ing into and plundering a houſe; for which he ſuffered death. Before he was turned off he confeſſed that he had committed ſeveral thefts, to which he had been induced by bad connections, and pointed out two women who had received part of the property for the acquiſition of which he was then about to pay ſo dear a price. Theſe women were immediately apprehended, and one of them made a public example of, in the hope of deterring others from offending in the like manner. The convicts being all aſſembled for muſter, ſhe was directed to ſtand forward; and her head having been previouſly deprived of its natural covering, ſhe was clothed with a canvas frock, on which was painted, in large characters R.S.G. (Receiver of Stolen Goods,) and threatened with puniſhment if ever ſhe was ſeen without it. This, was done in the idea that ſhame might operate, at leaſt with the female part of the priſoners, to the prevention of crimes; but a great number of both ſexes had too long been acquainted with each other in ſcenes of diſgrace, for this kind of puniſhment to work much reformation among them. This, however, muſt be underſtood to be ſpoken only of the loweſt claſs of theſe people, among whom the commiſſion of offences was chiefly found to exiſt; for there were convicts of both ſexes who were never known to aſſociate with the common herd, and whoſe conduct was marked by attention to their labour, and obedience to the orders which they received.
On the 11th, the Governor ſet off with a ſmall party in boats, to examine the different branches of Botany Bay, and, after an excurſion of five days, returned, well ſatisfied that no part of that extenſive bay was adapted to the purpoſe of a ſettlement? thus fully confirming the reports which he had received from others, and the opinion that he had himſelf formed.
A convict having been found dead in the woods, an enquiry into the cauſe of his death was made; when it appeared from the evidence of the ſurgeon who opened him, and of the people who lived with the deceaſed, that he died through want of nouriſhment. It ſeemed that he had not for more than a week paſt eaten his allowance of pro-
