This necessary interval was very usefully employed, in making the convicts fully sensible of the nature of their situation; in pointing out to them the advantages they would derive from good conduct, and the certainty of severe and immediate punishment in case of turbulence or mutiny.  Useful regulations were at the same time established for the effectual governing of these people; and such measures were taken as could not fail to render abortive any plan they might be desperate enough to form for resisting authority, seizing any of the transports, or effecting, at any favourable period, an escape.  We have, however, the testimony of those who commanded, that their behaviour, while the ships remained in port, was regular, humble, and in all respects suitable to their situation:  such as could excite neither suspicion nor alarm, nor require the exertion of any kind of severity.

When the fleet was at length prepared for sailing, the complement of convicts and marines on board the transports was thus arranged.  The Friendship carried a Captain and forty-four marines, subalterns and privates, with seventy-seven male and twenty female convicts.  The Charlotte, a Captain and forty-three men, with eighty-eight male and twenty female convicts.  In the Alexander, were two Lieutenants and thirty-five marines, with two hundred and thirteen convicts, all male.  In the Scarborough, a Captain and thirty-three marines, with male convicts only, two hundred and eight in number.  The Prince of Wales transport had two Lieutenants and thirty marines, with an hundred convicts, all female.  And the Lady Penrhyn, a Captain, two Lieutenants, and only three privates, with one hundred and two female convicts.  Ten marines, of different denominations, were also sent as supernumeraries on board the Sirius.  The whole complement of marines, including officers, amounted to two hundred and twelve; besides which, twenty-eight women, wives of marines, carrying with them seventeen children, were permitted to accompany their husbands.  The number of convicts was seven hundred and seventy-eight, of whom five hundred and fifty-eight were men.  Two, however, on board the Alexander, received a full pardon before the departure of the fleet, and consequently remained in England.

13 May 1787

Governor Phillip, on his arrival at the station, hoisted his flag on board the Sirius, as Commodore of the squadron:  and the embarkation being completed, and the time requiring his departure, at day break on the 13th of May, he gave the signal to weigh anchor.  To the distance of about an hundred leagues clear of the channel, his Majesty’s frigate Hyena, of twenty-four guns, was ordered to attend the fleet, in order to bring intelligence of its passage through that most difficult part of the voyage; with any dispatches which it might be requisite for the Governor to send home.

20 May 1787