e besides maize; wheat
is so much less productive. Of the culture of vineyards and tobacco he is
ignorant; and, with great good sense, he declared that he would not quit
the path he knew, for an uncertainty. His livestock consists of four
breeding sows and thirty fowls. He has been taken from the store (that is,
has supplied himself with provisions) for some months past; and his wife
is to be taken off at Christmas, at which time, if he deems himself able to
maintain a convict labourer, one is to be given to him.

Crossed the river in a boat to Robert Webb's farm. This man was one of
the seamen of the 'Sirius', and has taken, in conjunction with his brother
(also a seaman of the same ship) a grant of sixty acres, on the same terms
as Ruse, save that the annual quit-rent is to commence at the expiration of
five years, instead of ten. The brother is gone to England to receive the
wages due to them both for their services, which money is to be expended
by him in whatever he judges will be most conducive to the success of their
plan. Webb expects to do well; talks as a man should talk who has just set
out on a doubtful enterprise which he is bound to pursue. He is sanguine
in hope, and looks only at the bright side of the prospect. He has received
great encouragement and assistance from the governor. He has five acres
cleared and planted with maize, which looks thriving, and promises to yield
a decent crop. His house and a small one adjoining for pigs and poultry
were built for him by the governor, who also gave him two sows and seven
fowls, to which he adds a little stock of his own acquiring.

Near Webb is placed William Read, another seaman of the 'Sirius', on the
same terms, and to whom equal encouragement has been granted.

My survey of Rose Hill is now closed. I have inspected every piece of
ground in cultivation here, both public and private, and have written from
actual examination only.

But before I bade adieu to Rose Hill, in all probability for the last
time of my life, it struck me that there yet remained one object of
consideration not to be slighted: Barrington had been in the settlement
between two and three months, and I had not seen him.

I saw him with curiosity. He is tall, approaching to six feet, slender, and
his gait and manner, bespeak liveliness and activity. Of that elegance and
fashion, with which my imagination had decked him (I know not why), I
could distinguish no trace. Great allowance shou