470 CONTEMPORARY OPINIONS. required, as far as the state of the business will admit, us soon as possible, probably this evening or early to-morrow." On the 28th Estimate December, an estimate of the expenses for three years was sent Pitt. * from the Admiralty "for the information of Mr. Pitt" — the amount stated being £45,572. No other mention of Pitt's name in connection with the matter can be traced. Actual The actual expenditure incurred in the equipment and despatch ' of the First Fleet — including the marines — was published in the Annual Register for 1791, as follows : — An account of the expence incurred in transporting convicts to New South Wales, as far as the same can be made up — Nature of the Expences. . Freight of the transport ships with the expence for £ s. d. fitting for the service 42,271 4 Cloathing, slops, and bedding 4,939 16 8 Victualling and providing for the convicts and the marine guards prior to sailing, as also on the passage, and a store there> viz. : — £ s. d. Prior to sailing 4,324 1 II On the passage 7,310 12 2 For store at New South Wales ... 16,205 3 Wine, essence of malt, &c 381 15 1 28,221 12 2 Handcuffs and irons for securing the convicts 42 1 Stationery for the commissary of stores and provisions and for the commanding officer of marines 63 19 4 Tools, implements of husbandry, &c 3,056 8 7 Marquees and camp equipage for marine officers ... 389 4 1 Portable house of the Governor 130 Medicines, drugs, surgeon's instruments and necessaries 1,429 15 5 Seed grain 286 17 4 Old canvas supplied from Portsmouth Dockyard for tents, &c., for the convicts until huts could be erected 69 9 Hearths, coppers, &c., for the use of the settlement ... 118 10 3 Pay and disbursement of the agent to the transport employed on this service ... 881 6 6 £81,899 11 6 This expence has been incurred on the first expedition, and is all paid. The official "Estimate of the Expence of Ordnance Stores ordered to be sent to the intended Settlement at Botany Bay," amounted to £2,435 17s. OJd. It included six iron guns (12 and 6 pounders) and two brass guns mounted on travelling carriages, with round shot and other necessary stores. Digitized by Google
