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'The hours of labour for the convicts are the same here as at Sydney。 On Saturdays after ten o'clock in the morning they are allowed to work in their own gardens。 These gardens are at present； from the long drought and other causes； in a most deplorable state。 Potatoes； I think； thrive better than any other vegetable in them。 For the public conveniency a baker is established here in a good bakehouse； who exchanges with every person bread for flour； on stipulated terms； but no compulsion exists for any one to take his bread； it is left entirely to every body's own option to consume his flour as he pleases。 Divine service is performed here； morning and afternoon； one Sunday in every month； when all the convicts are obliged to attend church； under penalty of having a part of their allowance of provisions stopped； which is done by the chaplain； who is a justice of the peace。
'For the punishment of offenders； where a criminal court is not judged necessary； two or more justices； occasionally assemble； and order the infliction of slight corporal punishment； or short confinement in a strong room built for this purpose。 The military present here consists of two subalterns； two sergeants； three corporals； a drummer； and twenty…one privates。 These have been occasionally augmented and reduced； as circumstances have been thought to render it necessary。
Brick…kilns are now erected here； and bricks manufactured by a convict of the name of Becket； who came out in the last fleet； and has fifty…two people to work under him。 He makes 25；000 bricks weekly。 He says that they are very good； and would sell at Birmingham； where he worked about eighteen months ago； at more than 30 shillings per thousand。
Nothing farther of public nature remaining to examine； I next visited a humble adventurer； who is trying his fortune here。 James Ruse； convict； was cast for seven years at Bodmin assizes； in August 1782。 He lay five years in prison and on board the 'Dunkirk' hulk at Plymouth； and then was sent to this country。 When his term of punishment expired； in August 1789； he claimed his freedom； and was permitted by the governor； on promising to settle in the country； to take in December following； an uncleaned piece of ground； with an assurance that if he would cultivate it； it should not be taken from him。 Some assistance was given him； to fell the timber； and he accordingly began。 His present account to me was as follows。
I was bred a husbandman； near Launcester in Cornwall。 I cleared my land as well as I could； with the help afforded me。 The exact limit of what ground I am to have； I do not yet know； but a certain direction has been pointed out to me； in which I may proceed as fast as I can cultivate。 I have now an acre and a half in bearded wheat； half an acre in maize； and a small kitchen garden。 On my wheat land I sowed three bushels of seed； the produce of this country； broad cast。 I expect to reap about twelve or thirteen bushels。 I know nothing of the cultivation of maize； and cannot therefore guess so well at what I am likely to gather。 I sowed part of my wheat in May； and part in June。 That sown in May has thrived best。 My maize I planted in the latter end of August； and the beginning of September。 My land I prepared thus： having burnt the fallen timber off the ground； I dug in the ashes； and then hoed it up； never doing more than eight； or perhaps nine； rods in a day； by which means； it was not like the government farm； just scratched over； but properly done。 Then I clod…moulded it； and dug in the grass and weeds。 This I think almost equal to ploughing。 I then let it lie as long as I could； exposed to air and sun； and just before I sowed my seed； turned it all up afresh。 When I shall have reaped my crop； I purpose to hoe it again； and harrow it fine； and then sow it with turnip…seed； which will mellow and prepare it for next year。 My straw； I mean to bury in pits； and throw in with it every thing which I think will rot and turn to manure。 I have no person to help me； at present； but my wife； whom I married in this country； she is industrious。 The governor； for some time； gave me the help of a convict man； but he is taken away。 Both my wife and myself receive our provisions regularly at the store； like all other people。 My opinion of the soil of my farm； is； that it is middling； neither good or bad。 I will be bound to make it do with the aid of manure； but without cattle it will fail。 The greatest check upon me is； the dishonesty of the convicts who； in spite of all my vigilance； rob me almost every night。
The annexed return will show the number of persons of all descriptions at Rose Hill； at this period。 On the morning of the 17th； I went down to Sydney。
Here terminates the transcription of my diary。 It were vain to suppose； that it can prove either agreeable or interesting to a majority of readers but as this work is intended not only for amusement； but information； I considered it right to present this detail unaltered； either in its style or arrangement。
A return of the number of persons employed at Rose Hill； November 16th； 1790。
… How Employed ｜ Troops ｜ Civil dept ｜ Troops ｜ Convicts ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜Wives ｜ Children｜ Men ｜ Women ｜ Children｜ … Storekeeper 1 Surgeon 1 Carpenters 24 Blacksmiths 5 Master Bricklayer 1 Bricklayers 28 Master Brickmaker 1 Brickmakers 52 Labourers 326* Assistants to the provision store 4 Assistants to the hospital 3 Officers' servants 6 Making Clothing 50 Superintendants 4 … Total number of persons 552｜ 29 ｜ 6 ｜ 1 ｜ 3 ｜ 450 ｜ 50 ｜ 13 ｜ …
＇*Of these labourers； 16 are sawyers。 The rest are variously employed in clearing fresh land； in dragging brick and timber carts； and a great number in making a road of a mile long； through the main street； to the governor's house。＇
CHAPTER XI。
Farther Transactions of the Colony in November； 1790。
During the intervals of duty； our greatest source of entertainment now lay in cultivating the acquaintance of our new friends； the natives。 Ever liberal of communication； no difficulty but of understanding each other subsisted between us。 Inexplicable contradictions arose to bewilder our researches which no ingenuity could unravel and no credulity reconcile。
Baneelon； from being accustomed to our manners； and understanding a little English； was the person through whom we wished to prosecute inquiry； but he had lately become a man of so much dignity and consequence； that it was not always easy to obtain his company。 Clothes had been given to him at various times； but he did not always condescend to wear them