ge, navigable river: the surf ran mountains high, but did not
overflow the bank, although very near its level: in the road, the
sea ran very high, often eclipsing Nepean Isle.

At two in the afternoon, the gardener, two convict men, and
one woman, who lived in the vale, came to the settlement, having
narrowly escaped with their lives from the falling of trees, and
great depth of water in many parts of the valley; and their
houses, which had been built and framed with strong logs, were
blown down. Three acres of ground that had recently been cleared
were almost covered with trees: every thing in the gardens was
nearly destroyed, and an acre of Indian corn, which was in a
promising state, and nearly fit for reaping, was laid flat and
covered with water four feet deep; nay, incredible as it may
appear, the violence of the wind blew up cabbages, turnips, and
other vegetables by the roots; and what remained in the gardens
were turned as black as if they had been burnt.

At three o'clock, the wind veered round to south, and
moderated, and at sun-set, the weather was very pleasant.

It was a providential circumstance that the discovery of the
plot (as has already been related) happened previous to this
dreadful storm, as, on that account, the convicts had altogether
been employed in cutting down large trees round the settlement,
to make room for building other houses: had not this been done,
our houses would probably have been destroyed and many lives
lost, as we had no asylum or retreat whatever: fortunately,
however, only one man was hurt; he received a violent contusion
on his right side by the branch of a tree falling on him. There
was no appearance on any part of the island of such a storm
having ever happened before.

During the remainder of the month we had very pleasant
weather; the wind at south-west, but a heavy surf kept still
running.

On the 2d of March, at day-light, we saw the Supply in the
road; on which I sent Mr. Dunavan on board her: he soon returned,
bringing letters for me from Governor Phillip, who, I learnt, had
sent twenty-one men and six women convicts, with three children
in the Supply, to be landed on this island. As I had the fullest
confidence in the few free persons who were with me, I did not
hesitate one moment in receiving the additional number of
convicts who were now arrived, although some of them had very bad
characters. By the Supply I also received a bushel of potatoes,
and some s