AND HIS STAFF. 195 of affairs at Sydney Cove, owing to the wreck of the 1790 Guardian and the consequent loss of stores. Their lord- ships wished to get some authentic information on the sub- ject, and had sent for King. The conversation which took place at the two interviews was fortunately noted down by him shortly afterwards, in the following words : — On the 22nd December, 1790, I saw Lord Chatham, whose en- Lord qnirys were first directed to the situation of the colony in New South Wales, and the prospects it afforded for maintaining the colonists. As my stay at Port Jackson was so very short, I could give his lordship no other information on that head than stating the actual situation of the colony for want of provisions and stores at the time I left it ; and the great inconvenience that would bo experienced by the loss of the Sirius. In answer to his lordship's questions respecting Norfolk Island, I gave him a detail nearly similar to that contained in my journal, that I had delivered to Mr. Stephens* the preceding day. Lord Chatham did not seem to take much interest in the prospects of the colony, beyond the pressing question of the hour. Lord Grenville having desired to see me after I had been with Lord Lord Chatham, I waited on him the next morning, the 23rd. After several general questions, to which I gave nearly the same answers as to my Lord Chatham, his lordship asked if I thought the colony would experience any total want of provisions before the probable time that the Neptune and other ships might arrive there? In answer to this question, I informed his lordship that when I left Port Jackson, the 21st April, 1790, the pork was cal- culated to last out till ye 26th August, the rice and flour until the 19th December, at the ration of 2 fi>. of flour, 2 lb. of rice, and 2 fi). of pork each man for seven days ; and supposing the ships were not more than ten weeks from the Cape of Good Hope to Port Jackson, they would arrive two months before the pork was expended ; on which his lordship said he had little doubt that the colony was Ministerial amply relieved by the Justinian, which sailed a single ship. caicuiatioM This remark of his lordship's shows how easily Ministers managed to satisfy themselves about the position of the • Under Secretary at the Admiralty. Digitized byCjOOQlC
