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bringing a mail thence. He despatched a messenger to look for them, and the mail was brought in. Everyone hurried to the opening of it—a large looking parcel—but, behold, when "the pie was opened," out came a quantity of soap! There were some letters informing us that no fewer than eight vessels had been at the Sound lately—two from India, laden with all things of which we are in want, such as sugar, rice, soap, tea, &c., &c. Prices very cheap. One of them was coming here, but the weather was rough, and she was frightened. How tantalizing! But a vessel called the Emerald Isle has sailed from Calcutta for this, and may be expected hourly. No sailors could be got to man our colonial schooner.
Saturday.—Some native women had a dog with them here to-day, and some one gave it a piece of poisoned meat; after a short time it fell aud rolled into a trench in the garden, without any noise, and lay dead. None of the natives saw it, and when they were going away they called for a long time, but I had had it buried in the meantime by a man who was planting cabbages. It was a European dog, which had been given to them.
Thursday Night.—Started with Irwin on Tuesday at eight o'clock for Perth. The Governor had summoned a Council for ten. After Council there was a meeting of the trustees of Church property, of which I am one, and, after that, a meeting of the trustees of streets, and to which I was obliged to explain the Act which has been lately passed. On Wednesday there was a meeting of the trustees of roads, bridges, &c., at which I had to act similar parts. I fear our plan will not work well, for everybody wishes to have the roads made, but nobody wishes to pay for them. This morning there was another Council, at which the Governor called on me for an opinion (written) on the subject of whether he should reprieve the native who was sentenced to death for killing a native woman. This opinion was entered on the minutes in order to be transmitted to the Secretary of State in referring the
