16 
wark, leads forward for the seamen 
who have occasion to pass;. but with 
this the convicts have no business, 
and never approach it without per- 
mission. Any thing like a sudden 
rush is therefore prevented. Inde- 
pendent of this, they have neither 
zrms nor indeed inclination for such 
an enterprise; while the guard and 
seamen are of course upon the alert, 
provided with every advantage to re- 
sist any thing like insubordination or 
tumult. With a moderate admixture 
ef vigilance and kindness, nothing 
need be feared: firmness, however, is 
zbsolutely necessary; for too much 
good nature or leniency, where an 
offence is committed, is instantly 
taken advantage of; and it is sur- 
prising how soon they discern the dis- 
positions of those they have to deal 
with. But, a still hetter defence than 
all these, is their treachery toward 
each other. ‘They cannot, or will not, 
be faithful even in the most trifling 
matters ; and a spy in the garrison is 
pretty sure of finding out every thing 
that passes within it. On great occa- 
sions, the hopes of pardon and reward 
aré necessarily irresistible. While 
on deck, we always encouraged their 
sports; such as singing, wrestling, 
single-stick, and any thing else they 
wished, within reasonable bounds. To 
see them enter heartily imto such 
amusements, is gratifying to conside- 
rate minds, and a pretty good proof 
that there is no mischief going on. 
Prayers were regularly read by the 
surgeon every Sunday, and attended 
with due decorum, and in. some in- 
stances with seeming interest, by our 
offending cargo: but I am afraid there 
were among these several hypocrites; 
one atleast we detected in pilfering 
spirits, by the exertion of more than 
usual ingenuity. 
A school was also established, for 
the instruction of the boys: a convict, 
recommended from the prison for 
better conduct than usual, taught 
them ; and was not incompetent to the 
task. Several adults, desirous of be- 
ing instructed, likewise attended: the 
whole, indeed, were much in need of 
it, had they been willing; for 1 never 
before saw such an assemblage of the 
people of our country so ignorant,— 
scarcely one out of the whole being 
able to write Jegibly. This, however, 
is an uncommon occurrence, particu- 
larly among the convicts of the metro- 
polis; many of the ships contain 
s 
Voyage in a Convict-Ship to New South Wales. 
[Aug. 1, 
numbers possessed of superior. infor- 
mation and talent, had these been 
turned to honest account. Ourdoctor, 
who, as i have remarked, has made 
this journey three times, and conse- 
quently enjoyed no little experience, 
told me he had once a more than 
usually respectable cargo: an officer 
of dragoons, for making free with the 
portmanteau of two foreign noblemen 
(N.B. No tricks upon travellers); a 
midshipman of the navy, for net com- 
prehending the precise difference 
between meum and tuum ; an attorney, 
for administering unlawful oaths; a 
clerk of a large house in London, for 
pocketing some of his employer’s 
money ; several dandy shopmen, ap- 
prentices, and attorneys’ clerks; with 
gentlemen pickpockets. ad libitum, 
Some of their adventures were not a 
little amusing. I advised the doctor 
to try his hand upon a book, with these 
vicissitudes of genius for the theme; 
‘Memoirs of a Convict Ship” would 
be an original and taking title. 
The itch for thieving among them is 
wholly unconquerable. They steal 
from each other, or from any one else, 
almost every thing they can, without 
enquiring whether it is worth the 
trouble, whether they can make use of 
it, or whether they want it. On the 
least probability of detection, it is 
thrown overboard. Continual com- 
plaints of these thefts were made, and 
several punishments inflicted in con- 
sequence ; but without effect in pre- 
venting their repetition. Another 
mode of raising the wind, made it 
almost a matter of risk or obloquy to 
do them an act of kindness. Several, 
who had a little money on coming on- 
board, deposited it for safety in the 
hands of some of the officers, till the 
termination of the voyage; but two 
fellows, who really had none, hit upon 
the expedient of boldly demanding 
from one of the mates the sum (10/.) 
they had given into his charge; and, 
when threatened to be thrashed for 
their impudence, resolutely com- 
plained to the surgeon of their money 
being withheld. An enquiry took 
place: one fellow said he had deposit- 
ed the money, the other that he had 
seen it so deposited; and in a court of 
law the poor mate would probably 
have been compelled to disburse. But 
we manage these things better at sea. 
The presumption being against the 
complainants, and some other suspi- 
cious circumstances arising, the doc- 
tor, 
7 
