CHAPTER II.

VOYAGE IN THE NEPTUNE.

On being appointed Surgeon and Superintendent on board the Neptune, Male

Convict Ship, in 1817, I was anxious to avail myself of the opportunity

which appeared favourable for forming a correct opinion on the actual

state of that duty, and its concerns. It appeared the more necessary

that I should come to a just understanding of the influence which the

moral principle held over the prisoners’ minds, as on that I intended to

ground my future proceedings. A brief summary of the crimes marked

against the names of those prisoners committed to my care, extracted

from the list which accompanied them on board, and on which I made my

private observations, is subjoined for the satisfaction of the reader;

and the accuracy of the statement may be relied on, as it came to me

officially notified.

The punishment of transportation for life, undoubtedly severe, yet less

so, one gladly allows, than that absolute forfeiture of life which the

existing laws demand, affords a melancholy picture of human depravity,

and the lamentable prevalence of crime, which makes its frequent

recurrence necessary, the convicts transported for life being actually

one half, it will be seen, of the entire number in this instance sent

out of the country. The major part of that number most probably were

respited from capital punishment by the royal clemency, or owe their

lives to the compassion of the Juries that tried them.

_List of the Crimes of the Male Convicts per the Neptune, 1817._

Convicts.

Forgery 8

Housebreaking 6

Robbery in a dwelling house 3

Stealing in a dwelling house 10

Burglary 28

Highway robbery 7

Horse stealing 8

Felony 44

Sheep stealing 7

Cow stealing 1

Frame breaking 1

Desertion 2

Assault and robbery 1

Having forged notes 6

Stealing from a person 1

Stealing—various small thefts 17

Grand larceny 10

Larceny 1

Capital respite (one of these an infidel) 6

Obtaining goods by false pretences 1

Breaking out of prison 1

Aiding in ditto 1

———

Total 170

———

The enormity of the offences, of which these men had been found guilty,

may be estimated by a glance to the punishments annexed to their names.

Convicts.

Transported for life 85

Transported for fourteen years 33

Transported for seven years 52

———

Total 170

———

The different offences with which they had been charged, and for which

they were sentenced, were less a criterion, perhaps, than a report of

characters with which they came accompanied from the Hulks, whence they

were shipped for transportation. Of these the following is a concise

view, being an abstract of the Report then given.

_Abstract View of Convicts as to Character._

Convicts.

Bad character 34

Old offenders 17

Good 1

Very bad character 10

Orderly 43

Very orderly 2

Indifferent 4

An infidel 1

New prisoners not reported on, transported for life 24

New prisoners not reported on, transported for 14 years 10

Transported before 6

Second sentence, orderly 6

Belonging to a gang, bad 2

Old thief, orderly 1

Noted pickpockets, behaved well 5

Behaved very well, convicts for felony 4

———

Total 170

———

These were the materials on which a system of amendment was to be tried;

and it must be confessed that when every circumstance was considered,

the task could not but be deemed repugnant. A general character of

violence and desperate daring had long been identified with the inmates

of prisons; and here were presented crimes of a description not likely

to remove such an unfavourable impression.

The opinion universally prevailing for many years of the irreclaimable

state of convicts, both male and female, rendered the superintendence of

them on board the vessels which conveyed them to the colony, in every

respect a heartless undertaking, if any thing like reform were had in

contemplation. If at any time an experiment to that effect had been

made, its failure only contributed to make a renewal of the attempt

useless, or even mischievous; for the depraved, watchful of failure in

the endeavours to restrain their bad passions, rarely abstain from

enjoying it as a victory and converting it to wicked purposes.

For many reasons, therefore, that situation was looked upon as one of

extreme difficulty, and in many instances of hazard. The convicts were

on this account treated as irrational beings; in dens like wild beasts;

like them fed and kept in the closest restraint consistent with their

health. The conduct of the prisoners in general seemed to justify severe

measures of precaution and confinement. Many accounts of their having

made attempts to regain their liberty; rising on their guards; and

endeavouring to take possession of the ship, for the purpose of

proceeding to a port remote from their place of destination, had been in

circulation; but in no instance have any of those daring enterprises

even in part succeeded, except in one which occurred about the beginning

of 1798.

At that time the system of transportation, it appears, was not so well

organized as at present; for when a ship had been taken up for female

convicts, if the proper number were not ready, the vacant portion was

filled with male convicts to be secured in a separate prison. The _Lady

Shore_ was engaged as a convict transport on such an occasion, and the

consequences of placing male and female prisoners in the same ship

unfortunately became evident, although the number of women was

inconsiderable. In the course of the voyage an illicit intercourse had

taken place between the female convicts and the sailors, of which it

seems the male convicts, together with the recruits for the New South

Wales corps which were on board, took advantage, by making the women

induce the sailors to assist them in taking the ship.

The plan was so well laid that the design was not at all suspected,

until one night, when the sailors had liberated the prisoners both male

and female, and were joined by the recruits, a general mutinous rising

took place. The commander and his first mate were murdered; and the

ship, containing, besides the public stores, a great deal of private

property, (which was a heavy loss to the colony,) was taken and carried

away to the river _La Plata_, where she was delivered up to the

Spaniards. The prisoners, however, I believe, most of them, were

afterwards sent again in pursuance of their sentence.

Even when in any attempts of such a nature the convicts have been

disappointed, their plans being detected before they were ripe for

execution, their licentious and abandoned conduct still frequently

continued to excite alarm, and to keep the guards on constant and

harassing duty. The various artifices to which some of those desperate

and dangerous characters had recourse, if detailed, would run to great

length; but it is sufficient merely to mention the above incident, to

show that the conveyance of convicts to the colonies is an undertaking

not free from care and anxiety.

Instances too have been mentioned, in which some have risen _en masse_

in female convict ships, to commit personal violence on the surgeon

superintendent for the restraint which his sense of duty compelled him

to impose. In one of those it became necessary for the surgeon to carry

pistols for his defence, in consequence of an attack meditated against

him by the women, who had provided themselves with sharpened knives for

the purpose of performing a surgical operation of a very unpleasant

nature, which would have entailed upon the gentleman the most dangerous

and melancholy consequences. In other cases the conduct of the abandoned

women has been so unmanageable, that it was deemed necessary, as in the

instance of the ship _Janus_ at Cork in 1819, to require a military

guard to keep them in subordination and security. In fact, the

undertaking has been ever attended with circumstances which made the

duty at all times extremely repulsive, and rendered this branch of the

public service disagreeable and irksome.

Being fully aware of these circumstances, it became necessary for me to

act upon some method of treating the convicts committed to my charge, so

as to obviate as much as might be disorders generally prevailing during

the voyage; and, by establishing an undeviating order, if possible, in

their management, prepare their minds for that moral change which was

materially in view.

In the present state of their feelings, humbled in some degree by shame,

and the comparative misery brought upon them by their own folly and

unrestrained passions; when reflection on their degraded state bitterly

and poignantly occupied all their serious moments; there appeared then

the most favourable occasion to draw them back to a sense of virtue,

which, although it might have been long banished from the breasts of

some, the example of others more awake to its influence might assist in

reviving. To excite a feeling of repentance, was the first step: this

once gained would lead to a train of sober reflections; for no heart can

be so thoroughly corrupt as not to exhibit some pure spot for virtuous

reflection to take root, and produce its salutary blossoms.

It is not when the feverish glow of successful plunder excites the

bacchanalian roar around the fell-grouped table, that the wholesome

intrusion of the still small voice of conscience can reach the ear; when

the drunken participators of his crime inflame the vulgar vanity of the

intemperate wretch, and some vile _Thais_ intoxicates him with passion.

Vain would be the effort to reclaim the infuriated savage at such a time

as that. But when the dark cell of the prison has shut out his

associates, the mind may involuntarily turn back upon itself, and the

culprit, under the pressure of infamy, want, and punishment, may open

his heart to the language of religious admonition, inviting with its

peculiar consolations. No longer buoyed up with speculations, he is

naturally disposed to throw himself on the first humane help that

presents itself, and to seek in moral and religious truths a repose and

security to which he may have been heretofore a stranger.

Many such characters are every day passing before the watchful eye of

justice, and, without a single humane effort assisting in the way of

reformation, moving on almost imperceptibly to a disgraceful termination

of their career. To many so circumstanced, death is a relief from that

mental suffering which must attend their neglected and miserable lot;

whilst, if the unhappy being has unexpectedly received a capital

respite, and is allowed afterwards to have his sentence commuted for

transportation, he becomes even more than before a fit subject for

ascertaining whether amendment be then possible. The number of convicts

on board the Neptune presented abundant materials for such an

experiment; and, although the task appeared discouraging, I was

determined on the undertaking.

The first object worthy of attention was the establishment of a fixed

system of order and regularity in the prison. In this respect I have to

acknowledge the favour of some suggestions received from the Rev. Mr.

PRICE at Sheerness. I drew up, therefore, the following regulations for

their guidance; and on reading them over before the convicts, assembled

for that purpose, I had the satisfaction of finding none at least

expressed a dissentient voice; on the contrary, the most cordial

concurrence assented to their propriety.

_Regulations._

I.— You are not to curse or swear,—use obscene or filthy

conversation,—fight, quarrel, or steal from one another,—use

provoking words,—or call any one but by his proper name.

II.— You are to be respectful and obedient at all times to the officer

and guards.

III.— Cleanliness being essentially necessary to the health, comfort,

and well being of every person on board, it is particularly desired

that the strictest attention be paid to it on every occasion.

IV.— Those to whom the management and care of the messes may be

intrusted, are desired to be careful in attending to their duties, as

they will be held responsible, and, in case of failure, punished

severely.

V.— Any one refusing to obey the directions of those who have the

charge of messes, &c. will, on being detected, receive such

punishment as the circumstance may deserve. A faithful report will be

made of every man’s conduct; and those who behave well, though they

may have come here with bad characters, will be favourably

represented.

VI.— The prisoner that shall dare to break through the above rules

will be punished in proportion to his offence; and any one so

offending must never expect to be recommended to the notice of the

Governor of New South Wales.

N.B. Any one found defacing or destroying these rules will be punished

severely.

* * * * *

Copies of the above were placed in conspicuous parts of the prison, and

there they continued throughout the voyage without the least injury. The

convicts had been previously classed in messes, six persons in each, one

of whom was appointed to superintend the mess. This sub-division of duty

among themselves, was calculated to inspire confidence in the measures

to be adopted, and gave those temporary officers a considerable degree

of authority among their companions. The result was satisfactory. Each

monitor served as a check upon the others, whilst the reactive

watchfulness upon one another’s actions produced a kind of rivalry

amongst them in observing my injunctions most strictly.

It remained to commence some moral and religious system, on which could

be safely founded any expectation of ultimate success: first, if

possible, by conciliation and persuasion; or, that failing, by any such

coercive means as might be prudently adopted on such an occasion. The

native beauty of religion’s truths is best conveyed to such minds in

language of mild and temperate remonstrance: harsh censure, and severe

reproof, are of too repulsive a nature, and throw a gloom over the

irradiated prospects of repentance, reconciliation, and reward, held

forth in religious influence.

Accordingly, having received from Captain Young, of Deptford, a box

containing bibles, prayer books, and a few tracts, for the use of the

prisoners, I distributed them among the messes; and, at my request, the

Rev. Mr. Price came on board from the _Retribution_ Hulk at Sheerness,

and, after divine service, delivered an exhortation which very much

affected the minds of the prisoners. This was evident, from many of them

subsequently retiring apart from their companions, and reading with

serious and apparently devout attention the religious books given to

them.

The utmost care was taken at all times to preserve cleanliness as much

as possible in every part of the ship, and particularly in the prison;

for which purpose the decks were regularly scraped, scoured, and washed;

and the interior of the ship and prison ventilated or warmed by stoves

as occasion required. This latter proceeding tended greatly to the

preservation of the convicts’ health; although in spite of every

precaution, and the utmost vigilance, some dangerous complaints, such as

dysentery, appeared at intervals.

The conduct of the convicts continued to give much satisfaction, being

in general very orderly; yet the apprehension of some attempt at rising

was never lulled altogether. This circumstance is brought to my

recollection by the following memorandum which I find in my journal, and

transcribe it with all the _alarm_ it excited at the time.

“1818. _January_ 7th.—Was alarmed by a cry on deck, about 2 o’clock this

morning, that the prisoners were rising. The guards and sailors were

immediately called out, and the carpenter and myself went into the

prison to examine whether any attempt to cut, or get out, had been made;

but nothing of the kind appeared. Indeed, on the contrary, the prisoners

were all in bed, and every thing seemed quiet. After breakfast, a strict

search was made in the prison, which was conducted with the greatest

vigilance and minuteness; but nothing was discovered to excite the

slightest suspicion of any mischief having been meditated. At 4 P. M.

half a pint of wine was served to each convict, and in the evening I

read them one of _Blair’s_ sermons, at which the Master and some of the

officers attended, during which the utmost regularity and attention

prevailed.”

The prisoners expressed no sense of dissatisfaction at the above

scrutiny, but rather appeared more submissive in order to preclude all

possibility of suspicion; and in reference to the attention paid to

their health and comforts, they unanimously declared that their

treatment far exceeded their expectations. Having distributed a further

supply of testaments and religious tracts to all the messes, I soon

after had the gratifying pleasure of noticing that many of the convicts

perused them with earnestness and attention.

In conformity with my instructions, I transmitted to the Navy Office a

weekly return of the sick, and accompanied it with a statement of the

plan adopted for the management of the convicts, together with

observations on the good effects likely to result from _having the

duties of religion frequently and invariably performed_. It could not be

expected that the manners of confirmed reprobates, long established by

habit, could be suddenly reformed. Such an alteration could only be

expected from the combined effects of time and perseverance: of course,

many instances occurred of departure from strict discipline, which, in

some cases, were necessary to be restrained by putting on handcuffs, and

sometimes by inflicting slight corporal punishment upon the juvenile

offenders.

This occasional resorting to punishment was shown, chiefly with an

intent to let them understand, that it would certainly be inflicted if

any should be rash enough to provoke it. On one occasion a convict,

named Samuel Marriott, was detected fighting with one of his messmates;

which being contrary to the regulations, and his character being

quarrelsome and insolent, he was punished with twelve lashes.

In order to extend the benefits of the system, if possible, to the

guards and sailors, with a view to harmonize the minds of all on board,

I read occasionally upon deck a sermon of Dr. Blair’s to the seamen and

soldiers: encouraged by the attention they showed, I determined to

persevere, and frequently on the same day read to them some religious

discourse after having done so to the prisoners below. That these were

not without good effects, seemed obvious from the reading of religious

books on every occasion observable. In this manner the state of their

moral improvement was attempted; the demeanour of every one of the

convicts certainly became serious and thoughtful; and religious reading

became every day more desirable and in use generally amongst them.

On the 16th December 1817, final orders having been received, the

Neptune put to sea, and proceeded on her voyage. Some days afterwards I

was desirous of ascertaining the state of the convicts’ feelings on the

prospect of a long and lasting separation from home and kindred. Many of

them were fathers of families, upon whom a deep concern for the fate of

their offspring would naturally weigh heavily:—the younger delinquents,

whose attachments must have been warm and lively, would also suffer much

from the idea of their inevitable loss of many a tender tie; for even

the most depraved cannot be divested of those feelings, which, in

dispositions better regulated and guided by virtuous precept, constitute

the happiness of social life. Even the infidel, whom unhappy waywardness

has rendered unfit for Christian society, may have had some connexion to

sweeten his cup of misery, and enlighten the gloom that shrouds his

soul;—the dissipated felon, whose lightly-acquired wealth procured him

many an hour of delusive jollity, must, at such a prospect, sigh after

his idle and profligate companions:—all seemed to me likely to have

their particular grounds of sorrow, grief, regret, or lamentation. On

visiting them, with the intention of administering consolation to those

whom I presumed to find distressed, to my very great surprise, and

indeed pleasure, all seemed thoroughly reconciled to their situation,

and almost to a man signified the satisfaction, and even pleasure, they

felt at the idea of the voyage, removed from temptations and dangers of

the worst kind, surrounded as they were with every comfort, and every

want bountifully supplied.

I took this opportunity of reading to them an appropriate sermon, and

never have I witnessed more respectful attention, correctness and

regularity of conduct, than on that occasion. I remarked with much

satisfaction the daily visible improvement which every individual

appeared to make in morals and behaviour. Having adopted and put in

effect the only means of reformation, I left its perfection to time and

circumstances, watching their progress with the most anxious care. Of

one point, however, I was always very mindful, never to fatigue their

attention with tedious harangue, or sour their disposition by

unnecessarily finding fault, or seeking out trivial or unnecessary

causes for censure. I rather wished to encourage them always to have a

good opinion of themselves; which, if not strictly deserved, at least

urged them to attain it.

The next great object of my concern was to attend to the state of the

junior convicts, who amounted to twenty-three, most of whom were mere

boys, the whole of them being under twenty years of age, and some of

them so young as thirteen. Whilst the elder convicts, to whom

particularly the system applied, were receiving the benefit of religious

instruction, it would appear cruel and highly censurable to withhold

similar advantages from those unfortunate children. I therefore had them

all mustered, and examined them individually, to ascertain if any of

them could read: to my great surprise and disappointment, as has been

already mentioned, not more than five out of the entire number were

found possessed of that attainment, and but few of the others could

distinguish the letters of the alphabet. This discovery, however, did

not discourage my purpose; I immediately formed them into a school,

under the care of a convict whose remarkable regard of good order at the

time induced me to trust him, he accordingly superintended the school,

and taught the boys regularly every day. To give as much vigour as

possible to the work, I regularly attended, and taught lessons from 11

till 12 every day, encouraging them by all the means in my power to

exert themselves, and vie with each other in application.

The deplorable neglect shown to the early state of the minds of those

boys forcibly excited compassion. They never had had the slightest

attention paid to their education; if they had been instructed in aught,

it was in those infamous arts which brought them into their present

situation. The profligate wretches who were the means of giving

existence to those children, had their pursuits most likely directed to

gain possession of other persons’ property unjustly, and had neither

leisure nor inclination to attend to the cultivation of their youthful

minds; but rather shrunk from the contrast they must have observed, if

they were capable of so judging, between their children and themselves.

They must then be sensible of their own miserable degradation in

character, from their vicious mode of living, and would tremble with

horror at the superiority of their offspring above themselves, had they

been blessed with a virtuous education. To avoid even this tacit

condemnation of their conduct, their little ones are generally neglected

by their brutal father, or flung into the vortex of their unhappy

mother’s vices and gross indulgences. Little can the grief of those

unnatural parents avail, or excite sympathy, when their children, in

imitation, perhaps, of their parents’ pernicious example, or probably

instigated by their bidding, have committed those acts which bring them

rapidly into disgrace and punishment.

However rude and unpromising the state of these miserable young

creatures appeared, still a lingering hope was cherished of doing

something for their good, and the business of the school was carried on

without intermission. The result of the design far exceeded expectation.

From the assiduous attention of the person appointed as schoolmaster,

and my own constant attendance every day at noon, a strong emulation was

excited amongst them. Although a few copies of the Bible and Testament

formed the only medium of instruction I could command, yet, in a space

of time incredibly short, I succeeded in having all the members of this

little community not only able to read the Scriptures with tolerable

facility, but also enjoyed the greater gratification of believing that

their minds were impressed with the wholesome truths of the sacred

volumes.

This improvement continued progressively to the end of the voyage; and

at the time they were delivered over to the authority at Sydney, each of

these boys could read the Bible fluently, and many of them in a superior

manner, also evincing a familiar acquaintance with the principles of the

Christian gospel. By this measure I had the sincere hope of leading

these youthful votaries of vice into the paths of knowledge and

happiness, enabling them to become hereafter useful to the community, by

exhibiting in their conduct the good effects of religious education.

With regard to the progress of morality, meantime, among the senior

sinners, I find in my journal the following memorandum; and as the

record of those occurrences was written at the moment, under full and

active impression, it may be allowed perfect credit for accuracy.

“1818. _January_ 25th.—Mustered the convicts’ clothing, &c., and those

who were not dressed clean were not permitted to receive this day’s

allowance (half a pint) of wine, which was given to the others.

Mustered, also, the bibles, prayer books, &c. At noon, read a sermon in

the prison, during which the attention and feeling evinced by many of

the convicts gratified me exceedingly. On all occasions of this kind

their conduct has been marked by the utmost regularity; and I cannot

avoid expressing the heartfelt satisfaction it gives me to find my

efforts to lead many of these deluded victims of vice from misery, to

reflect seriously and with tranquillized minds regarding a future state,

and to administer the healing balm which revealed religion is capable of

imparting to the soul, have not been entirely unsuccessful.”

All my watchfulness, notwithstanding, could not prevent some portion of

the old leaven from bursting forth. Some would occasionally quarrel and

fight: one of these turbulent and troublesome characters being detected

in a flagrant instance of delinquency of this kind, twelve lashes were

inflicted on him with salutary effect.

Reconciled as the prisoners were to their immediate condition, still the

love of liberty naturally clung to them, imbittered recollection, and

made many anticipate that severer evils awaited them than any they had

been accustomed to endure. Although convinced of the justice of their

sentence, and the leniency of the laws, and that they really merited the

captivity to which they were consigned, yet an instance occurred which

showed that their doom was irksome to them, and that liberty was the

feeling most near to their heart under circumstances of any kind.

Private information had been conveyed to me that a sailor had been

tampering with one of the convicts. I had the convict brought

immediately into the cabin, and on being interrogated he acknowledged

that _Waterson_ (the seaman) had frequently sought for opportunities of

speaking to him when brought on deck for air and exercise; that a few

days previous he had said, that for twenty pounds he would procure his

escape from New South Wales, by concealing him in a secret part of the

ship, and giving him half of his own allowance of provisions and grog.

The sailor above mentioned had been confined for daring misconduct about

three weeks before, and had been released on his expressing contrition

for his fault and promising to amend in future. It is very probable that

he had a more dangerous object ulteriorly in view, if he could calculate

on finding successfully means of tampering in this way with the

prisoners. To all his plans Captain Carns thought it advisable to appear

blind, as the ruffian was both daring and dangerous: and as nothing

could be gained by driving him into open mutiny, we determined, to keep

a strict watch upon his future actions, and further agreed on the

propriety of giving him up to the Governor on our arrival at the Cape of

Good Hope.

The security of convicts going to New South Wales, or elsewhere on a

long voyage, has a much greater dependence on the regularity and

integrity of the seamen than may at first view be supposed, and even

more than upon the vigilance of the guards. The careless, easy, and

familiar manner of the seaman sooner enables him to form an intimacy

with the convicts, than the stiff, formal, and forbidding air the

soldier assumes, whose unbending attention to his duty forms his chief

characteristic. The mutinous disposition just noticed was not confined

to Waterson alone; for I had an opportunity of witnessing myself conduct

exceedingly reprehensible in another of the seamen, which I cannot

refrain from relating.

About noon on the 24th of February, I heard Serjeant _Bisset_ (one of

the troops) complaining to Captain Carns of some foul language which he

said one of the sailors (_Wraite_) had used to his wife. The Captain

ordered the sailor on deck to have the matter investigated; and when he

came, nothing could be more disrespectful or subversive of good order

than his behaviour was towards the Master. He blustered, and said there

was no living with these soldiering *—*, and used a great deal of other

infamous expressions to the same effect. He was joined by _Anderson_,

who was then at the helm, and used language if possible still more

abominable than the other had done; and although repeatedly desired by

Captain Carns to be silent, he paid no attention whatever. His conduct

became outrageous, and he offered to fight any of the soldiers, and

swore he would be revenged of them.

This Anderson had been for some time showing marks of discontent, and

seemed very desirous of making a quarrel. His manner on this occasion

was altogether violent, and, in my opinion, most decidedly mutinous. He

said all he could to excite a general misunderstanding and immediate

quarrel between the soldiers and sailors; but by the prompt and united

efforts of Captain Carns and Lieutenant _Bunney_, commanding the troops,

peace was at length restored, and all attempts at violence completely

suppressed.

The nature of a seaman’s engagement on board a merchant ship is a

certain source of mischief and insubordination; for, should the

situation not be agreeable to his mind, which it certainly will not if

he be of a depraved and vicious disposition, a wide door is open to

disorder, and no provision is made by law to curb his licentiousness,

and punish him for disobedience. It is true that the seaman enters into

a written engagement with the Master, before the voyage is begun, by

which he consents to a forfeiture of his wages in case of disobedience:

but as that regards the ship’s duty only, the sailor, if so inclined,

can be very troublesome to the Master personally, and by a due exercise

of cunning, for which many of that class are remarkable, may interrupt

the peace of the ship without subjecting himself to loss of wages.

The law is more severe if the seaman attempt to control the actions of

the Master, by laying violent hands on his person, or offering him any

opposition in his proper duties: such a case would amount to felony; but

to determine that offence, a regular trial before a competent authority,

is indispensable: until that can be had, the Captain has to endure the

refractory conduct of the sailor, without any means of repressing it,

unless he choose to hazard exposure to a prosecution, to which the

sailor may have recourse on shore, and to which many interested dabblers

in the law are ever ready to urge.

As this appears to me matter of much concern to the mercantile and

shipping interest, and as it involves much of the security and comfort

of the convict service, I would willingly pursue its further discussion

to an extent commensurate with its importance, but for the present must

defer that subject, and pass to others of more immediate consideration.

Another circumstance, however, regarding the behaviour of the military

placed over the convicts to maintain order, and prevent any attempt at

violence, is of such a nature that it cannot escape remark.

The relative situation of the guards and their prisoners, as to their

opportunities of conversation, being placed in immediate contact with

each other throughout the voyage, makes it extremely necessary to watch

the slightest communication that may take place between them, or in

which either of them may be concerned. The serious consequences, arising

at first probably from some insignificant affair, might have been easily

prevented, had a due discretion been employed in time; but from a

neglect undeserving of exculpation, or in a false security, the evil may

be allowed to proceed,—the mischief at length becomes very serious.

It has been customary, doubtless originating in mere indulgence, to give

an allowance of spirits, most commonly rum, to the soldiers on duty in

convict ships: by referring to the scheme given in a former chapter,

this quantity will be found half a pint _per diem_ to each man. In

merchant ships there is no stipulation, it seems, for seamen to receive

any such allowance: in this branch of service at least, although usually

given for particular services of hardship or hazard performed, it is

always in the Master’s power to withhold this favour at discretion, or,

in the sailor’s phrase, “to stop his grog,” in case of neglect or

disobedience.

Sobriety has at all times been strictly insisted on with soldiers; and

it seems somewhat problematical to understand how a quantity of spirits,

admitted only to be necessary under the severities of a campaign, can be

deemed equally so, allowing it so to be, to a soldier on board a ship,

surrounded with every accommodation, and furnished with a plentiful

supply of food. It cannot be even imagined, without violating

probability, that a man of previously sober habits can be as steady a

guardian of propriety of conduct with half a pint of maddening spirits

hurrying through his veins, and running away with his reason, as when

full of cool determination, and awake in his sobriety to the duties

assigned him. A sentinel is quite a different man when intoxicated or

sober: the one will break his duty, and his officer’s head; and

afterwards get sorry and repent of what he has done; but the other will

do nothing unbecoming the character of his proper duty.

Were the evil to be limited to the soldiers, even reflection, or some of

the repressing passions, might in some degree operate as an antidote

against the consequences of intoxication: an apprehension of incurring

the displeasure of their officer might also prevent an abuse of this

indulgence. It is not, however, considered enough that this ill-directed

allowance should be given to the soldiers on duty, in “the hour of

honour stirring watch;” the women, forsooth, must be taken _care_ of in

the same way, and the effects may be easily foreseen.

The married females permitted to accompany their husbands on board of

convict ships, and the women of choice, whom the laxity of public morals

permits to take the name of wives, are indulged with spirits in half the

proportion given to the men; and the children belonging to them are

besides allowed one half the quantity of the women: so that the latter,

who are careful to be store-keepers to their infants, (for the youngest

baby is allowed the same as those children grown strong in years,) can

easily appropriate to their individual use every day a quantity of

spirits only one fourth less than what is permitted to be consumed by

the men; and if she happen to have several children, the expenditure

will be enormous.

Imagination can scarcely form such a picture as one of these females

when indulged with this immoderate supply of spirits. In a word, one of

these women gets drunk, dead drunk, and is harmless only until the first

effects of the narcotic poison have subsided, and then—But in honour to

the sex, and out of respect to delicacy which virtue only knows, I shall

forbear a description. Scenes which I have been compelled to witness in

this way might lead to a minuteness of delineation, to do them justice

in all their exquisite loathsomeness, as neither the eye of the reader

could bear to scan, nor would recital produce aught but disgust and

distress.

Few mothers could avoid shuddering to see such a female lay her infant

baby across her lap, and pour the liquid poison, (rum) into the poor

thing’s vitals, continuing that diabolical nursing until the nerves of

the unconscious and miserable child are incapable of sensation, and it

drops senseless from the hands of its inhuman parent. The counterpart to

such a monstrous picture, which also is unfortunately, like that, too

often true, is that of the husband, who meantime mounts guard in his

turn, having very probably just partaken of the deleterious draught with

his spouse, with whom he has had, perhaps, quite sufficient bickering to

set his bad passions at work, and in a disposition to be quarrelsome.

There is little of cordiality generally between a soldier and a sailor.

The wife of the soldier under the stimulus of drink, is in the way of

the sailor’s ready joke; willing or unwilling to understand or seem to

hear it, the pride of this Lucretia takes fire, easily no doubt when in

that situation; she announces herself the wife of a soldier, and a

man—one who is able to take her part, and knows how to defend his

wife:—with such sentiments and expressions, the husband becomes

infuriated against the sailor, and quarrels are every now and then

produced.

I wish I could stop here to avoid exposing the shameless want of reserve

with these women towards the sailors. Those occurrences almost entirely

are to be attributed to that unwise use of spirits. From this erroneous

indulgence I am perfectly convinced that all the evils alluded to arise:

the consequences, if placed fully before the authority that permits the

custom, must excite those conclusions which will ensure its recall. I am

unwilling to acknowledge it, but must however declare, that on every

occasion wherein a misunderstanding has occurred on board the Neptune,

during this voyage, its origin could be instantly traced to the mischief

or jealous disposition of those troublesome, drunken frail ones.

A record or two from my journal will serve to elucidate this assertion

and maintain its accuracy, and exhibit the singular ingenuity with which

the principal movers of the scene generally contrived to keep themselves

screened from personal recognition.

“_February_ 4th.—At 8 P. M. the ship was disturbed by Serjeant Bisset

quarrelling with one of the soldiers (Taylor). On inquiry, it appeared

that Taylor had just come off deck and was quietly going to bed, when

Bisset struck him: I had occasion to be in the barrack-room on

professional duty about five minutes before the riot happened; Serjeant

Bisset was then talking in a very loud and angry tone, and certainly

appeared to me not sober. The commanding officer settled the matter as

he thought sufficiently, and Bisset went to his birth. At 9, cries and

screams issued from the soldiers’ sleeping-place, which were audible all

over the ship; this was occasioned by Bisset beating his wife. He swore

the most dreadful oaths that he would “massacre her.” So much noise and

disorderly conduct attracted many of the convicts to the after-hatchway

to witness the scene. The second and third mates went below to endeavour

to restore tranquillity, but the serjeant seized the third mate and

struck him several times. At this moment I went to the hatchway, and saw

one of the sailors lay hold of Bisset, saying he would not allow his

officer to be struck; upon which Corporal Kerr came to the assistance of

Bisset, and swore he would take his serjeant’s part. Fortunately, at

this moment the commanding officer interfered, and put an end to the

affray, which had like to be attended with more serious consequences. It

is to be observed, that the corporal who volunteered in the support of

Bisset used to have frequent quarrels with him.”

“_March_ 8th.—About 5 in the evening Lieutenant Bunney was engaged in

endeavouring to suppress riot and disorder amongst the soldiers, several

of whom were confined for drunkenness. Here was a proof of the bad

effects of allowing such a mischievous quantity of spirits to the men,

whose duty was comparatively light and easy,—full half a gill each day

beyond what is distributed to the guards on duty in a transport ship.

One of the above put himself in an attitude of offence, and showed all

the inclination in his power to strike me, in the presence of Captain

Carns, for having in the mildest manner remonstrated with him on the

impropriety of his conduct.”

“_March_ 25th.—At half past 5 this evening, on coming out of the prison,

I found the commanding officer and Captain Carns trying to suppress a

quarrel that had arisen among the soldiers’ wives, which was likely to

become serious from the husbands’ interfering. Serjeant Bisset seemed

transported with passion, and in my hearing talked something of a sword

to Captain Carns, and said he would be d—d if he would obey any of his

orders. Inquiring into the cause of this outrageous conduct, I was

informed that Captain Carns, who is remarkable for a humane and kind

disposition, in trying to pacify Bisset, took hold of his coat gently,

on which the intoxicated man with fury swore that if he had his sword he

would run him through. This part of Bisset’s behaviour I had not an

opportunity of witnessing; but I came sufficiently in time to see him

act in the most disrespectful and insolent manner towards Captain

Carns.”

These are a few of the mischievous effects arising from the unnecessary

allowance of liquor among men whose lives and habits may have been

previously sober and orderly. The evil was undoubtedly increased by the

women’s participating in the intoxication, as they were under no

restraint whatever, except the brutal correction inflicted by their

infuriated husbands. These women _having no employment_, and influenced

by drink, have too much leisure to indulge in licentiousness; disorderly

quarrels must be the constant and inevitable consequence.

Here it may be asked, Will convicts witnessing those excesses, remain

indifferent spectators of what is passing before them? Such is the

manner in which a convict ship is laid out, that every thing almost

occurring among the soldiers between deck, is within view of the

prisoners. Will any of them in whose bosom there still lurks the spirit

of licentiousness, fail to catch at the opportunity of again indulging

in his favourite propensity? One cannot help shuddering to contemplate

the horrible consequences which follow the footsteps of a female of

those abandoned habits in such a situation. If not at once successful in

his plans, either to secure a base gratification, or carry into effect a

conspiracy for escaping; still circumstances will grow out of this

guilty correspondence with the women, which will overturn all endeavours

to produce moral impressions, and the inveterate habits of crime will

again be cherished. The contagion did not remain among the soldiers and

sailors alone, as will appear from the following extract from my

journal, which more fully explains my meaning.

“_April_ 10th.—Numerous complaints were made this morning in the prison

against William Bamford, (bad character, convicted of forgery,

transported for life), for being drunk the previous night, and

conducting himself in a most riotous and disorderly manner, to the great

annoyance of every one near him. At half past 10 A. M. I had him and his

accusers brought upon deck, in order to give the matter an ample and

fair investigation. It was clearly proved, that Bamford was in the state

complained of, and had used expressions of the most shocking and

abominable nature; and had, in other respects, behaved most shamefully

and disgracefully. He was interrogated respecting the way he had

obtained the liquor; but on this head he would give no information

whatever. For this multiplied offence he was punished with three dozen

lashes.”

On this case of Bamford I have to remark, that I subsequently obtained

proof of his having received the spirits from the wife of one of the

soldiers; that between these two there existed a guilty understanding,

which was plainly evinced after the convicts had been landed in the

colony. This Bamford had been one of the persons engaged in the traffic

of forged notes; and, like all those who follow that iniquitous

occupation, was possessed of abundance of money. The soldier’s wife

above mentioned, on the arrival of the ship at Sydney, contrived to

conceal herself from her husband all the time the vessel remained at

that place, until it sailed with the detachment for India. This woman

was afterwards known to join Bamford and live with him in a domestic

way, thereby consummating her abandoned character with the additional

crime of adultery.

Little doubt remains on my mind, that all these unhappy results might

have been prevented by regulations regarding the allowance of rum,

better than those at present adopted. Were I permitted to offer a

suggestion on a subject connected with the military service,—and I would

obtrude an opinion only respecting this particular department,—I would

advise the quantity of spirits distributed to each soldier on duty in a

convict ship to be but one half of that now given; and that the women,

if any were suffered to embark, should not be allowed spirits on any

account, as they have not to undergo any fatigue or distressing labour;

above all, that no share whatever should be set apart for the children.

By this simple regulation the disorders complained of as now prevailing

would be prevented, and the health of the soldiers preserved; which was

not the case during the voyage in question, as scarcely a day passed

without the name of one or more soldiers appearing in the sick list.

This circumstance was the more remarkable, as the disposition to disease

continued as long as the rum lasted; but a visible improvement in their

general health became evident as soon as the spirits were expended,

which happily took place shortly after leaving the Cape of Good Hope.

One circumstance, which hitherto escaped my recollection, I shall here

introduce as being in some measure connected with the preceding facts.

The irregularities arising from a practice the soldiers had of conveying

below the spirits they received as their ration, and there bartering

them with one another, or with the women, became seriously great: many

of the soldiers were observed to be orderly and sober; but in proportion

as these were correct, the others and the women were the more drunken

and dissolute,—the poisonous beverage having been in the former case not

swallowed at all, and in the latter drunk beyond all moderation. An

expedient was of necessity adopted, which was found somewhat beneficial

in correction of the above improper behaviour. This was, that each

soldier was obliged to come to the tub for his allowance of grog, there

to remain until he drank it: by this means no unfair transfer of the

spirits could take place.

With regard to the women and children, I would recommend a moderate

supply of wine to be placed in charge with the Surgeon Superintendent,

to be distributed at his discretion, according to their necessities or

wants in sickness; this, I will venture to say, will in a great measure

put a stop to the evils which now so deplorably exist.

I now revert to the more cheerful task of recording the advancement of

the convicts in the paths of order, decency, and religious duty. No

occasion was let slip to seize upon every moment when any circumstance

presented itself conducive to the main object in view. I read to them

regularly every Sunday, and on other suitable days, a sermon selected

for the occasion, and adapted as much as possible to the state of

existing circumstances; and afterwards generally read the same discourse

to the guards and sailors upon deck, as I considered that the surest

means of preventing them from making an ill use of such opportunities as

they should chance to have of conversing with the prisoners, and

therefore maintaining any improper communication. I have much reason to

believe that the wholesome moral arguments of Dr. Blair, and other

divines whose writings I made use of, carried a degree of lasting

conviction to the minds of the prisoners, and that the good impressions

were afterwards improved during the moments of reflection.

The boys, too, continued to advance considerably in the reading of the

holy scriptures, and the happiest results might be presaged from their

assiduity, and their observance of the strict discipline instituted in

the school. I had also the heartfelt satisfaction to find that their

behaviour, at such hours as they were not engaged in the school, was

correct; that the persons whom I had appointed to watch over them

reported favourably of them; and, above all, that the unfortunate cause

which induced me to separate them from each other no longer existed,—in

fact, every trace of it had disappeared. There was a silent

submissiveness in their manner, which formed a pleasing contrast to that

forwardness and unblushing confidence for which they were before

remarkable; nor was an indecent expression, oath, or obscene song, ever

heard amongst them.

Many of the convicts continued sickly, and afflicted with chronic

diseases, which were often aggravated by the damp occasioned by the

heavy working of the ship through high seas and boisterous weather. The

greatest care was taken to stop the temporary leaks which thus appeared;

and the stoves were kept in daily and constant use, to prevent any bad

consequences arising from wet decks and damp bedding.

A certain number of the healthy prisoners were allowed to exercise a

sufficient time every day upon deck, for the benefit of the fresh air;

these were regularly succeeded by another division, usually one third of

the whole; these afterwards by another, so that all enjoyed air and

exercise a certain number of hours every day. This arrangement also

produced a good deal of bustle amongst them, by removing from the prison

to the deck, and relieving each other in a manner from the irksomeness

of confinement; and formed a sort of substitute for employment during

the day, by the temporary movements and changes it created among

themselves. The convalescents were not limited to any particular number

of hours upon deck, and whenever the weather would permit, they were

allowed to remain as long as they liked.

The conduct of the convicts generally was such in every respect as to

merit approbation. A muster of the different articles, books, &c.

belonging to each mess was regularly observed; and on such occasions

correctness and cleanliness were so observable as almost invariably to

preclude censure; rarely was there any necessity of now withholding

their allowance of wine, or inflicting any other punishment.

On approaching the Cape of Good Hope, I was agreeably surprised by a

request, very respectfully made by the convicts, to take charge of a

letter written by some of themselves, and signed by the entire number,

addressed to Lord Sidmouth, and to forward it as soon as might be

convenient. With this request I cheerfully complied; and as the letter

may afford the reader as much pleasure as it has done myself, it is

imparted freely, being copied from the original by one of the convicts,

and presented to me at the same time. Its contents are as follow.

“On board the Neptune,

Cape of Good Hope, March 3, 1818.

“MY LORD,

“Degraded as we are in our own estimation, it is with feelings of

diffidence and respect that we presume to obtrude ourselves upon

your Lordship’s notice. Trusting to that liberality of sentiment

which has so long characterized your lordship’s conduct, both in

public and private life, we hope your lordship will pardon this

trespass on your valuable time. It is not our intention to try to

extenuate those crimes for which we are justly driven from the

society and endearments of our native country. Deeply feeling our

situation as convicts, having violated laws both human and divine,

it behoves us to reflect seriously on our past conduct, and

endeavour to make such reparation as is still within our humble

power. Animated with these sentiments, we consider it our first

and paramount duty to pay that homage and adoration to the supreme

Ruler of the universe, which the Creator expects from the

creature. When all our visionary plans had terminated in

disappointment, shame, and misery, the just sentence of exile made

our wretched condition incapable of receiving any increase. In

this situation many of us received consolations from religion

which we had never before experienced. It is with joyful feelings

we acquaint your Lordship of the encouragement we have received at

all times from the officers of this ship to persevere in religious

duties. The countenance and example of the Captain and Surgeon

have preserved respect for those who were seriously disposed,

drawn some from the paths of vice, and maintained order and

regularity throughout. Since the time of our embarkation, divine

service or a discourse from Dr. Blair’s Sermons has been read to

us every Sunday by the Surgeon, the beneficial effects of which

are most conspicuous; and we doubt not will continue to be felt by

some of us for the remainder of our lives. There is nothing which

tends to soften stubborn dispositions, and inspire the mind with

such awe and reverence, as a constant attention to those duties

which we owe to our Maker. It is he alone who can subdue and

console the human heart; and most of us, my Lord, are now

persuaded of this great truth, that if we are constantly and

habitually in the practice of violating his commandments, we

cannot reasonably expect prosperity in this world, or happiness in

the next. It would be great presumption in us to point out to your

Lordship the advantages and blessings of having the mind even a

little enlightened by education; but we cannot suppress the

pleasure it gives us to notice that a school has been established

under the auspices of the Surgeon, who has appointed people

properly qualified to instruct the boys, of whom there are upwards

of twenty in the ship. What exertions and progress have been made

in releasing these children of nature from the darkness of

ignorance, we submit to the opinion of the Surgeon, who

superintends them; and in his official report of us we are well

convinced that impartial justice will be done to the conduct and

character of every one; and we confidently hope and think, that

that report will be as satisfactory to His Majesty’s Government,

as creditable to those who are the objects of it. We further hope,

that by the time we reach our ultimate destination there will be

very few of us unacquainted with the consoling truths of revealed

religion. The idea of being instrumental in effecting so happy a

change will be a rich reward for any pains or assiduity it may

cost. That it may be our lot, is the sincere and ardent prayer of

our hearts; so that all of us may exclaim in the language of the

publican, ‘Lord, be merciful to us sinners.’ We would here, my

Lord, take the liberty of expressing our most sincere and grateful

acknowledgements for those comforts that have been provided for

us, which, with the unwearied attention and assiduity of the

Surgeon and Captain, have proved so truly beneficial to our

health. With great deference and respect we humbly subscribe

ourselves

“Your Lordship’s

“Most obedient and truly devoted servants.”

(_Signed by one hundred and seventy._)

“To the Right Hon. Lord Viscount Sidmouth,

Secretary of State, &c.”

The above may afford a tolerably correct idea of the state of mind in

which these people were, even at that part of their voyage, and of the

benefits which they derived from the moral system instituted. It

certainly exhibits proof of considerable feeling, and no small share of

talent, existing among this degraded community. To the above document

were affixed one hundred and seventy signatures; and as the matter was

altogether of their spontaneous doing, I wished to encourage the spirit

in which it originated: to their wish, therefore, to have it forwarded

as they desired, as it became to me a pleasing duty to comply with it, I

acceded, the more willingly, from a feeling of humanity towards their

unfortunate situation.

The above letter was forwarded to the Secretary of State for the Home

Department by an early conveyance from the Cape of Good Hope, where the

Neptune stopped for some short time for the purpose of recruiting her

stock of water, and obtaining a supply of fresh provisions for the

convicts and guards. An application was made in person by Captain Carns

to the Governor at the Cape, to have the two mutinous seamen, Waterson

and Anderson, put on shore, as it was dangerous to take them any

further; but the Governor did not seem to think that the matter came

under his cognizance. However, some time after this, the business was so

arranged that those dangerous men were allowed to take their discharge,

and being paid their wages were set on shore at Cape Town, and finally

dismissed.

The great object I had in view, and the system adopted for the

management and well-being of the convicts on board, were seriously

affected, and in some degree materially embarrassed, by an occurrence

which took place whilst the Neptune was lying at the Cape. As this

matter appears to me to concern the situation of the prisoners, the

relation, taken from the journal in the precise manner in which the

transaction passed, is here introduced.

“_March_ 5th.—At 11 P. M. the master having signified that it was the

Governor’s wish to see us on shore, we waited on His Excellency. His

Lordship’s manner at this interview, for such it may be strictly called,

as conversation was out of the question, appeared so singular that it

seems well worthy of a place in this journal. On our being announced,

the doors were thrown open and we advanced, when we had the honour of

_seeing_ His Lordship, who on the instant waved his hand,—turned on his

heel,—muttered something about ‘Colonel Bird,’—and disappeared: such was

the substance of our interview with the Governor by his own

appointment.”——“It might be asked, Would His Excellency have treated his

_groom_ and his _jockey_ with that sort of politeness as on this

occasion he thought proper to show towards a respectable master of a

London merchant ship and a surgeon of His Majesty’s navy, engaged to

attend him, at his own desire, in an affair of public duty?”

On being thus referred to Colonel Bird, then deputy secretary to the

colony, that gentleman acquainted us of the Governor’s intention of

sending on board the Neptune _sixteen convicts_ who had escaped from New

South Wales, in the _Harriet_ just arrived from that country. We

represented the impossibility of accommodating so many. The agent for

transports was sent for to have his opinion on the case, and he

confirmed the report we had made. About an hour after this we again saw

Colonel Bird, who said the Governor had made up his mind to send us the

sixteen convicts. To this I replied, The instructions of the Navy Board

neither required nor authorized me to receive more prisoners than I

thought the ship could accommodate. The Colonel then observed that the

Governor would give a positive order for them to be received, and take

all the responsibility on himself. I lost no time in writing to the

colonial secretary, stating my decided opinion, that the ship had

neither room nor accommodation for so many, and requesting a survey to

be held on board of her before the additional number of convicts should

be sent.

“Of this letter no notice whatever was taken, as it appears, nor any

answer returned. Our application to the Government naval commissioner,

and fiscal, for the removal of the mutinous seamen had been equally

unsuccessful, every one in authority evading these necessary and

important requests by shifting the matter from one to another’s

hands,—every one saying that the affair did not come within his

department; so that, in fact, an applicant at any office of those

‘departments’ would find it necessary to make himself acquainted with

all their etiquette and routine, before he could understand how to

prefer a petition properly for the redress of any grievance or the

removal of any inconvenience how pressing soever, or the rectification

of any error however urgent its nature might be. Let this mode of

conducting public business be applied to the concerns of the port of

London, or any of the great commercial towns, and say what would be its

consequence.”

“_March_ 6th.—At half past six this morning the under sheriff brought

two colonial convicts on board, for whom accommodation had been

provided, though even that was effected with considerable inconvenience.

The above officer stated, that the Governor had altered his intention,

and had sent those two instead of the sixteen deserters who had come in

the Harriet. The master gave the usual receipt for them, and they were

victualled accordingly. About 3 P. M. the same person returned to the

ship, saying the fiscal had ordered him to take the two prisoners back;

but this was refused until an order was produced from some one legally

empowered by the Government to do so.

“_March_ 7th.—At half past 10 A. M. the agent for transports came on

board and informed me, that he was desired by the commissioner to get a

copy of the charter-party and my instructions, both of which and a copy

of Captain Carns’s I procured for him. He also brought with him a

carpenter from the shore to build an apartment in the prison, for the

sixteen convicts already mentioned. In the same boat with the agent came

a Captain Gill, who delivered to the master the order of the Governor to

receive those men. The colonial secretary left altogether unnoticed, my

letter to him requesting a survey of the ship to be made before any

order should be issued for sending so great an additional number of

convicts on board. In this manner was I reluctantly compelled to

acquiesce, against my judgement, in receiving more convicts than the

ship could accommodate; which involved the manifest risk of exposing the

whole to much inconvenience, if not serious danger, during the remainder

of the voyage.”

“_March_ 8th.—Several carpenters from the shore employed in building a

bulk-head in the prison. At 10 A. M. seven private invalid soldiers from

the shore belonging to the 83d regiment came on board, as an extra

guard. At 12 I read a sermon in the prison, at which Captain Carns and

the commanding officer attended; after which I expressed to the

prisoners my entire approbation of their conduct, and exhorted them to

persevere; at the same time stating it as our determination to give them

every indulgence in our power. They all expressed their thanks, and

seemed highly grateful.”

“_March_ 11th.—At half past 10 A. M., the weather having moderated a

little, a boat was manned and armed, in which I went to the Harriet to

arrange for the conveyance of the convicts to the Neptune. The master of

the Harriet either could not or would not afford a boat, consequently we

were obliged to make two trips between the ships before the transfer was

accomplished. When they were all on board, I had their hair cut off, and

ordered them each to be washed in the bathing tub. After this very

needful operation they all received, according to the Governor’s order,

two suits of slop clothing, and the rags in which they came were thrown

into the sea.”

Several reasons offer themselves to justify one in pronouncing this

proceeding at the Cape, on the part of the local authorities, respecting

the obtrusion of the sixteen additional prisoners, as being, at the very

least that may be said of it, _harsh_. This is stated not from any

personal inconvenience which could arise to myself from an increase of

professional duty; but the term is applied to that proceeding from

reference to the former number of convicts even more than the ship’s

proper number,—the Neptune in a subsequent voyage having carried out

only one hundred and fifty-six, that being, it appears, the complement

proper for her accommodation.

Lest my opinion of this transaction should seem in any respect unjust, I

am desirous of explaining why I consider the putting such an

extraordinary number into a vessel already overcrowded, as must appear

from her having one hundred and seventy prisoners on board, instead of

her proper complement of one hundred and fifty-six, highly injudicious

and dangerous. A convict ship laid out for a certain number of prisoners

cannot prudently be altered for the reception of more, without a

manifest risk of inconvenience and danger;—the former, on account of

confining their sleeping-places, seats, exercise, &c. and the latter,

from the foulness of the atmospheric medium, in which the crowd must

respire the doubtful or perhaps diseased exhalations from each other’s

lungs.

In the present case this was the more striking, as even with all the

care, regular exercise, and the most careful attention to the daily

state of the convicts; even with all my experience of their

constitutions and disorders, during the time the ship was proceeding

from the Thames to the Cape of Good Hope; still an extreme hazard was

incurred by the admission of a fresh number of men, besides including

the seven invalids, all of course strangers to the regimen previously

used; and perhaps, as might be suspected, tainted with infectious

diseases.

These sixteen men having escaped from New South Wales, must have endured

such hardships and privations as would be likely to superinduce

contagious disease, and the miserable state in which they were when

taken on board, excited strong apprehensions to that effect. Having made

minute inquiry from one of the number, I learned that these wretched men

had contrived to secrete themselves in the hold of the Harriet, where

they lay concealed for more than a month before they were discovered;

having subsisted that time on some miserable matters they had brought

away with them, and on a small store belonging to the owner, to which

they had penetrated privately. In this wretched state they continued in

a horrible and disgusting condition, so that they were of an appearance

extremely forbidding when brought on board.

But a circumstance more imperative on my attention was, how to dispose

of them in such a way as to guard against the principles they might

possess, and to prevent their commixture with such seeds of error and

vice as might be only suppressed in the original convicts. All these

unpleasant consequences grew out of the crude intimation of the

Governor’s,—for His Excellency does not seem to have thoroughly known

his own intentions, even after it was signified that he had “made up his

mind” to send the sixteen convicts on board the Neptune. How else can it

be comprehended, that the positive order of sending sixteen prisoners,

as was spoken of, had been altered for the shipment of the two colonial

convicts from the Cape district only? Can it be that the sheriff in

bringing those two on board acted under the single authority of the

fiscal?—or was that authority of such preponderating power, at the seat

of government, as to weigh down against every other?

This latter unaccountable experiment having been tried, another was

resorted to, to obtain from the ship’s charter-party whether any

objection lurked in that instrument, or in the copy of my instructions.

Special care was taken that the person sent for that purpose should be

allowed to copy those documents freely, as it was the desire of the

Naval Commissioner; and the spirit of accommodation went further, by

giving also a copy of the Master’s instructions: for all this, what

complaisance was shown in turn? My letter, requesting a survey of the

ship to be made before the Governor’s “_positive_” should be issued, was

not at all attended to, although it was exclusively on the public

service; nor was it treated with that common politeness which every

communication of the sort is generally entitled to.

His Excellency deigned to convey his intentions through the agency of a

third person, who was allowed to express them in his stead, although I

had the honour of waiting on him for that purpose, it is presumed, by

his own appointment. His pleasure, when made known, was issued in the

teeth of the report made by the agent for transports, “That the ship

could not accommodate the increased number which was intended to be

sent;” yet were sixteen, besides the additional guard of seven invalids,

thrust upon a crowded ship, without the least deference to the judgement

of those who were most competent to decide on an affair in which the

lives of one hundred and eighty-six prisoners were concerned.

I am at a loss to think whether it be proper or not to state the strange

yet bold declaration of His Excellency Lord Charles Somerset, the

governor at the Cape of Good Hope, when he understood that my objections

to the reception of the deserters were not to be removed unless by the

power of a “positive order,” that His Excellency was pleased to signify

his willingness to take upon himself the responsibility of the affair,

and “_were all the prisoners to die, he would be answerable for the

consequences_.” Thank Heaven! the men all came safe to their

destination, and I had the gratification to leave His Excellency to

enjoy in full security the pleasure of having so nobly enforced a

measure, which appears to have engaged much of his serious intentions as

to a determined exercise, at any risk, of his supreme authority.

Every precaution was now adopted to prevent communication with the

deserters. This was desirable for two motives: to prevent either moral

or physical contagion, and to preclude conversation altogether between

the old and new prisoners. The body of the prison was occupied by the

old prisoners, and the usual attention to bathing, exercise in the fresh

air, airing beds, &c. was observed; they were strictly enjoined to

abstain from all communication with the sixteen on any account, and this

I never knew one of them to violate. The deserters were kept confined in

a separate prison by themselves, and were totally and effectually

excluded from the society and conversation of the others. Books of a

religious kind were supplied to them, and they also had the benefit of

bathing and exercise in the open air, but always at times when the other

convicts were put out of the way. Indeed the prison door of the

deserters was never upon any occasion opened but when I was present. By

this arrangement the whole prisoners were kept firm in the moral

improvement they had made, and served as a pattern to the new ones,

whose conduct became so good as to exceed every hope I had formed

respecting them. The poor fellows had smarted sorely for their rash

imprudence in withdrawing from the colony, and now returned back

execrating the folly which had seduced them, declaring their determined

purpose to make every atonement for their offence, and to endeavour at a

thorough amendment in future.

The sixteen were not allowed any wine during their return to New South

Wales; I was therefore agreeably surprised one day when a paper was put

into my hand, in a very respectful manner, by one of the old prisoners,

as they were called, in which they unanimously and earnestly requested

permission to share their allowance of wine with the new prisoners.

Being much pleased with this generous and considerate offer, I indulged

them accordingly in their humane effort of contributing to the comfort

of their brethren in bondage.

By this strict management the conduct of the sixteen convicts became

correct and even exemplary. To them also I addressed some select moral

discourse regularly, and every individual among them seemed to vie with

his companions in avoiding every thing verging on impropriety; and the

language of passion, anger, or indecency, became quite strange among

them.

The boys had made a considerable advancement in their school business,

and it was pleasing and edifying to observe their demeanour, and the

correctness with which they read the holy Scriptures. Constant

application had made many of them familiar with the sacred pages; and it

was to be hoped that the divine truths contained in them had imparted

happy influence to their hearts, as not a word of a corrupt, obscene, or

improper nature was now heard uttered by any one of them.

The conduct of one young man was particularly praiseworthy; and although

it may be looked upon as rather trifling, I beg leave to say something

of it here. This youth, William Roberts, urged by an ardent desire to

make himself useful, wrote a letter marked by an uncommon neatness of

expression, in which he entreated to be allowed at some time out of the

school hours, to read to the younger boys who appeared least proficient,

and by his additional exertions enable them to get forward more rapidly

in the study of the Bible. This young man had also produced much good

effect by a remarkable willingness of manner, as the rest were in a

great measure led by his example.

The gratitude constantly expressed by these unfortunate youths fully

testified their sincerity, and proved their sense of the valuable

advantages derived from the kind treatment showed them, and the

instructions they had received. Nor was their example lost upon the men,

who were unanimous in declaring how much happier they felt themselves in

the circumstances of their exile, than they had ever known, even when

most successful in the career of crime. Their minds seemed now at

ease,—their wants were alleviated by a liberal provision,—while a sense

of their good behaviour encouraged them to hope for a favourable

reception from the Governor of New South Wales.

In this improved and comparatively happy state the Neptune proceeded

without any accident to her destination, and on the fifth of May we saw

Botany Bay. At half past 10 the same day we entered the Heads of Port

Jackson, and shortly after received a pilot on board. At noon we

anchored to wait for the tide, and in half an hour the Naval Officer

came on board. Captain Carns accompanied me to wait on the Governor with

the dispatches from England. Soon after I had the few remaining invalids

removed to the hospital on shore, and some days afterwards the principal

superintendent of convicts came on board, and received the sixteen whom

we had from the Harriet at the Cape of Good Hope.

The convicts whom I originally brought out from England, had among

themselves agreed to express their sentiments as to the voyage, in a

letter which was delivered to me by one of them. A copy of this document

is subjoined, not from any consideration of its value with regard to

myself, but merely to show the state of mind in which these people

arrived at their place of exile. This letter was communicated previously

to the landing of the sixteen deserters, who signed it in common with

their other fellow prisoners.

“On board the Neptune,

“Sydney Cove, 8th May, 1818.

“SIR,

“Being now safely arrived, through the merciful dispensation of an

all-wise Providence, at the place of destination to which the laws

of our country have consigned us; and being perfectly sensible of

the great attention you have on every occasion paid us during this

long and tedious passage, we cannot help availing ourselves of the

present opportunity of presenting to you our unfeigned and

grateful acknowledgements for the kind, condescending and

benevolent disposition you have invariably manifested to supply

our wants, redress our grievances, and render our situation as

happy and comfortable as circumstances would admit of: that in the

faithful discharge of your public duty as Surgeon and

Superintendent of this ship, we must beg leave to bear ample

testimony of your assiduous care, and unremitting attention, which

has ever been guided by the dictates of humanity, and which we are

well convinced must and does emanate from a noble mind, and

generous heart. These, Sir, are not the ebullitions of flattery,

but the genuine sentiments of our hearts, filled with admiration

of your eminent virtues and transcendent abilities, which cannot

be obliterated from our memory till time itself shall be no more.

We take the liberty, Sir, of requesting you to accept our sincere

wishes for your health, happiness, and prosperity, being the only

tribute within our humble power. May the Almighty, in his infinite

goodness and mercy, shower down his blessings upon you, is our

sincere and ardent prayer. With every sentiment of deference and

respect, we are, Sir,

“Your ever obliged and grateful servants.”

(_Signed by one hundred and eighty six._)

“To Mr. Thomas Reid,

“Surgeon and Superintendent.”

Shortly after the arrival of the ship, Mr. Secretary _Campbell_ came on

board and mustered the whole of the prisoners. He interrogated them

individually respecting their health and their usage on board, to which

their answers were most satisfactory and gratifying. The usual regular

exercises of religious reading, and occasional exhortation, were

continued as before without intermission until the convicts were finally

removed to the shore, and disposed of according to the Governor’s

commands. It was at their departure from the ship that they first seemed

to feel the distressing effects of banishment: they left it with tears

and sorrow, as if it had been their cherished home; and moved away in

silent grief like the members of a family which had been overwhelmed

with a sudden calamity.

His Excellency was pleased to express his opinion of this voyage in the

following terms, which he wrote himself in my journal.

“I have perused with peculiar interest and satisfaction the

foregoing journal of Thomas Reid, Esq., Surgeon and Superintendent

of the Neptune male convict ship.”

(Signed) “L. MACQUARIE.”

“Government House, Sydney,

“New South Wales, 6 June, 1818.”

Thus happily terminated a voyage of considerable length, the

circumstances of which were of deep interest, as involving the solution

of a problem, whether male convicts are susceptible of being reclaimed

from long established habits of idleness, immorality, and wickedness.

Here was obtained irrefragable proof that the human heart never can be

so thoroughly debased by vice, but still a portion remains

uncontaminated; and that there are still left the seeds of improvement

in the human breast, which require only a timely and careful cultivation

to bring again into the state of reproducing good and wholesome fruits.

During my stay in the colony, which was only for a few weeks, in order

to prosecute some inquiries on subjects of Natural History with which

that country is eminently abundant, many of my leisure hours were passed

in the society of men distinguished by their elevated situations, and

still more by their very engaging manners, fund of useful knowledge, and

that urbanity which bids the stranger feel himself at home.

I should deem myself to act most unworthily, did I not here declare my

obligations to Governor MACQUARIE for the truly polite and invariable

attention I received during my stay. Indeed I shall never forget the

acknowledgements I stand indebted for his kindness in affording to my

inquiries every desirable facility in the researches I had occasion to

make. For His Excellency’s hospitable reception, and the numerous

friends with whom I thus enjoyed the social converse, and the happy

absence of reserve, make me look upon and value that short period as

among the most pleasant days of my existence.

I made many excursions from Sydney into the interior of the country, and

found my researches well rewarded by valuable specimens in almost every

branch of Natural History, particularly Geology, to which my principal

attention was then directed. Of these specimens I made a very

considerable collection for the gratification of some esteemed friends

in London. The observations made on those occasions I had thrown into a

concise arrangement in the form of notes, suited to the collection of

each day’s excursion, intending to transcribe them at large in a

scientific form, during the voyage home. An awful occurrence, however,

defeated my intentions in that respect.

Having been intrusted with the dispatches of Governor Macquarie to the

Government at home, it was necessary to return to Europe with as little

delay as possible: accordingly, taking advantage of the opportunity

afforded by the Neptune, which was going to India, I went thither, and

there embarked in the first vessel which was about to sail for England.

Near the island of Mauritius a dreadful hurricane came on, which nearly

caused the destruction of the vessel, and reduced her to a wreck. Almost

every thing on board was destroyed, and with the greatest difficulty

were my exertions sufficient to preserve the Government dispatches at

the utmost risk of my life. My whole collection of specimens was

unfortunately lost; my clothes, books, and papers, except some private

memoranda, shared the same fate; and I found myself on the shore of Port

Louis destitute of every personal comfort, and deprived of many very

valuable matters independently of the losses above enumerated. Among

these I had to regret the loss of my remarks on the Natural History of

New South Wales, collected from my own observations during the time I

had remained in that country. A very valuable set of surgical

instruments also was unfortunately carried away during the awful

visitation of that storm.—The recollection of this misfortune always

brings distressing thoughts to my mind.

With respect to my losses on that occasion, I felt some consolation in

the hope that the Government would direct some indemnification for them,

as I might, perhaps, have saved some things of value belonging to myself

during the tempest, had not my endeavours been exclusively devoted to

the preservation of the dispatches. With the result of my expectations

of being thus indemnified I have no reason to congratulate myself; for,

although the claim was couched and urged in the most respectful

language, it did not appear to be considered a fit application, and I

was obliged to reconcile myself to the loss and disappointment[4].

Previously to that unfortunate occurrence, I had made notes of some

observations regarding the treatment of the convicts during the voyage,

and the effects of the system which I found it proper to employ. Those

papers being of considerable extent occupied much of my time and

attention on the passage from New South Wales; but they too became

involved in the above disaster off the Mauritius. I had the greater

reason to regret this latter circumstance, as my intention was thereby

defeated of laying before the Commissioners of the Navy a full and

detailed account of the voyage, for the “information of His Majesty’s

Secretary of State.”

I considered it, however, an indispensable duty to draw up a statement

from such materials as memory could furnish, agreeably to the

instructions received from the Navy Board; and in compliance,

immediately on my return to London, I made a hasty sketch of my remarks

in the form of a letter addressed to that Board; but as I have not since

been favoured with any intimation of its ever having been received, I am

compelled to think that it never came to hand. As this document may be

interesting to those who bestow consideration on the subject of these

remarks, I beg leave to subjoin a copy of it from the rough draught

which happened to remain with me.

“GENTLEMEN,

“London, 3rd September, 1819.

“I have the honour to acquaint you of my return from New South

Wales, whither you were pleased to send me as Surgeon and

Superintendent of the late convict ship Neptune. In obedience to

your instructions, I took occasion to give a sketch or outline of

the measures I employed for the management of the convicts, in a

letter I had the honour to address you from the Cape of Good Hope,

dated 8th March 1818. On this head I have only to add, that we

received sixteen more convicts at that colony, and seven soldiers

additional guard, which crowded us considerably; but I am happy to

say we performed the voyage without losing a man.

“In the letter above alluded to, I mentioned having formed

twenty-three of our juvenile depredators into a school, of whom

only three knew the alphabet. I found it an agreeable relaxation

from other duties, to instruct, and to the best of my power

reclaim, these children of error; and I am glad to say my

endeavours were not unavailing; for, before we arrived at Sydney,

they could all read the Scriptures gracefully, some indeed

elegantly.

“In forming a few regulations for the guidance of the convicts

while on board, I was desirous of trying the influence of

religious exhortation; and I thought the dejected state of mind

into which vice and folly had plunged them, a favourable

opportunity for evincing its powers. I did not aim at too much at

first; but by endeavouring to recall known truths to their minds,

and impress a firm belief that the exercise of those virtues which

still remained within their power, would contribute to meliorate

their condition in a future state, I proceeded with facility and

success far beyond the most earnest hope I had ever entertained.

Indeed, so much did this plan improve their conduct and morals,

that during the last two months they were on board, I am confident

half a dozen oaths or obscene expressions were not uttered in the

prison.

“It may not be irrelevant to mention, that such exemplary

behaviour enabled us with safety to increase their comforts.

Accordingly we had their irons struck off, and allowed the prison

doors to be left open during the day, as marks of confidence which

it was their interest to merit, and which they never abused. I do

not mean to say that this plan might always be followed with

impunity, or that the same means would always produce the same

effects; but certain I am, that even convicts are susceptible of

gratitude, which, when sincere, is not less binding than chains;

and I think the subject thus attached is more likely at some

future period to be useful to society, than he whose mind, unused

to the language of consolation, sinks into pitiable imbecility, or

too often is driven by despair to horrible deeds. I shall urge

this subject no further than simply to state, that if your Board

wish for a more detailed account of my system, it will give me

great pleasure to particularize every circumstance that occurred

during the voyage, that may appear worthy of its notice.

“I owe it to justice here to state, that during the voyage I

received every possible assistance from Mr. Robert Carns, Master

of the Neptune. On every occasion, his humanity and readiness to

promote the comforts of the prisoners were most eminently

conspicuous; and I am glad to have an opportunity of

acknowledging, that, without his willing co-operation and

excellent discipline, my endeavours could not have been so

successful:—indeed, no man could have discharged a public duty

with more zeal and fidelity.

“In obedience to the sixteenth article of Instructions furnished

by your Honourable Board, I beg permission humbly and earnestly to

solicit your attention to a few observations which, I think, would

in some measure tend to reduce the mass of wretchedness that

generally exists in a convict-ship. What I have to propose has

this recommendation, That, while it contributes to suppress vice

and immorality, it will also be some little diminution of the

public expenses. I therefore trust that the following remarks will

not be deemed entirely destitute of interest, how trifling soever

they may appear.

“_First_:—I think the allowance of spirits to the soldiers

composing the guard in a convict-ship is too much by half. I am

confident there was not a night, while they had full allowance in

the Neptune, but some were intoxicated; and on some occasions more

than half of them were found quite unfit for duty, notwithstanding

their commanding officer did all he could to keep them in good

order. This scene of debauchery was heightened by the very

abandoned conduct of their wives, who, in fits of intoxication,

would offer themselves indiscriminately for prostitution; which

kept up constant jealousy, and excited quarrels between the

soldiers and sailors that often assumed a very serious aspect. The

commanding officer of the guard at length found it necessary to

order the spirits to be drunk on deck at the tub, and none to be

carried from thence; which certainly had a good effect; though I

have seen the mothers urge their children to drink till they fell

down totally insensible. These disgraceful excesses, which

undermine and corrode every noble faculty of the soul, would be

most effectually prevented by lessening the quantity of spirits to

the soldiers, and allowing their wives and children none at all. I

am sure it never improves their health; and it undoubtedly

corrupts their morals. It is difficult to conceive what necessity

a young child can have for spirits; and yet, in this service, it

is allowed a certain quantity from the hour of its birth[5]. The

fact is, the child’s allowance helps to make the mother drunk, in

which state the dearest ties of nature are forgotten, and too

often the wretched offspring falls a victim to the worse than

brutal intemperance, and consequent neglect, of its unnatural

parent. I shudder to say that two infants in the Neptune were

sacrificed in this manner.

“I must beg leave to relate one fact, which I hope will be

considered a satisfactory proof that this evil might be avoided. A

few days after the Neptune sailed from the Cape of Good Hope, it

was discovered that the quantity of spirits put on board for the

guard was nearly expended, and it was then impossible to procure

more: the consequence was, that for the last five weeks of the

voyage they had none at all; and it was really surprising how much

better they behaved during this period than they had done before.

I took occasion to mention these facts to Governor Macquarie, who

requested me to lay a statement of them before your Board. I had

the honour of bearing his dispatches to Earl Bathurst, in which I

am willing to hope he has enforced something on this subject.

“_Secondly_:—The next thing on which I would beg permission to

remark, is the quantity of water allowed to a convict, viz. two

quarts per day, which in warm latitudes is by no means sufficient;

and, agreeably to the scheme for victualling, the Surgeon cannot

direct any more to be given, let the necessity be ever so great.

That a number of men crowded together in a prison, and panting

under a vertical sun, will suffer more inconvenience from thirst

than others differently circumstanced, is a truth too obvious to

need any illustration; and its force may be increased by stating,

that the mercury of a thermometer in the prison uniformly ranged

nine degrees higher than in any other part of the ship, though

ventilation and every other cooling means were attended to very

carefully, and upwards of fifty prisoners were always on deck

twelve hours in the day. As every ship is required to have eight

months’ water on board before she sails from England, this

inconvenience might easily be obviated.

“While on this subject, it may not be improper to say a word or

two on the quality of the water, to which sufficient attention is

seldom or never paid. The filling of it in the river is always

intrusted to the mate of the ship, who generally consults his own

convenience, without much regarding the state of the tide, or

whether it is salt or muddy; and in very many cases before the

ship has been three weeks at sea it becomes both putrid and

offensive. I would therefore humbly recommend, that not a cask be

suffered to be filled without being carefully inspected by the

Surgeon Superintendent. I have seen so much mischief result from

inattention to this simple precaution, that humanity obliges me to

represent it as an indispensable duty. I am persuaded no medical

man who is anxious for the welfare of his charge, and values his

own reputation, will think this remark unimportant or

superfluous:—a strict observance of it would in the end spare him

a great deal of trouble, and save many lives.

“_Thirdly_:—Two pudding-bags ought to be allowed to each mess. At

present there is only one, which is always worn out before the

voyage is half over,—sometimes before it is commenced; and the

poor creatures are exposed to much inconvenience. As prisoners,

they are secluded from all the little resources of which a sailor

can avail himself; and often their allowance of flour is rendered

useless for want of something to boil it in.

“_Fourthly_;—I am of opinion that in every ship there ought to be

separate cooking places for the guards and convicts. To save a

little expense, the owners generally provide but one boiler with a

partition in it, one end of which is intended for the guards, the

other for the convicts; but this very ill answers the purpose.

Both dinners cannot be cooked at the same time, and in bad weather

it is difficult to cook one; consequently some party must wait

till an uncomfortably late hour every day, and sometimes go

without entirely; which is sure to produce discontent.

“_Fifthly_:—Were hammocks used in the hospital in lieu of the

cradles, which hitherto have been fitted up, they would be found

very convenient. The cradles are unwieldy things, and so

completely fill the sick apartment, that room is not left for a

patient to move a step from his bed, and cleanliness is thereby

prevented. On the other hand, hammocks could be sent on deck in

the morning, which would enable the Surgeon to employ ventilation,

and ensure cleanliness whenever he pleased, on the efficacy of

which I need not expatiate. Certain it is, that no sick person can

ever be considered a fit subject for proving the powers of

medicine, if the strictest attention be not given to air, diet,

and cleanliness.

“It is with much diffidence that I have ventured to submit the

foregoing remarks, which are deduced from faithful and accurate

observation. I sincerely hope it will not be thought that I have

offered my opinion with unbecoming confidence, or represented my

own humble endeavours too presumptuously. My most ambitious wish

is to contribute my mite to promote the cause of morality and

Christian virtue; and should any thing I have here proposed be

fortunate enough to meet with public approbation, and be carried

into effect, I shall consider it a reward far beyond any other

gratification I can derive from the service.

“I am sorry for having trespassed so long on your time; and it is

with deep regret that I feel it necessary to solicit your further

indulgence, to state the cause of my very tedious voyage from

Sydney hither. When I received Governor Macquarie’s dispatches, he

left it to my own judgement to proceed to Europe by the shortest

route. I left Sydney the 9th June 1818 in the Neptune, and arrived

at Madras in the middle of September, where, in consequence of the

Canadian war, ships were wanted to carry troops to Ceylon, and she

was chartered for that purpose. This would necessarily detain her

in India two or three months; and as there was no ship about to

sail for England, I proceeded to Calcutta, where I found one

nearly ready to sail for Liverpool, in which I engaged a passage;

but off the island of Mauritius she was overtaken by a violent

hurricane, totally dismasted, and reduced to a complete wreck.

With extreme difficulty I preserved Governor Macquarie’s

dispatches, and a few private papers; but every other article in

my possession perished. The ship was got into Port Louis a few

days after, and I reported myself to the commanding naval officer;

but no opportunity offered to enable me to proceed for nine weeks,

when another hurricane came on that drove on shore or sunk every

vessel in the harbour, which increased my detention sixteen days

longer. Since that time a series of calms and contrary winds

retarded my progress much beyond the time in which the voyage is

generally performed.

“I take the liberty to inclose two certificates, that I hope will

show the anxious desire I had to avoid delay, which, however, has

unfortunately been too great; but, so far from serving any private

end, has been attended with expense, inconvenience and distress,

that I feel I shall long have occasion to deplore.

“I have the honour to be, &c.

(Signed) “THOMAS REID,

“Surgeon and Superintendent.”

The article alluded to in the above letter forms a part of the

Instructions given from the Navy Board to every Surgeon in the convict

service, and is as follows:

“In case any remark should occur to you respecting the general

management of convicts on their passage, with a view still better to

preserve their health, you are to communicate them to this Board for the

information of the Secretary of State.”

-----

Footnote 4:

Since my late return from New South Wales, I laid a statement of my

losses before the Commissioners for victualling His Majesty’s Navy;

and I am truly grateful for the kindness and attention with which they

were pleased to treat me. The only remuneration _they_ could grant

was, to order the value of my surgical instruments to be paid; which

they did most readily.

Footnote 5:

Since my last return to England, I have heard with sincere pleasure

that this subject has engaged the attention of the Navy Board; who,

with great propriety, have directed tea and sugar to be issued to the

women and children in lieu of spirits.