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[Page 2]
We are ripe for change and are ready to look forward for Govr Kings arrival to be our head & ruler.
From Mr Stephen Hutchinson & Mr Wm Foyle Sept 5 1798
"All the women 2 or 3 excepted behavd themselves well & they were all well meeted.
As soon as we Came to an anchor the decks were crowded with gentlemen settlers & men Convicts, who came, some to choose Servants, & some to choose wives, as they please to call them, when those who were pitchd upon were landed the others were taken in open boats up the River to a Settlement Calld Paramata [Parramatta]. When they arrivd there the Gentlemen after picking out those they wanted for different uses gave the others their free will, to go with any man they chose, those who did not go with one man, were sent to be hut keepers, that is to take Care of huts in which there are from two to ten men, there they are Obligd to take care of the huts, while the men are at Labor, if a virtuous woman, as there may be among Female Convicts Should fall to that unfortunate lot, of being a hut keeper, I leave you to judge how disagreable it must be to her, but what must the unfortunate Creatures do, when there is no settld house here for them; as soon as they are Landed they must either go with a man who perhaps they never saw, be a hut keeper or trust to the hospitality of a stranger, some to be sure to get into places as Servants but few places here are of great advantage, & the preference is generaly given to buy a small house for oneself, & do the best a person can. For my part I think that is the best way too, but how can a woman who perhaps has been confind for 3 or 4 years & leaves England without a penny, or even clothing, give at least 9 or 10 Pound for a small house, & if she could a Lonely woman is a poor thing in a Country where there are so many villains. It is true that Government, if it is Known, will not let a woman be ill used, but yet I find it is very common for some of these villains to obtain an order for to Land a woman to live with him, & when he has had what he can get from her, & stripd her in a manner of what she had, he turns her out of doors, & picks up with another, never the less many women do well here, & if a woman can purchase a house & get a little to trade with, she may make a genteel livelyhood, many likewise make a great deal by their handywork, & those who behave themselves well get great notice taken of them. The convicts receive their provisions from the stores, salt beef salt pork & fresh pork wheat & indian Corn but have neither mill oven or seive allowd them, so those who cannot provide those necessaries pay 18 pence a bushel for grinders, pay the baker for Baking, & give the siftings for the loan of a sieve. Some of the Gentlemen buy cargoes of Liquor & monopolize the trade & sell at an exhorbitant price 20/- a bottle & the people are often obligd to take Liquor & goods at exhorbitant prices, in Payment for their Labor.