Page:An account of the English colony in New South Wales.djvu/52

 was found in several instances to have originated in an idea, that the married people would meet with various little comforts and privileges that were denied to those in a single state; and some, on not finding those expectations realised, repented, wished, and actually applied to be restored to their former situation; so ignorant and thoughtless were they in general. It was, however, to be wished that matrimonial connexions should be promoted among them; and none who applied for that purpose were ever rejected; except when it was clearly understood that either of the parties had a wife or husband living at the time of their leaving England.

The weather during the latter end of January and the month of February was very close, with rain, at times very heavy, and attended with much thunder and lightning, by which some sheep, lambs, and pigs were destroyed. CHAP.