enquiring into a charge brought against a man for coining.—Found it be a false and malicious information.
December 12.—At 10 a.m. a signal made from the station at the S.W. side of the Island, that a ship was in sight. Communicated immediately with the Calcutta. Ship proved to be the Ocean transport, Captain Matthew. She had been taken into the Colonial Government Service for four months. She brought back Mr. Collins and his boat's crew who went with him to Port Jackson with dispatches from Governor Collins. By her we learnt that there had been a Settlement formed in Van Diemen's Land, by a party of Convicts, male and female, under the command of Lieutenant Bowen, R.N., and that the Ocean and Lady Nelson which had sailed on the 28th November were to remove us there, or to any other place Governor Collins might think proper.—Early this morning, Lee and another convict, went to the Governor's garden and procured a gun and ammunition from the gardener, saying he came from the Governor, and had orders to receive it.
[This man Lee was one of Buckley's party of absconders, and the gun here mentioned was probably the one referred to in his Narrative.]
December 14.—At noon, signal made for a strange sail in sight. At 3 p.m. she came to an anchor, and proved to be the Francis schooner, from Port Jackson, sent round by Governor King to assist in removing the Settlement to Van Diemen's Land. Party under Lieutenant Tuckey returned from Western Port.
December 17.—Calcutta moved to near the harbour's mouth, preparatory to her sailing for Port Jackson.
December 18.—Calcutta sailed, and I took leave of Captain Woodriff and all those I knew on board.
December 25.—Christmas Day. The Governor, the Civil and Military Officers, convicts, &c., attended Divine Service. Publicly baptized Sergeant Thomas's child, the first born at the Settlement. The Governor named him Hobart. Last night a
