pointed out to those piratical gangs who wished to make their escape from hence, what would be the fate of those who were of least use to the general plan of such gangs, that they would probably, if in danger at sea in their boat, be thrown overboard to lighten her, or be landed on some part of the coast, where, beyond a doubt, they would perish.  How far this prediction had been verified, those who were concerned in taking off the settlers’ boat, and who might now be in the settlement, could best tell.  It was well known, that they had treacherously left seven men upon a desolate island far to the southward, where they must have perished for want, had they not been discovered in a most miraculous manner.  He wished those facts to be impressed upon the minds of the whole colony; they would then probably discover in what their real interest consisted, and on what their true happiness depended.  To be honest and industrious had been often hewn to be the most certain means of procuring those blessings.

Mitton, before he was executed, confessed in a moment of penitence, that many robberies had been concerted, and were to have been committed by him and some others.  He mentioned, as their chief instigator upon these occasions, a woman of the name of Robley (the wife of a blacksmith at Sydney), who received all the property which they might collect in this way.  Dreading this discovery, she found it convenient to offer to accuse others, or she would inevitably have been convicted herself.

It was reported by a native woman from the Hawkesbury, that she had seen the two mares which were stolen some time since from Parramatta, and that they were in the neighbourhood of that river.  She also mentioned, that one of the men who went off with them had been killed by the natives, and that the other had perished with hunger.

The proprietors of this valuable article of stock were rather unfortunate in the care of it, notwithstanding the high price which it bore.  The acting commissary lost a very fine mare, through the stupidity of an Irish servant, who put a short halter round her neck, with a running knot, by which she was strangled in the night; and information had been received of the death of two foals belonging to government.  This accident proceeded from want of proper care in those who were appointed to look after them; but unfortunately, though they were often changed, the change was never found to be for the better.

When Hacking was sent to the salt-hill in the preceding month, he was accompanied by Wilson and another man, who were directed to penetrate as far into the interior of the country as the provisions which they were able to carry would permit them.  They returned after an absence of three weeks, and reported that they had been about 140 miles in a direction SW by S from Prospect Hill.  In the course of their journey they travelled over a vast variety of country, and fell in with more salt-hills.  They also met with