Eleven acres of wheat were now up in Arthur’s Vale, and had a very promising appearance:  every vegetable in the gardens were also in a thriving state.

Nothing material happened in the course of this month until the 28th, when a tree fell on John Bryant, a convict, which bruised his head so much that he died two hours afterwards.  This man was one among the very few honest convicts which I had on the island.

Two bushels of seed wheat, being the remaining part of what I had left, was sown this day, on the sides of Mount George, on two acres of ground.  Most of the marines who came to the island with Lieutenant Cresswell, had now very comfortable huts and good gardens.

In the month of August we had, in general, heavy gales of wind, chiefly at north-west and south-west, attended with rain.

The general employment of the convicts was now as follows: 

Clearing away ground for cultivation and other necessary work 30
Sawyers sawing scantlings, and boards for buildings 2 2 free. 
Carpenters building a house for Lieutenant Cresswell 2 1 free. 
Blacksmith making and repairing necessary iron work 1 1 free. 
Coblemen fishing 3
Gardeners 2 1 free. 
Making shingles 4
Schoolmaster 1, officers servants 3, care of stock 1 5
Total 49 5

The 12th, being the anniversary of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales’s birth-day, the colours were hoisted at sun-rise, and it was observed with the same ceremony as his Majesty’s birth-day, except giving liquor to the convicts, as their recent behaviour, with regard to thefts, had totally excluded them from that indulgence.  As the wheat in Arthur’s Vale grew very rank, I was advised to crop it, which was done on the 13th:  however, I let three acres remain in order to see which way it would be most productive.

The carpenters having finished the shell of Lieutenant Cresswell’s house, I employed them in building an addition to the back part of my habitation, as I was apprehensive of its being blown down by the violent south-west winds, which were now almost constant.  After divine service on the 16th, (Sunday) the following orders were read for preserving regularity and good order among the inhabitants of the island.

ORDERS

I. All persons on the island are regularly to attend muster and divine service, unless prevented by sickness:  a disobedience of this order will be punished by extra-work, or by stopping a day’s provisions for the first offence; which, if repeated, will be punished by corporal chastisement.

II.  No persons are to absent themselves from their quarters, either by night or day, except they have obtained leave, or are going to their respective work; and if any one is observed lurking about after the watch is set, he will be fired at by the centinel.