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[Page 6]
Public Expence. The state of Profligracy at which the lower Orders of the People were arriv'd is far very far beyond my description, it appeared to me that it could not possibly be Worse; it was certainly arriv'd at a pitch which was disgraceful to the Country under whose protection we live. Such Steps as appeard in my Judgement to be necessary for getting the better of our Confus'd & abandond State have been gradually adoped, and by the Establishment of a Police the good effect of which is already apparent, we are not improving int a State of Civilisation, for we were certainly of late for Worse than the Natives, Murders, Rapes, Forgerys, Thefts, Robbings & threats to oppose all authority, & to enjoy that perfection of Liberty which must have indeed in the destruction of each other, have been amongst our Crimes, but I trust we have Convinc'd those who were disposed to set all order at defiance, that we were not to be Effected in our endeavours to Establish that necessary order & obedience by threats*
Our public Stores have repeatedly, but lately been Rob'd at Sydney & the Hawkesbury, this Sir you will think rather Extraordinary because they are Guarded, but I must inform you that the Centinals were principals & have since Sufferd. Since October last our Criminal Court has Condemnd to Death Eleven or twelve Men, of whom Six were Executed, the rest Pardond but transported for Life.
I have found it necessary to increase our Number of Constables, & to Establish Watchmen who call the hour of the Night. The Towns of Sydney & Parramatta are portion'd
* I have now a Voluntary deposition in my possession, wherin it is declar'd that a Military Officer heard to harangue a Number of turbulent & refactory Irish defenders, instigating them to disobedience of a Public order whereby they were calld in from the Work of private persons to their public duty, & informing them, that he had not yet begun with the Governor, but when he did, he woud tell him what he woud not like. This was so extraordinary a piece of Conduct, that I did not incline to believe it I however expected a Visit from this Officer, & was prepard to receive him in any way he might have come, As however he did not, I sent for him, & he denied the whole