- D'Arcj Wentworth, who I am informed behaves Yell, had^
a promise of being permitted to return to this settlement, and if he has not forfeited the good character which has been given of him, you will permit him to retm-n/' Yet D'Arcy Wentwortli had inmiigrated to the colony as a cabin passenger, and had never been under any control except that which any visitor to the convict colony eucomitered. He was indeed engaged as Assistant-Surgeon a few weeks after his arrivaL King, in Dee. 1791, reported that in that capacity he **bad always beliaved with the greatest pro- priety and attention/" and l)eing ** persuaded that he would acquit himself of the charge with fidelity " he appointed him a superintendent of convicts in the Island, in con- sideration of his *' diligence and good behaviour/' Plurality of offices, however, was discouraged by Phillip, and the active Wentwortli was remunerated only as superintendent of convicts, attending, without payment, to the health of persons in his district; for, small as was the island, it was divided into several districts, in each of which there was a superintendent of convicts. EventiuiiUy, with Governor Hunter's sanction, Wentwortli returned to Sydney (171*5), where he was to take an active part in public affairs, and to see his son WitUani become the most notable of puldic men. Communication from Norfolli: Island to Sydney was infrequent. Vessels called at the Island on tlieir way from Sydney to China or the East, but many months elapsed without direct retiu'n from the Island to Australia. Phillip therefore encouraged his subaltern to make known his wants to the Secretary of State, and deplored more than nnce his inability to send supi)lies of which he was aware that King *'must have stood in great need.'" There was scarcity of food. The '* birds of Providence" made their annual appearance (21at March, 1792), and *' to give every one an equal chance of availing himself of this providential resource," King *'c]ianged the hours of labour," to enable every man to sall.y forth at four o'clock to rush upon the birds arriving at sunset. The resolute buoyancy of Henry Dundas was at this period by the side of Pitt. The French atrocities, compared with which even those of savages grew dim ; the efforts of
- Friends of the People hi LondonjmanyotNNl<i^Xi.i'^V<ii.
