Fortunate it would have proved for the settlement in general, had these and such respectable gentlemen been among the first of those whose speculative views had induced them to embark their property in these undertakings:  it would then have escaped the extortions which had been but too successfully practised by many others.

The labouring people were principally employed during this month, in repairing the devastations occasioned by the late tempestuous weather.

July.] Another instance occurred of the little effect which even capital punishments had in this profligate settlement.  On the evening of the 2nd of this month, a most horrid murder was committed upon Mr. Samuel Clode, one of the missionaries, who had flown for refuge from the savages of Otaheite to this government.  This act of more than savage barbarity was committed at the brickfields, in the house of one Jones, a soldier.  His brains were beaten out at the back of his head, with an axe, and his throat so cut as nearly to sever the head from the body, which was then dragged to a sawpit, at that time full of water, and, being thrown in, was covered over with bushes.  Here it remained only until the following morning, when it was discovered by a labouring man, who went to get his hoe; which, to prevent its being stolen, he had been in the habit of concealing in the sawpit.  Such are the directions of Providence!

Suspicion falling upon four persons, they were taken up; and, the criminal court being immediately convened, three of the number, Thomas Jones (a soldier), a woman (his wife), and John Albury (a free man), were, on the clearest evidence, convicted of the murder, and adjudged to suffer death.

It appeared upon the trial, that the trifling sum of ten pounds, which Jones had been indebted to Mr. Clode, prompted him to his destruction.  To effect this, he signified to that truly unfortunate gentleman, that if he would call at his hut in the evening he would pay him.  Not suspecting any evil design in this request, he called at the appointed time, and, while leaning over a table to draw up a receipt, received the first blow with the axe, from the hand of Jones (Albury’s resolution, for it was agreed that he should give it, failing at the moment), who, from the pecuniary transaction between them, must have been under an obligation, which he took this dreadful method of discharging.

Being convicted on the 4th, they were executed on the 6th, upon the spot where the murder had been committed.  The house was pulled down and burnt, and the bodies of the two men were hung in chains near the place.  That of the woman was delivered to the surgeons for dissection.

The abandoned state in which the settlement was at this time cannot be better understood than by a perusal of the following orders, which were issued.