ship's company. Westerly winds prevailing, we had a long and tedious passage, though not an uncomfortable one. Friday, June 6th.-'Land ho!' I forgot to note in the proper place, that shortly after leaving Pitcairn, we changed the day of the week, that is we went forward a day, this was done to make our hebdomadal calendar coincide with that of New South Wales. During the night a very heavy squall struck the ship, and caused some consternation among the more timid; the lightning was also vivid. Sunday, June 8th.-Cloudy weather, close in with Norfolk Island; very much disappointed with its appearance from the present point of view, which is directly off the settlement, and presents a succession of hillocks and shallow ravines covered with short brown grass, but scarcely a tree to be seen. Every face wore an expression of disappointment; having been accustomed to hear the island so highly extolled. No doubt other parts have a better appearance, but this side certainly bears no comparison with our Rock in the West. "At 10 A.M., left with my family and some others in the ship's life-boat. It blew fresh, and we were nearly two hours rowing to shore. The wind being off the land during our passage, several squalls of rain occurred, and the boat leaking badly, we were thoroughly drenched, the women and children presenting a most forlorn appearance. Being conducted by Mr. Stewart to his residence, I deposited my wife there, and then returned to the pier. On my way thither, I went into the large building where our people were congregating, and seeing they were beginning to feel comfortable, I returned to the landing-place. One of the Government prisoners doing duty as a constable to prevent any one intruding into the precincts of the large building (formerly the soldiers' barracks) where our people were assembling-seeing how thoroughly drenched I was, gave me so pressing an invitation to go to his dwelling, which was adjacent, and change my clothes that I did not refuse his offer. He supplied me with a decent suit, and moreover brought me a mug of hot tea and some excellent bread and butter. All this was done so respectfully, and with such good grace that I forgot that this man was a twice convicted prisoner. He was a man, as I afterwards learned, of good education, and had formerly filled a very responsible situation in H.M.'s Customs in Ireland, but was banished for forgery. Having partially gained his freedom, he again committed some offence, for which he was exiled for life to Norfolk Island, but his good conduct had obtained him some indulgence, and he was now acting as chief constable over the ten or twelve prisoners who remained to take care of the place until our arrival. 66 Monday 9th.-Moderate weather. Everything denotes that we are in a strange country-the size of the houses-the oxen yoked to the carts, bringing our goods from the pier to the place where we reside-this same building three stories high, and each room eighteen feet in height; all and everything astonished our people. 66 Sunday 15th.-For some days little has been done towards landing anything, the 'Morayshire' being obliged from bad weather to get under way. Divine service twice in the church, which is much out of repair about the roof. Administered the Holy Communion to fifty-eight persons, but the only persons not of our community were Captain Denham and Mr. Gregorie. "There are two things in which we feel disappointed, to wit, the paucity of wood and water. There is scarcely a tree in sight from the settlement, except some dozen or two of pines planted near the Government house, and with one exception, all the water has to be raised from a few dangerous wells, sixty or seventy feet deep. We expected from what we had heard to have found many rivulets, and plenty of trees around the houses, but all stand exposed to the bleak south wind. There is wood about the vicinity of Mount Pitt and towards the Cascades—which, by-the-bye, is a misnomer, for there is very little water there-but the trees within two miles of our dwelling are few and far between. 66 Wednesday 25th.-Our boats went on board, and with the assistance of the men-of-war's boats, got the remainder of our things on shore, and in good condition. The 'Morayshire' is now ready for sea, Mr. and Mrs. Stewart embarked, with the convict establishment under his charge. The 'Herald' will also sail tomorrow. Captain Freemantle came on shore and read to me the articles respecting the cession of Norfolk Island (with certain reserves) to the community, late of Pitcairn Island. He then handed the paper over to the magistrate (Frederick Young) to be reserved as a memorial of the cession. 66 Thursday 26th.-Early this morning Capt. Mathers U |