His Majesty’s birthday passed with the usual marks of distinction.  The regiment fired three vollies on their own parade, and the convicts were allowed the day to themselves.  On this occasion also the lieutenant-governor caused twelve of the largest hogs which had been received by the Daedalus, to be killed and divided among the military, superintendants, and sick at the hospital; sufficient being given to the latter for two days.

Notwithstanding the purchases of provisions which had fortunately been made from the Philadelphia brigantine before governor Phillip’s departure, and since that time from the Hope and from the Shah Hormuzear, the lieutenant-governor found it necessary on the 12th of the month to give notice, ’That unless supplies arrived before the 22nd he should be under the disagreeable necessity of ordering the ration to be reduced on that day.’

A view of the provisions remaining in store here and at Parramatta on the 24th of last month (the date of the return sent home by the commissary in the Kitty) will evince the necessity of such an alteration.

On the 24th of May there were in store

Of Flour 137,944 lbs
Of Wheat 154,560 lbs
Of Paddy 49,248 lbs

making a total of three hundred and forty-one thousand seven hundred and fifty-two pounds of grain; which, at the established ration of eight pounds per man per week, would last six weeks and three days.

Beef 93,969 lbs
Pork 125,178 lbs

which, at the ration of seven pounds of beef, or four pounds of pork, per man per week, would last, the beef five weeks, and the pork eleven weeks and a half.

There was also in store, though not at present issued, the Indian corn rendering it unnecessary, seventy-one thousand two hundred and eighty pounds of grain and peas; which, at the allowance of three pints per man per week, would last eight weeks and a half, and nineteen thousand eight hundred pounds of sugar; which, at six ounces per man per week, would last eighteen weeks and a half.  This latter article had been issued since the beginning of the last month, when it was served as an equivalent for oil.

It must be remarked, that but for the purchases which had most fortunately been made of provisions, the colony must at this moment have been again groaning under the oppression of a very reduced ration.

From the Philadelphia were purchased Beef 109,817 lbs. 
From the Hope were purchased Beef 38,600 lbs. 
From the Shah Hormuzear were purchased Beef 107,988 lbs.
                                            -------
Total of Beef 256,405 lbs.

From the Hope were purchased Pork            15,600 lbs.
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Whole quantity purchased                    272,005 lbs.

of which, deducting the quantity remaining, we shall be found to have then consumed fifty-two thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight pounds, something more than equal to one-fifth part.