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TO ALL INHABITANTS,
AND ESPECIALLY TO THE
UNHAPPY PRISONERS AND CONVICTS
ESTABLISHED AT PORT JACKSON
AND
NORFOLK ISLAND,
THIS AFFECTIONATE ADDRESS
IS DEDICATED AND PRESENTED,
BY THEIR VERY SINCERE
AND SYMPATHIZING FRIEND,
AND FAITHFUL SERVANT,
IN THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST,
RICHARD JOHNSON.
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TO THE BRITISH AND OTHER EUROPEAN INHABITANTS
OF NEW SOUTH WALES AND NORFOLK ISLAND.
My Beloved,
I do not think it necessary to make an apology for putting this Address
into your hands; or to enter into a long detail of the reasons which
induced me to write it.
One reason may suffice. I find I cannot express my regard for you, so
often, or so fully, as I wish, in any other way.
On our first arrival in this distant part of the world, and for some time
afterwards, our numbers were comparatively small; and while they resided
nearly upon one spot, I could not only preach to them on the Lord's day,
but also converse with them, and admonish them, more privately.
But since that period, we have gradually increased in number every year
(notwithstanding the great mortality we have sometimes known) by the
multitudes that have been sent hither after us. The colony already begins
to spread, and will probably spread more and more every year, both by new
settlements formed in different places under the crown, and by a number of
individuals continually becoming settlers. Thus the extent of what I call
my parish, and consequently of my parochial duty, is enlarging daily. On
the other hand, my health is not so good, nor my constitution so strong,
as formerly. And therefore I feel it impracticable, and impossible for me,
either to preach, or to converse with you so freely, as my inclination and
affection would prompt me to do.
I have therefore thought it might be proper for me, and I hope it may
prove useful to you, to write such an Address as I now present you with. I
transmitted a copy of it to my friends in England with a request, that if
they approved of it, a sufficient number might be printed, and sent to me.
Thus I am now able to leave with you a testimony of my affection for you,
and of my sincere and heart-felt concern, for your BEST, because your
ETERNAL, welfare. My times are in the hand of God. He, and He only, knows
how long I may live, or how long my present connection with you, may
continue. I trust, however, that so long as the all-wise Disposer of all
events shall be pleased to spare my life, and strength; and government
shall deem my services in this remote land, necessary, it will still be,
as it has hitherto been, my most ardent desire, my uniform endeavour, and
my greatest pleasure, to promote your happiness. And when recalled to my
native country, or removed by my God to my eternal home, to receive that
crown of righteousness, which I humbly trust is laid upon me, by reading
and carefully perusing the following pages, I hope you will be convinced,
and reminded how sincerely you were pitied, and how dearly beloved by
Richard Johnson.
Port Jackson, Oct. 30. 1792.
At this date, exclusive of those who died or were born on the voyage
from England:
Baptisms.....226
Marriages....220
Burials......854
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