel, and the surrender of the forts upon the Helder.  This intelligence was announced to the settlement in a public order, and by a discharge of the cannon on the batteries.  The Swallow on her anchoring saluted the fort, which was returned.

In addition to this welcome news, she had on board a great variety of articles for sale, which were intended for the China market; but the master thought and actually found it worth his while to gratify the inhabitants, particularly the females, with a display of many elegant articles of dress from Bond Street, and other fashionable repositories of the metropolis.  She remained here nearly three weeks, taking her departure for China on the 21st.

Previous to her sailing (on the 11th) the Minerva transport arrived from Ireland, with a cargo, not of elegancies from Bond Street, but 162 male and 26 female convicts from the gaols of that kingdom:  all of whom were in perfect health, their treatment and management on board doing the highest credit to the master, the surgeon, and his officers; three only having died during the passage.  She was chartered for Bengal; and, as the season was early for her proceeding upon that voyage, the governor, being desirous of dividing this description of people as much as possible, would have sent her on with them to Norfolk Island; but no provision having been made, as had sometimes been the case, for her proceeding thither under the charter-party, he did not choose to give the sum which the master demanded.  And having learned that another ship, the Friendship, had sailed at the same time from Ireland, he determined to land the convicts and wait her arrival.

It was much wished that a clause should be inserted in every charter-party, enabling the governor to send the convicts to Norfolk Island in the ship that brought them out, if he should see occasion; as the difficulty with which they were got together for that purpose, when once landed, was inconceivable.