5224 Notes on a Voyage in a 



where either or both may live, if they 

 do not choose to do so with tlic cap- 

 tain, — which latter plau is, however, 

 generally adopted. Immediately be- 

 I'ore tl)e surjjeon's cabin are the mess 

 and bed places for the st-amen who 

 ■work the vessel. On the other side, 

 before the military officer's cabin, are 

 the same accommodations lor the 

 guard, consisting commonly of thirty- 

 live or forty men, detachments going 

 out to join diflereut regiments in 

 India, to which they are forwarded, as 

 ojjportunities ofler, from Fort Jackson. 

 A very wise regulation exists to sepa- 

 rate the boy from the adult convicts. 

 'I'heir prison is therefore distinct, and 

 stands, in general, immediately before 

 the quarters of the guard, by the lar- 

 board side, the door opening to the 

 after-hatchway. Before tliis, on both 

 sides, is the principal prison already 

 alluded to, extending from the after- 

 liatchway to the foremast, embraring 

 the whole breadth of the ship. It is 

 inclosed by a very strong partition or 

 Lnlk-head, with a small door where 

 required, which lets out only one 

 person at a time, and a step just high 

 enough for tiie lengtii of tlie shackles 

 on tlie legs. From the main and fore 

 liatchways it is separated by strong 

 xipright stanchions of oak, placed an- 

 gularly to each other, and tliickl}' 

 ^ludded with nails, so that it is found 

 impossible to saw, or otherwise divide 

 Uiem, by any implement they can 

 secretly work, even if the space be- 

 tween the stanchions, which is not 

 more than an inch, permitted. On tlie 

 whole, it is pretty secure, and rather 

 ingeniously constructed; there are 

 also loop-holes, for tiie guard, upon 

 any desperate emergency, to fnc into 

 the prison : eases of this kind have 

 occurred, though very rarely. In the 

 centre part of the prison are long 

 mess-tables, with forms, which are gc- 

 nerally knocked down on reaching the 

 tropics ; it being difficidt, or impossible, 

 among such persons, to keep any place 

 clean where there are fixtures. The 

 cribs, or sleeping-places, are fixed to 

 the side, lying with tl.eir feet to the 

 latter, their heads toward midships. 

 Five men occupy a crib. Soldiers, or 

 other large bodies of men, when em- 

 barked, fare no better. Every thing 

 is therefore done for convicts ^hich 

 circumstances permit, or which the 

 most considerate humanity can require, 

 in the way of aeeonnnodation ; nlwavs 

 remembering, that perfect security to 



Convict-Ship in lS21<i [April 1^ 



others is absolutely necessary, and 

 that some inconveniences in the con- 

 fined limits of a ship are wholly una- 

 voidable. They are, however, fewer 

 than could be believed ; to sailors, in- 

 deed, they appear nothing at all. 



The whole care of these people, — 

 their food, clothing, and cleanliness; 

 their reward and punishment; their 

 cure in sickness, and security when 

 well, — is entrusted to the snrgeou- 

 superintendant, who supersedes the 

 necessity and expense of a variety of 

 other officers, which, under a different 

 management, would be required. He 

 is always a surgeon of the Koyal Navy, 

 — humane and attentive by profes- 

 sional habits; and, being accustomed 

 to the routine of service, of discipline, 

 and subordination, is more fit than any 

 other for tlie charge. Experience has 

 proved this plan not only more econo- 

 mical, but has totally removed the 

 imputations previously advanced, of 

 negligence, inhumanity, and pecula- 

 tion, or rather robbery, of tlie stipu- 

 lated allowance of provisions, said to 

 have been made by the masters of the 

 transports employed in this service. 

 It was not an untrequent occurrence, 

 formerly, for even the convicts them- 

 selves, who were selected to see justice 

 done in this respect to their unhappy 

 companions, to join, on being paid for 

 it, in conniving at this injustice; at 

 present, there is seldom any thing of 

 this kind attempted. To prevent, how- 

 ever, the possibilit)' of any such at- 

 tempt, our surgeon adopted a very 

 judicious plan, by changing the men 

 so deputed every day : two from the 

 first mess being appointed the first day, 

 two from the second the next, and so 

 on, till the messes had been gone 

 througii ; when the first mess was begun 

 with again, only choosing two different 

 men from the first. This obviates all 

 complaint, on the part of the convicts, 

 respecting the quality (w hicb is indeed 

 seldom complained of) or weight of 

 the provisions, — a fertile theme of de- 

 clamation to all such persons, very 

 often without the slightest cause. In 

 the navy, also, a part of the petty 

 officers, — such as quarter-masters, Ser- 

 jeants of marines, &.c. attend on the 

 part of the crew, to see all provisions 

 weighed and examined. In convict- 

 ships, it is scarcely necessary to state, 

 that the provisions are not in charge of 

 the surgeon, but of the master; the 

 former is to superintend, and see jus- 

 tice done. The allowance is nmplc, 



and 



