mprized in as few pages as possible.
By the professional part of my readers this will be deemed judicious;
and the rest will not, I believe, be dissatisfied at its brevity. I beg
leave, however, to say of the astronomical calculations, that they
may be depended on with the greatest degree of security, as they were
communicated by an officer, who was furnished with instruments, and
commissioned by the Board of Longitude, to make observations during the
voyage, and in the southern hemisphere.

An unpractised writer is generally anxious to bespeak public attention,
and to solicit public indulgence. Except on professional subjects,
military men are, perhaps, too fearful of critical censure. For the
present narrative no other apology is attempted, than the intentions of
its author, who has endeavoured not only to satisfy present curiosity,
but to point out to future adventurers, the favourable, as well as
adverse circumstances which will attend their settling here. The candid,
it is hoped, will overlook the inaccuracies of this imperfect sketch,
drawn amidst the complicated duties of the service in which the Author
is engaged, and make due allowance for the want of opportunity of
gaining more extensive information.

Watkin Tench, Capt. of the Marines.

Sydney Cove, Port Jackson, New South Wales, 10 July, 1788.

CHAPTER I

From the Embarkation of the Convicts, to the Departure of the Ships from
England.

The marines and convicts having been previously embarked in the River,
at Portsmouth, and Plymouth, the whole fleet destined for the expedition
rendezvoused at the Mother Bank, on the 16th of March 1787, and remained
there until the 13th of May following. In this period, excepting a
slight appearance of contagion in one of the transports, the ships were
universally healthy, and the prisoners in high spirits. Few complaints
or lamentations were to be heard among them, and an ardent wish for the
hour of departure seemed generally to prevail.

As the reputation, equally with the safety of the officers and
soldiers appointed to guard the convicts, consisted in maintaining due
subordination, an opportunity was taken, immediately on their being
embarked, to convince them, in the most pointed terms, that any attempt
on their side, either to contest the command, or to force their escape,
should be punished with instant death; orders to this effect were given
to the centinels in their presence; happily, however,