490 THE FIRST FLEET. The Sirius. The Supply, sailed very Ul. Transports and store- ships. Contracts. Lieutenant Shortland. Inside the transports. for an east-country ship ; and in loading her, she took fire and w^as burnt down to her wales. The Government wanting a roomy vessel to carry stores abroad, in 1781, purchased her bottom, which was rebuilt with such stuff as, during. the wsCr, could be found. She went two Voyages as the Berwick store-ship ; and, without any repairs, she was reported, when the present expedition was thought of, as fit for the voyage to New Holland, when she was named the Sirius. Experience, however^ evinced that she was altogether adequate to the service for which she was destined ; and carried her crew safe through one of the most tremendous gales, on a lee shore, that the oldest seamen remembered."] The Supply, armed tender, of 170 tons, 8 guns, and 50 men, commanded by Lieutenant H. L. Ball, was formerly a navy trans- port ; her size is much too small for so long a voyage, which, added to her not being able to carry any quantity of provisions, and her sailing very ill, renders her a very improper vessel for this service. The transports taken up for ye service are as follows, as well as their complements of seamen, marines, and convicts, embarked on board them at the time of our leaving England : — Alexander, 452 tons, 30 seamen, 35 marines, 194 convicts ; Lady Penrhyn, 333 tons, 30 seamen, 3 officers of marines, 101 female convicts; Charlotte, 335 tons, 30 seamen, 42 marines, 86 male and 20 female convicts ; Scarboro', 430 tons, 30 seamen, 44 marines, 205 male convicts; Friendship, 274 tons, 25 seamen, 40 marines, 76 male and 21 female convicts ; Prince of Wales, 350 tons, — seamen, 29 marines, 2 male and 47 female convicts; Fishbum, victualler and agent's ship, of 378 tons, 22 men ; Golden Grove, ditto, of 375 tons, 22 men ; Borradale, ditto, of 275 tons, 22 men. The terms of the contracts with the owners of the above ships are ten shillings per ton per month till their arrival at Deptfoid, except the Lady Penrhyn, Charlotte, and Scarboro', which ships are no longer in the service when they are cleared of their cargoes at Botany Bay, and from that time their contract ceases with Government and they begin a new one with the East India Com- pany, on whose account they go to China for a cargo of tea to carry to England. Lieutenant Shortland of the navy has the appointment of agent of transports, and is to return to England with the other three transpoits and ye three store-ships the instant the Governor has no further occasion for them. The transports are fitted up for the convicts the same as for carrying troops, except the security, which consists in very strong and thick bulk-heads, filled with nails and run across 'tween decks from side to side abaft the main-mast, with loopholes to fire between decks in case of irregularities. The hatches are well- secured down by cross-bars, bolts, and locks, and are likewise railed round from deck to deck with oak stanchion& There is also a barricade of plank about three feet high abaft the main-mast, to Digitized by Google
