ts of the colony The utility and interest of
such an establishment were speedily and universally acknowledged;
and its commencement was soon succeeded by the publication of an
almanack, and other works calculated to suit the general taste
and increase the general stock of amusement. The general orders
were also issued through the medium of the press, and a vigilant
eye was kept upon it, to prevent the appearance of any thing
which could tend to shake those principles of morality and
subordination, on the due preservation of which depended the
individual happiness, and the public security of the settlement;
and which could be in no danger of subversion, until the press
should become prostituted to base designs--a period much and
sincerely to be deprecated by every real friend to the
colony.

In the month of August, a most inhuman murder was committed on
the body of Joseph Luken, a constable, who, after going off his
watch at the government-house, was beset by some villains who
still remain undiscovered, and who buried the hilt of his own
cutlass very deeply in his head. I was the second person at the
spot, where the body of the unfortunate man was discovered; and,
in attempting to turn the corpse, my fore-finger penetrated
through a hole in the skull, into the brains of the deceased.
Every possible search was made to discover the vile perpetrators
of this diabolical act, but to no purpose, the measures of escape
had been too well planned to be thwarted. Even the governor
himself attended, and gave directions for the drums to beat to
arms; the military to stop all avenues leading from the town, and
different officers to search every house; but, although several
were apprehended, no conviction could be brought home. Soon
afterwards, another murder was committed on the body of a man
belonging to one of the colonial craft, named Boylan. It appeared
that he had been in a part of the town, called "The
Rocks," and had been struck with some heavy weapon on the
head, of which he immediately died. Upon this occasion, I sat as
foreman of the jury, which was summoned soon after daylight, and
continued to sit until nearly one o'clock the next morning, when
two men and a woman were committed for trial; and a third man, in
the progress of the investigation, was sent to gaol for
prevarication. When the prisoners were arraigned at the bar, they
all pleaded "Not guilty;" and, after an impartial
trial, were acquitted. The singularity a