was sentenced to transportation. He is therefore to
be considered as restored to all those rights and privileges, which had
been suspended in consequence of the sentence of the law. And as such,
he is hereby appointed to act as an assistant to the surgeon at Norfolk
Island.

CHAPTER VII

Transactions of the Colony in June, July, and August, 1790.

At length the clouds of misfortune began to separate, and on the evening
of the 3rd of June, the joyful cry of "the flag's up" resounded in every
direction.

I was sitting in my hut, musing on our fate, when a confused clamour in
the street drew my attention. I opened my door, and saw several women
with children in their arms running to and fro with distracted looks,
congratulating each other, and kissing their infants with the most
passionate and extravagant marks of fondness. I needed no more; but
instantly started out, and ran to a hill, where, by the assistance of
a pocket glass, my hopes were realized. My next door neighbour, a
brother-officer, was with me, but we could not speak. We wrung each other
by the hand, with eyes and hearts overflowing.

Finding that the governor intended to go immediately in his boat down the
harbour, I begged to be of his party.

As we proceeded, the object of our hopes soon appeared: a large ship,
with English colours flying, working in, between the heads which form the
entrance of the harbour. The tumultuous state of our minds represented
her in danger; and we were in agony. Soon after, the governor, having
ascertained what she was, left us, and stepped into a fishing boat to
return to Sydney. The weather was wet and tempestuous but the body is
delicate only when the soul is at ease. We pushed through wind and rain,
the anxiety of our sensations every moment redoubling. At last we read the
word 'London' on her stern. "Pull away, my lads! She is from Old England! A
few strokes more, and we shall be aboard! Hurrah for a bellyfull, and news
from our friends!" Such were our exhortations to the boat's crew.

A few minutes completed our wishes, and we found ourselves on board
the 'Lady Juliana' transport, with two hundred and twenty-five of our
countrywomen whom crime or misfortune had condemned to exile. We learned
that they had been almost eleven months on their passage, having left
Plymouth, into which port they had put in July, 1789. We continued to ask
a thousand questions on a breath. Stimulated by curiosity, they inquired