THE FLEET AT SEA. 63 The procuring fresh meat being absolutely necessary, and wish- 1787 iug that it would be done with as little expense to Grovemment as June, possible, I have ordered bread to bo issued to the marines and convicts from the store-ships, for it could not be got here but at a veiy high price. The butter intended for the use of the garrison will be good for very little, and much wasted before we land from Butter being in single firkins. A proportion of butter I have therefore ordered also to be served while we remain here, and by which means the marines and convicts will have fresh provisions at a less expense to Government (including the value of the biscuit and butter) than if they had continued on salt provisions. As we have sailed without either musquet cartridges for the use Ammnni- of the garrison, or paper or ball to make them, we shall have none S^^g^^ but what little the Sirius can supply. This I have mentioned in my letter to Lord Sydney. Nor have we any tools to keep the small arms in repair, the want of which will put us to many inconveniences. In my letter by the Hytena I mentioned the apprehensions the officers of the Scarborough were under, and tho' I did not think a scare, they had reason to be seriously alarmed, as some of the convicts had behaved very ill, two of the supposed ringleaders were ordered on board the Sirius, punished, and then sent on board the Prince of Wales, where they still remain. In general the convicts have Good behaved well. I saw them all yesterday for the first time ; they ^"b«»t!i. are quiet and contented, tho' there are amongst them some compleat villains. I shall sail the moment the transports havecompleated their water, and hope that will be done by Saturday or Sunday. The Spanish Spanish packet that sails this afternoon gives me this opportunity of writing, **^ ^ * and I shall leave duplicate to be forwarded by the next convey- ance, as it will be a very considerable time after this before I shall have an opportunity of writing again. As the store-ships cannot receive any more wine for tho garrison, Rum. spirits will be procured for them at Rio de Janeiro. Tbe next port at whicb they touched was that of Rio de Janeiro, where they anchored on the 6th August and At rio. remained till the 4th September. The time was pleasantly spent by the English officers, the Viceroy insisting on show- ing his guests every possible mark of attention — ^Phillip Digitized by Google
