Governor Phillip having no further occasion for the services of the _Gorgon_, that ship sailed for England on Sunday the 18th. Two convicts had the folly to attempt making their escape from the colony in this ship, but they were detected and brought back. A woman was also supposed to have effected her escape; but she was found disguised in men's apparel at the native's hut on the east point of the cove. On board of the _Gorgon_ were embarked the marines who came from England in the first ships; as valuable a corps as any in his Majesty's service. They had struggled here with greatly more than the common hardships of service, and were now quitting a country in which they had opened and smoothed the way for their successors, and from which, whatever benefit might hereafter be derived, must be derived by those who had the easy task of treading in paths previously and painfully formed by them. The cove and the settlement were now resuming that dull uniformity of uninteresting circumstances which had generally prevailed. The _Supply_ and the _Gorgon_ had departed, and with them a valuable portion of our friends and associates. The transports which remained were all preparing to leave us, and in a few days after the _Gorgon_, the _Matilda_ and _Mary Ann_ sailed for the coast of Peru. These ships had some convicts on board, who were permitted to ship themselves with the masters. A further reduction of the ration was directed to take place at the end of the month, one pound being taken from the allowance of flour served to the men. From the state of the provision stores, the governor, on Christmas Day, could only give one pound of flour to each woman in the settlement. On that day divine service was performed here and at Parramatta, Mr. Bayne, the chaplain of the new corps, assisting Mr. Johnson in the religious duties of the morning. There were some among us, however, by whom even the sanctity of this day was not regarded; for at night the marine store was robbed of twenty-two gallons of spirits.