The Hull Packet

26 February 1805

.....The natives in the neighbourhood of Portland Head had committed some enormities in consequence of which a detachment of the New South Wales Corps had been sent to the relief of the settlers. A few of the hostile natives having fallen, the remainder dispersed. "Since then" says a letter from Portland Head, "their rancour has greatly subsided, or, at all events its consequences have become much less injurious than before and many have signified a desire of returning to their accustomed habits, without which the wants peculiar to the savage state must be felt with increased severity, as well from the loss of the succour afforded them by the settlers as from the relaxation produced by a long state of dependence upon the bounty of their benefactors". The above proceedings took place in June and July lst, but at the date of the last accounts tranquility appeared to be completely restored.