Severity was rarely exercised on them; and justice was administered without partiality or discrimination.

Their ration of provisions, except in being debarred from an allowance of spirits, was equal to that which the marines received.
Under these circumstances I record with pleasure, that they behaved better than had been predicted of them--to have expected sudden and complete reformation of conduct, were romantic and chimerical.
Our cultivation of the land was yet in its infancy.

We had hitherto tried only the country contiguous to Sydney.

Here the governor had established a government-farm; at the head of which a competent person of his own household was placed, with convicts to work under him.

Almost the whole of the officers likewise accepted of small tracts of ground, for the purpose of raising grain and vegetables: but experience proved to us, that the soil would produce neither without manure; and as this was not to be procured, our vigour soon slackened; and most of the farms (among which was the one belonging to government) were successively abandoned.
With the natives we were very little more acquainted than on our arrival in the country.