SAMUEL MARSDEN. 
585 
when selected for the penal colony, he did not stay to take 
his degree, but was at once ordained by the Archbishop of 
York, and sent ont ; his commission was dated January 1st 
1793. Possessing a great degree of firmness and determina- 
tion, combined with plain good sense, and fervent piety, he 
was admirably fitted for the arduous duty he had accepted, 
to strangers, his looks and manners were not prepossessing, 
having a degree of sternness in his countenance; but the 
peculiar circumstances of his position doubtless impressed his 
unflinching firmness on his features. 
Few can form a just idea of the fearful state of depravity 
which prevailed amongst all ranks in the early days of the 
colony. Two instances may here be appropriately given, as 
showing the necessity of severe firmness in the minister, and 
as a key to the cause of the bitter enmity he experienced from 
those in power. At the commencement of the colony, the 
sale of all spirits was monopolized by the officers, and it 
was the endeavouring to do away with this practice, that 
afterwards caused the deposition of Governor Bligh; when 
vessels with female convicts arrived, they likewise took in 
turns the selection of the fairest as companions,* and not 
only was this generally done, but winked at by the highest 
authorities, and these females as well as their partners were 
actually admitted to Government House ; Mr. Marsden very 
properly refused to sit at table with them, or sanction their 
conduct by his presence, thus, through decliniug invita- 
tions on such occasions, and plainly stating his reason, the 
bitter hostility of the Governor and his officers was excited 
against him ; every effort was made to effect his ruin ; public 
records were falsified, f and such representations sent home, 
as called for a searching inquiry into the chaplain's conduct, 
the result of which was, that the Governor received a com- 
* One individual thus went on board and took a fancy to a young woman, 
who was coming out to join her husband, a convict ; he went to him, and bought 
his wife of him for a chest of tea and some tobacco ; he lived with her many 
years, and left a large family by her. 
t See published account of Inquiry relative to the Rev. S. Marsden' s having 
ordered Convicts to be flogged . 
