Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Sunday 23 December 1804, page 2


SYDNEY.

On Monday last a boat with a load of wood and two men in her upset, owing, as has been before the case repeatedly, to her being much overburthened. The men could neither of them swim ; but yet were saved by the assistance of the spectators.

Part of an unfinished building near the Hospital Wharf, that had been left standing by the tempest which carried away its better half, on Tuesday last fell in during the afternoon with an alarming crash, but happi-ly no one was injured by its fall. Several persons had been within the standing walls a few minutes before ; but very fortunately escaped injury.

The beginning of the week presented a na-tive warfare the most malignant that has been witnessed. On Sunday morning last a num-ber assembled at Farm Cove for the purpose of inflicting punishment on the heroic π‘Šπ‘–π‘™β„Žπ‘Žπ‘šπ‘Žπ‘›π‘›π‘Žπ‘›; who after avoiding an immense number of spears, received one at length in the hand, through his shield ; the wound brought on a stubborn conflict which for nearly an hour was general ; during which time the π‘€β„Žπ‘–π‘‘π‘’ spectators were justly astonish-ed at the dexterity and incredible force with which a bent, edged waddy resembling slight-ly a turkish scymetar, was thrown by π΅π‘’π‘›π‘”π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘¦, a native distinguished by his remarkable courtesy. The weapon, thrown at 20 or 30 yards distance, twirled round in the air with astonishing velocity, and alight-ing on the right arm of one of his opponents, actually rebounded to a distance not less than 70 or 80 yards, leaving a horrible contusion behind, and exciting universal admiration.

A suspension of hostilities took place as abruptly and unaccountably to those who were not in the π‘ π‘’π‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘‘, as the affray had commenced ; and the wounded, after passing a few unintelligible invectives, sat down per-fectly satisfied with the event.

Nothing more passed of a hostile nature during the day ; but as perfidy is inherent to some, whatever be the complexion or con-

dition in life, whether of polished manner and fascinating address, or moving in the humble sphere of nature’s naked sons, the tranquillity of the unhappy creatures was at midnight interrupted by a villain of the π‘‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘˜π‘’π‘ π‘‘ hue, who treachously discharged a spear among a dormant and promiscuous group, which was received by π‘€π‘’π‘ π‘žπ‘’π‘–π‘‘π‘œ in the arm. A general alarm was the immedi-

ate consequence : and between the hours of twelve and one the most dreadful shrieks and

lamentations resounded upon all sides. By the spear the premedidated assassin was im-

mediately known and pursued ; parties took different routes towards the Brickfields ; where falling in with the fugitive they com-pelled him by the light of the moon to de-fend himself for a time, but was at length severely wounded in his turn.

The affray at Parramatta yesterday se’nnight, in which π‘Œπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘›π‘–π‘π‘– (commonly called π‘ƒπ‘Žπ‘™π‘šπ‘’π‘Ÿ) was said to be wounded, was

misrepresented ;— there were two wounded very severely, but he was not one of the

number.

A theft of a ludicrous nature was last week

very nearly productive of serious conse-quences to the π‘‘π‘’π‘™π‘–π‘›π‘žπ‘’π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘ .—— A couple of mischievous boys finding a canoe unoccu-pied, considered it a lawful prize, and with-out ceremony shouldered and carried off the little vehicle in unobserved security. The owners, shortly afterwards discovering the very β„Žπ‘’π‘Žπ‘£π‘¦ loss, and unacquainted with the track the π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘˜ had taken, outyelled the πΆπ‘¦π‘π‘™π‘œπ‘’𝑠 disappointed fury when the Royal

wanderer of πΌπ‘‘β„Žπ‘Žπ‘π‘Ž escaped his vengeance. By this time one of the youngsters was seated in the vehicle, which was now converted into a π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿ of π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘’π‘šπ‘β„Ž, supported on the shoulders of many others, shouting forth peals of acclamation : hither the exasperated native flew ; his little β„Žπ‘–π‘”β„Žπ‘›π‘’π‘ π‘  was surprised — his faithless 𝑠𝑒𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑑𝑠, seized with trepida-tioE, forsook him to his destiny, and throwing down their graceless burthen, precipitately

fled. Unable to recover in an instant from

the effects of a dangerous fall, he fell into the hands of an enemy, exalted to the very pinnacle of exasperated fury. Up flew the π‘€π‘Žπ‘‘π‘‘π‘¦, whose single stroke might have put a period to the exploits of the vanquished π‘π‘’π‘™π‘π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘‘ — but a certain something suspended still the blow — perhaps humanity! Reco-vering the little he had lost, he seemed con-tent, and left the duty of correction to those whose province nature has decreed it.

A short time since a large stack of wheat

the property of John Glade, a settler at Kissing Point, was destroyed by fire acciden-tally communicated during his absence from home. The poor man, who has a family of

several children, had on the morning the dis-aster happened gone to Parramatta to visit

his wife, who had laboured under a painful illness of 19 weeks duration and was obliged to remove thither for the benefit of medi-cal aid.— Instances of generosity are not uncommon even in a southern hemisphere ; and when it is the pleasure of divine provi-dence to inflict suffering and loss upon such as are deserving of humane commiseration, it imposes but a temporary scourge. Affliction infallibly distinguishes the good member of society from the bad one ; if misfortune befal the former, his π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘  may brobably forsake him ; his oldest acquaintances shun his con-

versation, and still venerate him — at a π‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘π‘’π‘Ÿ distance : but well it was for him that he had a π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘’π‘›π‘‘ to lose — his opposite even in prosperity could never boast one : and con-solatory are the very consequences of a sad reverse, that stripping the visage of its mask, displays the genuine character of those whose pride it was to share in his acquaintance —

in these the other never was deceived ; de-

tested always, poverty can only influence contempt. π‘…π‘’π‘™π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘£π‘’π‘ , too, sometimes rank in the animal creation as amphibious, being at liberty to pad along the strand of amity, or should it be less disadvantageous, to am-

ble on the gelid current of indifference ; when every glance that meets affliction’s eye

teems with reproach unmerited, and harrows sensibility with obstinate reflection on the past, which ardently comparing with the

present, almost bedews the cheek of manly fortitude — Misfortune may be endured ; but

the slight semblance of unjust contempt la-

cerates the generous spirit, and on the brow erects the crest of melancholy, Fairness of

character, philanthropy of disposition, purity of sentiment, integrity of heart, and affability of manner, with every amiable perfection that can enrich and beautify the character,

are yet incompetent when opposed to the prolific genius of detraction : Whither are

the virtues flown then, or where their advo-cate ? Why, in the admiring World ! tho’ π‘“π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘’π‘›π‘‘ and π‘˜π‘–π‘›π‘ π‘šπ‘Žπ‘› disregard true worth, yet affliction separates the rich mineral from its surrounding dross, and when the severer pa-roxysms of disappointment are gone by,

the comely hand of principled and real friend-ship extends the hospitable portal, and bids

the wanderer welcome.

On Friday eleven servants of the Crown, employed as smiths in the Government Work‐shop, were complained of before HΙͺꜱ

Exα΄„α΄‡ΚŸΚŸα΄‡Ι΄α΄„Κ by their superintendant, for insolence and repeated refusal to comply

with his directions. Two were selected

from among the number, and as principal aggressors ordered to work in irons in the gaol gang ; the others to return to their

former work : but as a punishment to labour in a sinlge iron every evening until dusk.