s arms, and
running to the spot, fired on the natives, who retired to some
distance.

As soon as this affair was known at Parramatta, a party of
soldiers were detached, who, getting sight of about fifty of the
natives, obliged them to disperse.

This circumstance induced Governor Phillip to deviate from the
royal instructions, which pointed out in what manner the
allotments of land were to be made; and as the only means of
enabling the settlers to defend themselves against similar
accidents, he granted all those intermediate lands which had been
reserved for the use of the crown, to the settlers: by this
means, all the land would be cleared of timber, so that the
natives could find no shelter, and, in all probability, there
would be little danger from them in future: however, a
noncommissioned officer and three privates were detached to each
settlement, with orders to remain there until the lands were
cleared.

In making this arrangement, no additional ground was given to
the settler, but their allotments were brought more into a
square, and the ground not occupied at present, would be granted
to others in future. When these settlers were placed at such a
distance from Parramatta, it was on account of the soil being
good, and that their live stock and gardens might not be so
liable to depredations as they would have been if nearer the
town.

On the 1st of August, the Matilda transport anchored at
Sydney, with cloathing, provisions, and two hundred and five male
convicts. She sailed from England on the 27th of the preceding
March, in company with four others, and parted with them the
first night. Although this ship had made so good a passage, she
buried twenty-four convicts; twenty were sick, and many were in
so emaciated a state, that scarcely any labour could be expected
from them for some months. The Matilda had lost three days in
endeavouring to get into St. Jago; she lay nine days at the Cape
of Good Hope, and was two days at anchor on the Coast of New
South Wales, within an island in the latitude of 42 deg. 15'
south, where the master found very good anchorage and shelter for
five or six vessels. This island, by the master's account, lies
twelve miles from the main.

Off Cape Dromedary, he saw a small island, which bore
south-west by west, seven miles from the cape; within which, he
was of opinion, two or three ships would find good shelter. An
ensign and twenty privates, of the corps raised for the serv