As soon as off the capes, the governor set about a serious investigation of the state of his affairs.  In the way of cargo, a great many articles had been laid in, which experience told him would be useful.  He took with him such farming tools as Friend Abraham White had not thought of furnishing to the natives of Fejee, and a few seeds that had been overlooked by that speculating philanthropist.  There were half a dozen more cows on board, as well as an improved breed of hogs.  Mark carried out, also, a couple of mares, for, while many horses could never be much needed in his islands, a few would always be exceedingly useful.  Oxen were much wanted, but one of his new colonists had yoked his cows, and it was thought they might be made useful, in a moderate degree, until their stouter substitutes could be reared.  Carts and wagons were provided in sufficient numbers.  A good stock of iron in bars was laid in, in addition to that which was wrought into nails, and other useful articles.  Several thousand dollars in coin were also provided, being principally in small pieces, including copper.  But all the emigrants took more or less specie with them.

A good deal of useful lumber was stowed in the lower hold, though the mill by this time furnished a pretty good home supply.  The magazine was crammed with ammunition, and the governor had purchased four light field-guns, two three-pounders and two twelve-pound howitzers, with their equipments.  He had also brought six long, iron twelves, ship-guns, with their carriages &c.  The last he intended for his batteries, the carronades being too light for steady work, and throwing their shot too wild for a long range.  The last could be mounted on board the different vessels.  The Rancocus, also, had an entire new armament, having left all her old guns but two behind her.  Two hundred muskets were laid in, with fifty brace of pistols.  In a word, as many arms were provided as it was thought could, in any emergency, become necessary.

But it was the human portion of his cargo that the governor, rightly enough, deemed to be of the greatest importance.  Much care had been bestowed on the selection, which had given all concerned in it not a little trouble.  Morals were the first interest attended to.  No one was received but those who bore perfectly good characters.  The next thing was to make a proper division among the various trades and pursuits of life.  There were carpenters, masons, blacksmiths, tailors, shoemakers, &c., or, one of each, and sometimes more.  Every ’man was married, the only exceptions being in the cases of younger brothers and sisters, of whom about a dozen were admitted along with their relatives.  The whole of the ships’ betwixt decks was fitted up for the reception of these emigrants, who were two hundred and seven in number, besides children.  Of the last there were more than fifty, but they were principally of an age to allow of their being put into holes and corners.