Page:ChroniclesofEarlyMelbournevol.2.pdf/216

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THE CHRONICLES OF EARLY MELBOURNE.

from the Commissary, but he will take it into his charge, and see that it is mixed agreeable to the above order at the marine store tent. "8th N o v e m b e r . — T h e two casks at the watering-place, which have been appropriated to the use of the civil and military officers, being properly prepared to be shut up during the night, the centinel at that post will be withdrawn at seven o'clock at night, and planted there at the same hour in the morning. T h e keys of these casks are to be lodged with the Adjutant, and the persons concerned will attend to the regulation, and cause whatever water they m a y require to be got within the above hours. "13th N o v e m b e r . — T h e quarter-master will employ the tailor belonging to the detachment, and such other tailors as the C o m m a n d i n g Officer m a y appoint, in altering the clothing that became due in June last. T h e suits are to befittedto the men, and m a d e up according to the pattern established by the Admiralty. Each suit when finished is to be labelled, and put into the care of the quarter-master, until the whole are completed, when they will be issued. This work will be put in hand on Monday. A review of arms and necessaries to-morrow morning as usual, after which the Articles of W a r will be read. " 16th N o v e m b e r . — A copper being erected near the watering-place for cooking the provisions, and proper persons appointed to attend it, the Lieutenant Governor prohibits the making offiresfor cooking the convicts' provisions, in any other part of the encampment except on the beach near the carpenter's hut, where another copper will be put up for the accommodation of the people at that end of the encampment. T h e superintendents will attend to this regulation. "21st N o v e m b e r . — T h e C o m m a n d i n g Officer is concerned to be under the necessity of establishing the following drill for the non-commissioned officers. O n Wednesday from six until seven in the morning; on Saturdays from two until three in the afternoon. " 23rd N o v e m b e r . — T h e C o m m a n d i n g Officer is surprised to observe the unsteady appearance of the m e n at the evening parade. This can only proceed from their determination to evade the regulations which he adopted in the hope of preventing this unsoldierlike appearance that he complains of in them, and which if persisted in will compel him not to increase the quantity of water, but reduce the quantity of spirits which is at present allowed them. " 30th N o v e m b e r . — T h e C o m m a n d i n g Officer hopes that no one of the detachment under his command, but such an unsoldierlike character as T h o m a s H o d g e m a n , would be concerned in any dealings or transactions with the convicts. They must perceive that the bad consequences that ever must and will attend such disgraceful conduct, and which he trusts none of them will ever be guilty. 3rd December.—The detachment will parade at eleven o'clock to-morrow in the forenoon, for the purpose of attending Divine Service. T h e guard will in future mount on Sundays at eight o'clock in the morning. T h e troop will beat as usual at ten, and the Church drum at eleven in the forenoon. "27th D e c e m b e r . — T h e C o m m a n d i n g Officer is concerned to observe the shameful conduct of several of the soldiers of the detachment. Drunkenness is a crime that he will never pass over and to prevent as far as in him lies their disgracing themselves, and the Royal and Honourable Corps to which they belong, by incurring the censures of Courts Martial, he directs that in future their allowance of watered spirits shall not be taken to their tents but drank at the place where it is mixed in the presence of the officer of the day. If this regulation shall be found insufficient, he assures them that thefirstm a n w h o is found guilty of drunkenness by a Court-Martial shall never again receive the allowance of spirits. " T h e quarter-master will immediately cause to be dug a pit, at a convenient distance from the Southernmost part of the marine line, to be used by the detachment as a privy, and they are on no account to use any other. Earth is to be thrown into it every morning." It will be observed from this notification that what is n o w adopted as the modern specific for an universal nuisance, was one of very early introduction into the colony. "3rd January, 1804.—The Commanding Officer is willing to believe that the unsoldierlike behaviour of the prisoners R a e and Andrews will never be imitated by any of the detachment. H e