elivered in London. She was then hired as a transport,
reladen, and sailed for New South Wales. Let it be remembered, that no
material accident had happened to either vessel. But what will not zeal and
diligence accomplish!]

Good fortune continued to befriend us. Before the end of the month, three
more transports, having on board two companies of the New South Wales
corps, arrived to add to our society. These ships also brought out a large
body of convicts, whose state and sufferings will be best estimated by the
following return.

Names of No. of people No. of persons who died No. landed sick
Ships embarked on the passage at Port Jackson

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Neptune 530 163 269

Surprise 252 42 121

Scarborough 256 68 96

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1038 273 486

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N.B. Of those landed sick, one hundred and twenty-four died in the hospital
at Sydney.

On our passage from England, which had lasted more than eight months and
with nearly an equal number of persons, only twenty-four had died, and
not thirty were landed sick. The difference can be accounted for, only by
comparing the manner in which each fleet was fitted out and conducted. With
us the provisions, served on board, were laid in by a contractor, who sent
a deputy to serve them out; and it became a part of duty for the officers
of the troops to inspect their quality, and to order that every one
received his just proportion. Whereas, in the fleet now arrived, the
distribution of provisions rested entirely with the masters of the
merchantmen, and the officers were expressly forbidden to interfere in any
shape farther about the convicts than to prevent their escape.

Seventeen pounds, in full of all expense, was the sum paid by the public
for the passage of each person. And this sum was certainly competent to
afford fair profit to the merchant who contracted. But there is reason
to believe, that some of those who were employed to act for him, violated
every principle of justice, and rioted on the spoils of misery, for want of
a controlling pow