136 PROGRESS OF THE SETTLEMENT AFTER THE ARRIVAL OF THE SECOND FLEET. 1790 Fqr some time after the arrival of the Second Fleet the Care of sick Strength of the community was employed in attending to convicts. ^YiQ sick convicts and providing for their better accommo- dation. In the letter in which he reported the arrival of the ships, Phillip, while promising Lord. Grenville that preparations should bo made for the reception of a fresh batch of one thousand convicts, explained that ^Hhe building of stores and barracks will find full employment for the few artificers in this settlement for some months, and the number of sick will employ all our carpenters for some time in pro- convict curing them shelter/'* But the cultivation of the soil was not neglected; and in the month of July, 1790, all the con- victs who were fit to leave the hospitals were sent to Rose Hill-t This was the best thing to do with men enfeebled by suffering and privation ; but although they were employed under the most favourable conditions, so far as health was concerned, their services were of little value. How little the convicts sent out in the Second Fleet contributed to the development of the country at that time is shown by the Governor's despatches to the Home Department. '^ I have increased," wrote Phillip, " the number of those employed in CT<»ringthe clearing the land for cultivation, as far as it will be possible to do it before next January, except by convalescents, from
- Historical Records, toI. i, part 2, p. 855.
t '* Such of the convicts from the ships as wore in a tolerable state of health, both male and female, were sent up to Eose Hill, to be employed in agri- culture and other labours." — Collins, vol. i, p. 125.
