ut death, to a man who has resided at Batavia, is too familiar
an object to excite either terror or regret. All the people of the 'Supply'
who were left there sick, except one midshipman, had also perished in that
fatal climate.

The cargo of the snow consisted chiefly of rice, with a small quantity of
beef, pork, and flour.

A letter was received by this vessel, written by the Shebander at Batavia,
to governor Phillip, acquainting him that war had commenced between England
and Spain. As this letter was written in the Dutch language we did not find
it easy of translation. It filled us, however, with anxious perturbation,
and with wishes as impotent, as they were eager, in the cause of our
country. Though far beyond the din of arms, we longed to contribute to her
glory, and to share in her triumphs.

Placed out of the reach of attack, both by remoteness and insignificancy,
our only dread lay lest those supplies intended for our consumption should
be captured. Not, however, to be found totally unprovided in case an enemy
should appear, a battery was planned near the entrance of Sydney Cove, and
other formidable preparations set on foot.

The commencement of the year 1791, though marked by no circumstances
particularly favourable, beamed far less inauspicious than that of 1790 had
done.

January, 1791. No circumstance, however apparently trivial, which can
tend to throw light on a new country, either in respect of its present
situation, or its future promise, should pass unregarded. On the 24th of
January, two bunches of grapes were cut in the governor's garden, from
cuttings of vines brought three years before from the Cape of Good Hope.
The bunches were handsome, the fruit of a moderate size, but well filled
out and the flavour high and delicious.

The first step after unloading the Dutch snow was to dispatch the 'Supply'
to Norfolk Island for captain Hunter, and the crew of the 'Sirius' who had
remained there ever since the loss of that ship. It had always been the
governor's wish to hire the Dutchman, for the purpose of transporting them
to England. But the frantic extravagant behaviour of the master of her, for
a long time frustrated the conclusion of a contract. He was so totally
lost to a sense of reason and propriety, as to ask eleven pounds per ton,
monthly, for her use, until she should arrive from England, at Batavia.
This was treated with proper contempt; and he was at last induced to accept
twenty shilli