There not being at this time more than five months’ provision in the store at full allowance, it became necessary to issue only two-thirds of the weekly ration; and this was ordered to commence on the first of the ensuing month.  A trifling addition was made to the quantity in store, by the purchase of about seventy casks of salt provisions which the master of the Minerva had for sale.

The Francis and the Norfolk brought round from the river a quantity of timber and plank for the vessel that was building at Sydney, and for other purposes.

February.] On the first of the month the proposed alteration in the ration took place.  It has been said, that Colonel Paterson brought out with him a new arrangement of the military ration.  This, as directed by his Majesty’s regulation, consisted of, per man per diem,

PER MAN PER DIEM.

Flour or bread 11/2 lb
Beef 1 lb
or
Pork 1/2 lb
Peas 1/4 pint
Butter or Cheese 1 oz
Rice 1 oz

When the small species cannot be issued, 11/2 lb of bread or flour, and 11/2 lb of beef, or 10 oz of pork, make a complete ration.  The quantity of salt provisions at this time remaining in the store, not admitting of exempting the regiment from a reduction of the ration, they were informed that, until the store could afford to victual them again agreeable to the regulation, they would receive the same ration as the civil department; but that no stoppages from their pay would on that account take place.

One of these people, a quiet well-disposed young man, fell a victim to an attachment which he had formed with an infamous woman; who, after plundering him of every thing valuable that he possessed, turned him out of the house, to make room for another.  This treatment he could not live under; and, placing the muzzle of his gun beneath his chin, he drew the trigger with his foot, and, the contents going through his neck, instantly expired.

On the 13th, the Betsey whaler arrived from the west coast of America with 350 barrels of oil.  She was extremely leaky, and much in want of repair.  At the same time came in the Hunter bark from Calcutta, with a cargo on speculation; and on the day following, a Spanish brig which had been captured by the whaler.

Early in the morning of the 16th, the Friendship transport arrived from Ireland with convicts.  She had been fifty days in her passage from the Cape of Good Hope, where she left his Majesty’s ship Buffalo taking on board cattle for the settlement.  The convicts arrived in very good health, though the ship had been sickly previous to her reaching the Cape.