LIFE AT NORFOLK ISLAND
Solitary case of misconduct among the soldier gang—I get many pardoned
and many sentences shortened—Theatricals and other amusements—Visit
from my brother—Mr. MacLeod
I NEVER had a complaint, except one, against my soldier convicts. While
riding one day some distance from the settlement, the superintendent of
agriculture, Mr. MacLean, came galloping after me and reported that
there was a mutiny amongst the soldier gangs, or rather that they had
refused to do their work. I at once rode back to where they were, and
found them all idle and standing still. I ordered them to their work,
when one of them named Shean (formerly of my own regiment) stepped
forward with his hoe in hand (with which farm-implement they were all
provided), and in a loud and angry voice attempted to argue their
grievance with me. I instantly rode at him, and, with a heavy stick in
my hand, knocked him down and rode over him, saying: “You, who know me
long and well, you dare to raise your voice against my authority, you
dare to disobey my orders! Get up, and go back at once, every one of
you, to your duty!” When he recovered, he begged my pardon, and without
another word or murmur they all went back to their work. During this
disturbance there were three or four hundred other convicts working in
sight, looking on, awaiting the issue, and who doubtless would have
joined the soldiers’ gangs had anything more serious taken place.
This was the first, the last, and only prisoner I ever had occasion to
lift my hand to while on the island. As I have already said, I always
found the soldier gangs very willing and obedient, and most thankful for
the promise of being trusted with arms should any general outbreak take
place which might justify me in calling for their assistance.
I had indeed a soldier’s feeling for them. For their continued good
conduct I recommended many of them at various times to the Government
for pardon and restoration to their regiments, which was invariably
granted, and among that number was the above-mentioned Daniel Shean, the
50th Regiment, who afterwards served with me in India, and I found him a
good and faithful soldier. He was finally caught and eaten by an
alligator in the Ganges, while bathing, on our passage from Chinsurah to
Cawnpore in 1842.
It was almost my daily practice to examine and study the public records
and registers of the prisoners and to select from them the names of all
men who had for years been noted for good conduct. When I found life
prisoners without any charge against them for six or more years, or
prisoners of fourteen years behaving well for three or more years, or
prisoners of seven years without a fault for two or more years, I
recommended them to Government for commutation of their sentence. These
recommendations were always attended to and granted, and when received
by me were promulgated in my public written orders and read to the
prisoners. This had the best effect, and convinced them all that it was
never too late to reform, and that the commandant had a constant and
friendly eye over all, even the worst of them. When these commuted
sentences were without fault, and nearly completed, I had them pardoned
altogether and removed to Sydney.
About this time the officers and soldiers of the garrison applied to me
to have a temporary theatre erected for them, as they confidently hoped
they could make up a respectable “corps dramatique.” I entered at once
into their wishes, and promised them every encouragement, feeling
assured I could not do too much to amuse them; and having plenty of wood
and labour at hand, a very comfortable theatre was soon built, with
dress boxes and pit, and no sooner finished than our first play was
announced. I forget the name of the piece, but our principal performers
on that occasion and for many months afterwards were my secretary, the
Hon. Mr. Pery, Sergeants Cairns and Duff, Privates Thomas Smith and John
Swap, with occasionally Lieutenants Wright, Gregg, and Needham, and some
others, and as many minor performers as they needed from the troops.
Excellent scenery of all kinds was painted by artists amongst the
prisoners, and the orchestra was composed of about half a dozen
well-conducted convicts, who played the violin and clarions well. The
dresses were generally of coloured calicoes and such other imposing
materials as they could find. As the acting was always good, this was a
continued source of amusement and delight to us all for years. On one of
these nights, in the middle of the performance the “alarm” was sounded.
On this occasion many of the performers were acting as women, and of
course were dressed accordingly. When an “alarm” is given, no delay is
allowed, but all have to assemble as they are. On this night (which by
the light of the moon was as clear as day) the “corps dramatique” ran as
they were for their arms, and so appeared on the public parade amidst
roars of laughter, for their appearance was certainly comic in the
extreme, and such a sight of armed warriors in petticoats as never was
witnessed before. The “alarm” proved a false one, occasioned by a young
soldier firing from his post at the prisoners’ barracks on hearing some
quarrel amongst the convicts within.
I have already said our roads were excellent all over the island, and
the scenery most beautiful and romantic. This encouraged us to pass our
time very often in picnics in every direction. There was not a pretty
spot at any distance beyond the settlement without a nice bower with
tables and seats for our accommodation; and in one or other of these
paradises we used to assemble and pass many hours. We had also frequent
dinner-parties and dances, and as I had then finished building the new
military barracks and hospital, the latter (for we had no sick) made a
most excellent and commodious ballroom. The officers of the garrison had
a comfortable mess, and were most liberal in their entertainments. In a
word, we all agreed well together, and although most of our young men
were tired of the limits of our little island, and compared their
situation to the monotony and confinement of ship life on a long voyage,
I do think we were all very happy, or ought to have been so.
They had also other amusements—fishing, shooting, etc. Phillip Island
lay within four miles of us; it is a high land about a mile long, and
abounded with wild pigs, wild fowl, and a variety of birds, the most
remarkable being the Phillip Island parrots, which were never seen in
any other part of Australia. Whenever any of the officers wished for a
day’s sport there, they had a boat at their command for the day.
Starting early, with a good supply of provisions, they were obliged to
return before sunset, and generally brought back with them some
half-dozen or more pigs, besides other game. In like manner, when they
wanted a fishing excursion a boat was provided, and in a few hours they
generally returned with dozens of fine fish, caught over known coral
rocks. By this time I had an open carriage (made on the island), and as
we had many Government horses doing nothing, I wrote to the Colonial
Secretary requesting to be allowed to purchase two of them. The answer
was that they could not be sold, but that the Governor had no objection
to my making use of them as much as I liked. I then sent to Sydney for a
double harness, and from that time we had our carriage, and a first-rate
(convict) coachman.
In September of this year my dear brother John paid me a visit from
India; he was then a colonel of the Madras Army. We had not met for
thirty-four years, and our pleasure was now very great in seeing each
other. I never saw him again till 1858, and that was our last meeting,
for he died soon afterwards at Folkestone.
Reports had now reached Sydney of the better behaviour of our convicts,
and we were spoken of with hope and confidence for our continued
improvements, so the fear and dread of coming near us, and of residing
at Norfolk Island, became daily less. The Rev. Dr. Gregory and Father
McEncroe, both of the Roman Catholic Church, offered their services to
the Government in Sydney, to go and reside permanently with us, and
their services were at once accepted. They came to us by the next trip
of the _Governor Phillip_, and right glad was I to receive them. They
soon became very popular with us all, and did much good. Then the
Government sent down the Rev. Mr. Sharpe, of the Established Church, who
on his arrival took charge of our Protestants.
I may here mention that my power was absolute, and that I could remove
any of the civil officers at pleasure from the island, but I am happy to
say I had but once occasion to exercise my authority. It was officially
reported to me that Mr. MacLeod, the superintendent of agriculture, had
been trafficking to a considerable extent with the convicts, actually
receiving money for them in letters from their friends in Sydney. At
first I could not believe this possible. I then got proofs beyond doubt,
consisting of letters addressed to Mr. and Mrs. MacLeod from persons in
Sydney with several sums of money enclosed for convicts therein named.
After some consideration I sent for MacLeod and told him the charges
brought against him; he at once boldly denied them, and said there was
not the slightest truth in them. I then showed him the letters from
Sydney; this staggered and surprised him, but he said he had never seen
them before and knew nothing about them. I had no other course left but
to suspend him from his duties and send him back to Sydney by the very
first opportunity, but it was not till six weeks later that the
_Governor Phillip_ arrived, and in her he and his family left the
island—but before that he gave me some more trouble.
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