Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 1.djvu/480

 lire stock. 566 SYDNEY'S 1780 occasion for a further supply, together with certain articles of clothing, tools, and implements for agriculture, medicines, &c., for the use of convicts now at that place, his Majesty has given orders A Btore-Bhip that One of his ships-of-war of two decks, with only her upper tier readyf° of guns, shall forthwith be got ready to carry out the said pro- visions and stores. I inclose to your lordships herewith estimates of the several articles which are supposed to be indispensably necessary on the present occasion ; and I am commanded to signify to your lord- stores and ships his Majesty's pleasure that you do give orders that the same requir^°" may be provided and be put on board of such ships as the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty may appoint for the execution of that service. I am also to acquaint your lordships that the Lords Crommis- sioners of the Admiralty have been directed to instruct the officer commanding the above-mentioned ship to call at Teneriffe and Wine and purchase twenty pipes of wine, and also, in case he should touch at Rio de Janeiro or the Cape of Good Hope, to take on board as many black cattle or other live stock as he can conveniently accommodate, for the amount of which he is directed to draw bills upon your lordships, which bills it is his Majesty's pleasure you do discharge whenever they appear, provided they are accom- panied by proper vouchers and certificates that the articles pur- chased shall have been obtained upon moderate terms. As there are at present but very few artificers and farmers amongst the convicts now in New South Wales, his Majesty has thought it adviseable that twenty-five of those confined in the Artifloers hulks in the river who are likely to be the most useful should be ' sent out in the ship intended to convey the provisions and stores, and that about eight or ten persons should also be engaged, and take their passage in the said ship, to be employed as overseers of the convicts. These measures, I must inform your lordships, have been strongly recommended by Captain Phillip, particularly the latter, from his having found by experience that the convicts OvexBeers. placed as overseers have not been able to enforce their orders and carry that command which persons in a difierent situation would be likely to do ; his Majesty has therefore directed me to endea- vour to engage the above-mentioned number of overseers, and to desire that your lordships will make provision for their salaries (which will not exceed forty pounds per anp^m each) as well as Digitized by Google