( 18 )
At Sydney Cove all the Officers are in good huts, and the men in barracks: and although many unforeseen difficulties have been met with, I believe there is not an individual, from the Governor to the private soldier, whose situation is not more eligible at this time, than he had reason to expect it could be in the course of the three years station; and it is the same with the Convicts; and those who have been any ways industrious have vegetables in plenty. The buildings now carrying on, are of brick and stone. The house intended for myself, was to consist of only three rooms; but having a good foundation, has been enlarged, contains six rooms, and is so well built, that I presume, it will stand for a great number of years.
The Stores have been lately over-run with rats; and they are frequently numerous in the garden, where they do considerable damage; and, as the loss in the Stores could only be known by removing all the provisions, that was ordered to be done; and many casks of flour and rice were found to be damaged, or totally destroyed. The loss, in these two articles, by the rats, since landing, has been more than twelve thousand weight.
No robbery has been committed for some time; and the Convicts, in general, have behaved better than I ever expected. Only two Convicts have suffered death in the last year. Faur were executed the first year.
As near two years have now passed since we first landed in this country, some judgementmay
