Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 2.djvu/77

THE SECOND FLEET. 61 the country before either of the charges came on for trials '^'^ and no farther trace of their movements can now be f onnd. Apparently no attempt was made to refute the charges '^^Lj-to until some months afterwards. In WoodfalVs Register of ^^SSiivea. the 4th August, 1792,* the contractors (Messrs. Camden, Calvert, and King) published a copy of their instructions to the captain of the Neptune, accompanied by a '^ Statement of tie proceedings of Donald Trail, master of the Neptune, during his passage to Port Jackson.'^t This statement bears no signature, but contains internal evidence of having been written by an eye-witness. It was stated therein that the mtreat- •' •' , mentof convicts had been ironed with the cognisance and under «*°]^ the inspection of the Government Agent (Lieutenant Shap- cote), and that those who were of good character or sick were exempt. Abundant opportunities, it was alleged, had been afforded for the convicts to get fresh air and exercise. In regard to the provisions, the whole responsibility was cast upon the Government Agent, who attended in person to the serving of provisions. Three pints of fresh water, convicts' in addition to that required for cooking their food, were <>' water, allowed each convict daily. No neglect in serving out the provisions and water, regularly and to the full amount, had occurred, except on the passage from the Cape to Sydney, when it was admitted that it was occasionally prevented by excessively rough weather. The statement that convicts concealed the deaths of their comrades to share the dead men's rations was denied ; and it was claimed that had this oonoeaiinip been the case " convicts in the adjoining cabins, not re- oomradea. ceiving any advantage from the dead men's rations, would certainly have discovered and complained of dead bodies being kept amongst them."J This attempt to defend the captain is somewhat weakened by the fact that he had not sufficient confidence in it to remain in England and make it himself. Nor is this all. The The Government Agent, on whose shoulders the entire blame Agentf" • Historical Becorde, yol. ii, p. 750. f lb., p. 802. J lb., p. 806L