"...I have taken this opportunity of letting you know that I am well, sincerely hoping yourself and family are the same. Our ships is gone to the Cape of Good Hope, in order to bring a fresh supply to the Colony, as we now begin to grow short of flour, and other articles; my husband sailed in her the first of October, and is not expected back till March or April.

I am rather dull without him, but having got two fine children under my care, they help to pass a melancholy hour away; their mother died on our passage, and the goodness of our worthy Governor has taken them into his charge, that they may not go to ruin among the abandoned set that are here; of our own sex it is impossible to describe how bad they are, I hope the men begin to reform a little now, having had six executed, and a number severely punished, so that it will be a warning to the remainder.

The natives are rather troublesome, having killed several of our people and convicts. We treat them with great civility as yet, trying if possible to naturalise them without violence. They are much afraid of our fire arms, and watch for those who are unarmed, and murder them in a very brutish manner. They are shy of coming nigh the town, but are often seen at the different farms we have got for a mile or two round the town.

As to the country it will in a few years be fine; but it requires a great time for cultivation, being very woody, having large timber trees as thick as they can stand, but little underwood. I have got my little farm, with poultry and a few hogs, and a nice little garden, which begins now to supply me with vegetables. We have been badly situated for fresh provisions but are now coming about, as almost every one has been endeavouring to raise as much as will supply themselves.

The Governor at his first landing, sent Lieut King with some officers, soldiers, and convicts, to Norfolk Island (a small place about as big as the Isle of Wight) and last month a ship was sent to them, from whom we received very favourable accounts of the place, having on it the finest fir for making masts and yards that was ever seen, some trees being fifty feet in circumference, and one hundred and twenty feet high before they come to a limb; so that in all probability, in time we shall be able to build ships in this part of the world, flax plant is also very plentiful at that Island. At one season of the year it is exceeding bad landing, on which account have had the misfortune to lose a midshipman and two freemen, by a boat’s oversetting, in which also were some convicts, but they were saved; the loss of three freemen to this Colony, is very capital, as there are so few here.

I live near the Governor, and within call of his centinels, so that I am perfectly safe from thieves. The only correspondence I have here is the chaplain’s wife, who I find to be an exceeding agreeable lady, and who resides near me. I have communicated to you as many particulars as at present occur to me, but must not omit observing that our Colony is very fruitful, as I am informed there are upwards of sixty of the women convicts at this time pregnant, and a number lately delivered..."