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X 59
Extract of a Letter from one of the Women Convicts that sailed from England in the Lady Juliana, dated Sydney Cove, Port Jackson, July 24, 1790.
"We arrived here safe after a long voyage, in very good health, thanks to our good agent on board, and the gentleman in England who sent us out, as we had every thing that we could expect from them, and all our provisions were good. We landed here 223 women and 12 children; only three women died, and one child; five or six were born on board the ship; they had great care taken of them, and baby linen and every necessary for them, were ready made to be put on. The greatest part of the women were immediately sent to Norfolk Island, a place about 100 miles from here, but very bad for shipping; there is no place to land at but in very fine weather. The Serius man of war was lost at this place about six or seven months ago, when she carried some men and women from here; she landed them all safe, but lost almost all their provisions. This place was in a very starving condition before we arrived, and on allowance of only 2lb. of flour, and 2lb. of pork for each man for a week, and these were almost starved, and could not work but three hours in the day; they had no heart; and the ground won't grow any thing, only in spots here and there; there is a place called Rose Hill, about twenty miles from this, where they say there are four corn fields, but it does not grow much wheat; we are now much in want of almost every thing; we have hardly any cloaths; but since the Scarborough, Neptune, and Surprize arrived, we have had a blanket and a rug given us, and we hope to have some cloaths, as the Justinian, a ship that came from London with provisions, bringing some clot h and linen, and we are to make the cloaths. Oh! if you had but seen the shocking sight of the poor creatures that came out in the three ships, it would make your heart bleed; they weree almost dead; very few could stand, and they were obliged to sling them as you would goods, and hoist them out of they ship they were so feeble; and they died ten or twelve of a day when they first landed; but some of them are getting better; there died on their way here on board the Neptune, 182 men and 12 women, and in the Scarborough 67 men, and in the Surpize 85; they were not so long as we were in coming here, but they were confined and had bad victuals and stinking water; the Governor was very angry, and scolded the Captains a great deal, and I heard intended to write to London about it; for I heard him say it was mudering them - it to be sure was a melancholy sight - what a difference between us and them, God Bless our good Agent (I don't mean the Captain) we had no reason to complain against him for any thing; all our provisions and cloaths were good. I don't think I ever shall get away from this place to come again to see you, without an order from England; for some of the mens times were out, and they went and spoke to the Governor of it, and told him that they would not work; he told them he could not send them home without orders from London, and if they would not work they should have nothing to eat, so they almost all went again to work except ten, who were saucy, and the Governer ordered them a good flogging; but all that came from London in the first fleet time, will be out in less than two years time. I hope you will try to get an order for me, that I may once more see you all."
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