on the public ground, they might be a resource, though an inconsiderable one.  Fortunately, no misfortune of that nature had ever fallen upon the colony; but it had been, at the beginning of this month, very near experiencing a calamity that would have blasted all the prospects of the next season, and in one moment have rendered ineffectual the labour of many hands and of many months.  Two days after the wheat had been reaped, and got off the ground at Toongabbie, the whole of the stubble was burnt.  The day on which this happened had been unusually hot, and the country was every where on fire.  Had it befallen us while the wheat was upon the ground, nothing could have saved the whole from being destroyed.  From this circumstance, however, one good resulted; precautions against a similar accident were immediately taken, by clearing the timber for a certain distance round the cultivated land.

[* Some few had been added since the surveyor’s return of the 16th October.]

The stock belonging to the public was kept at Parramatta.  It consisted of three bulls*, two bull calves, fifteen cows, three calves, five stallions, six mares, one hundred and five sheep, and forty-three hogs.

[* Two from Calcutta, and one which was calved on board the Gorgon.]

Of the sheep, the governor gave to each of the married settlers from the convicts, and to each settler from the marines, and from the Sirius, one ewe for the purpose of breeding; and to others he gave such female goats as could be spared.  This stock had been procured at much expense; and his excellency hoped that the people among whom he left it would see the advantage it might prove to them, and cherish it accordingly.

His excellency, at embarking on board the Atlantic, was received near the wharf on the east-side, (where his boat was lying), by Major Grose, at the head of the New South Wales corps, who paid him, as he passed, the honors due to his rank and situation in the colony.  He was attended by the officers of the civil department, and the three marine officers who were to accompany him to England.

At daylight on the morning of the 11th, the Atlantic was got under way, and by eight o’clock was clear of the Heads, standing to the ESE with a fresh breeze at south.  By twelve o’clock she had gained a considerable offing.

With the governor there embarked, voluntarily and cheerfully, two natives of this country, Bennillong and Yem-mer-ra-wan-nie, two men who were much attached to his person; and who withstood at the moment of their departure the united distress of their wives, and the dismal lamentations of their friends, to accompany him to England, a place that they well knew was at a great distance from them.”

One or two convicts also who had conducted themselves to his satisfaction, and whose periods of transportation were expired, were permitted by the governor to return to England in the same ship with himself.