une) an accident happened, which I record with much
regret. The whole of our black cattle, consisting of five cows and a
bull, either from not being properly secured, or from the negligence
of those appointed to take care of them, strayed into the woods, and in
spite of all the search we have been able to make, are not yet found.
As a convict of the name of Corbet, who was accused of a theft, eloped
nearly at the same time, it was at first believed, that he had taken the
desperate measure of driving off the cattle, in order to subsist on them
as long as possible; or perhaps to deliver them to the natives. In this
uncertainty, parties to search were sent out in different directions;
and the fugitive declared an outlaw, in case of not returning by a fixed
day. After much anxiety and fatigue, those who had undertaken the task
returned without finding the cattle. But on the 21st of the month,
Corbet made his appearance near a farm belonging to the Governor, and
entreated a convict, who happened to be on the spot, to give him some
food, as he was perishing for hunger. The man applied to, under pretence
of fetching what he asked for, went away and immediately gave the
necessary information, in consequence of which a party under arms was
sent out and apprehended him. When the poor wretch was brought in, he
was greatly emaciated and almost famished. But on proper restoratives
being administered, he was so far recovered by the 24th, as to be able
to stand his trial, when he pleaded Guilty to the robbery with which he
stood charged, and received sentence of death. In the course of repeated
examinations it plainly appeared, he was an utter stranger to the place
where the cattle might be, and was in no shape concerned in having
driven them off.

Samuel Peyton, convict, for having on the evening of the King's
birth-day broke open an officer's marquee, with an intent to commit
robbery, of which he was fully convicted, had sentence of death passed
on him at the same time as Corbet; and on the following day they were
both executed, confessing the justness of their fate, and imploring the
forgiveness of those whom they had injured. Peyton, at the time of his
suffering, was but twenty years of age, the greatest part of which
had been invariably passed in the commission of crimes, that at length
terminated in his ignominious end. The following letter, written by a
fellow convict to the sufferer's unhappy mother, I shall make no apology
fo