.

Some villain stabbed a very fine sow which was near farrowing,
on the 18th, but though the strictest enquiry was made, I could
not discover who was the perpetrator of this atrocious act.

Most of the labourers were now employed in cutting down,
gathering, and cleaning the Indian corn, a vast quantity of which
was destroyed by the parroquets, although men were constantly
employed in beating them off with long poles.

A greater number of people were sick during this month, than
had been the case since my landing on the island. The complaint,
in general, was a diarrhoea, but those who had this disorder were
soon recovered. The surgeon was of opinion that the great change
of weather which had happened, joined to the great quantity of
vegetables that were daily consumed, was the cause of this
sickness.

The appearance of a vessel in the road at day-light in the
morning of the 29th, caused the greatest acclamations of joy
through the whole settlement; every person imagining that ships
had arrived from England; especially as the Supply had been with
us so recently: but, presently afterwards, we perceived it to be
that vessel; and on receiving my letters from the governor, I
found that no ships had arrived from our native country; which
piece of intelligence being circulated through the settlement, a
dejection took place equal to the joy that was visible a short
time before.

Twenty-two male convicts and one female arrived by the Supply,
but no provisions were sent along with them, there being only a
sufficient quantity at Port Jackson to serve until the latter end
of May, at the present allowance; and as our crops had been good,
and our resources, with respect to fish and vegetables, were
greater than at Port Jackson, the governor had thought proper to
send this additional number of convicts.

Our present numbers were now as follow, viz.

Civil and military, 32
Male convicts, 79
Female convicts, 33
Children, 5
Total 149

I was also informed by Governor Phillip, that as it was
necessary for the Sirius to have her full complement of officers,
he had ordered me to be discharged from that ship; and had
appointed Mr. Newton Fowell to be second-lieutenant in my room,
and Mr. Henry Waterhouse to be third-lieutenant, instead of
Lieutenant George William Maxwell, who was reported by the
surgeons to be insane.

Having received all the convicts from the Supply, and sent my
letters for