FROM SYDNEY COVK 613 The duty ol the people is by the Governor's consideration lessened, 1790 in proportion to their stinted allowance, and they have every after^ noon to themselves for attending to the main concern — how to subsist. His excellency has kindly taken into his mess those of Phuiip's the officers who were shipwrecked ; and his disinterested conduct ^°**""* in sharing the public inconveniences merits every encomium. Early and late do I look with anxious eyes toward the sea ; and at times, when the day was fast setting and the shadows of the evening stretched out, I have been deceived with some fantastick Fantastick little cloud, which, as it condensed or expanded by such a light, for i*^*^«* douda. a short time has amused impatient imagination into a momentary idea that it was a vessel altering her sail and position while steering in for the haven ; when, in an instant, it has assumed a form so nnlike what the mind was intent upon, or has become so greatly extended, as fully to certify me of its flimsy texture and fleeting existence. Surely our countrymen cannot altogether have forgotten us, or Foivotten have been vainly led by any silly, sanguine representations &om »'**o°»«- hence, to trust that we could make it out tolerably well without their assistance. The occasions that call me to town are only sometimes to draw provisions, which is done weekly. On these occasions I generally dine out ; for in our visitings it has long been the custom to put Dining out. your bread at least in your pocket ; and the usual form of saluta- tion is, " Will you bring your bread and come and see me ?" The Governor too, on whom I always wait when up at Camp, usually detains me to dine with him. D.S. A footnote to this letter informs us that the writer's name was Daniel Southwell ; and another note, written by the person to whom the letter was sent, contained an extract from a former letter written by Southwell, in which he described the entrance of the First Fleet into Port Jackson : — Soon after (in January, 1788) we had sight of the harbour, and The fleet at 4 p.m. were in the entrance between the north and south heads, «>°^°ff ^• the ships all standing after us. At length we saw the Supply, seemingly up in the woods amongst the trees, occasioned by the meandering windings of this beautiful harbour, and before sunset the whole of our fleet were safely anchored near our consort, in a most commodious reef known as Sidney Cove. To this note was added the following description of Port Jackson : — Though the party who had made a prior visit to this place were so warm in their praises as to draw upon themselves the charge of exaggeration, it must be confessed they did no more than justice to its merits. As a place for shipping it is perfectly Digitized by Google
