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take care, that not only those intrusted with their religious instruction, but all who are connected with their management, from the governor down to the humblest warder, be spiritual and consistent Christians, fitted by their temper and general demeanour to commend the gospel of Christ to all around them.

We willingly concede to various systems of prison discipline their just measure of importance; but to expect that human machinery, however perfect, can take the place of God's own prescribed method of reformation, involves not only ignorant presumption, but practical infidelity.

To all who are intrusted with the education or government of human beings, in any rank or condition. of life, at sea or on shore; in the army, navy, or in civil life; in schools or private families,-the narrative contained in this volume may afford matter of interest, stirring them up to fervent prayer, and unwearied exertion in the work of scriptural instruction and Christian discipline, seeing that their labour shall not be in vain in the Lord; while the boundless riches of the grace of God in Christ Jesus, here displayed towards degraded criminals, may encourage sinners of every class to delay not, but hasten their flight to the one and only Refuge for the guilty, the defenceless and the lost.

It may be worthy of remark, that, on a review and comparison of my seven voyages, I find the amount of reformation amongst the convicts strikingly to correspond with the degree of diligence and zeal with which the gospel, in its divine simplicity, was brought

to bear, from the hour of embarkation, upon their understandings, consciences, and hearts. During the first voyage, there was less of Christian instruction, and much less apparent improvement: on one occasion I was induced to yield to the judgment of the officer of the guard and master of the ship, and sanction the infliction of corporal punishment upon three convicts, which, how clearly soever deserved, I have ever regarded as unwise and impolitic, and as casting a stigma upon the management of my first charge. As experience grew, and practical Christianity was from the beginning relied upon, punishments of any kind became less and less called for; and during my last two voyages, not only were no lashes inflicted, but not an iron was used, nor a convict placed under a sentry.

To the honour of the blessed Saviour, who "hath done such great things for us," is this small and feeble work humbly and devoutly dedicated. May He forgive all that is man's, and abundantly bless all that is His own; and to the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY GHOST, the one only true GOD, be ascribed all glory, and honour, thanksgiving, dominion, and praise, now and evermore, world without end. Amen.

BLOOMSBURY-PLACE, BRIGHTON,
November 1st, 1848.

THE CONVICT SHIP.

CHAPTER I.

Inspection and Embarkation of the Prisoners-Their moral PositionScriptural Instruction the Means of Reformation.

Ar Brighton, Sept. 3d, 1842, I had the honour to receive a letter, "on H. M. Service," from Sir John Barrow, Bart., Secretary to the Admiralty, acquainting me with my appointment as surgeon-superintendent on board the ship Earl Grey, destined to embark male convicts for the penal colony of Van Diemen's Land.

I instantly set about making the best possible provision for the education and instruction of the prisoners during the voyage, in addition to the religious books supplied by Government, by the aid of kind Christian friends and benevolent societies. On the 13th I received my instructions, joined my ship at Deptford, and directed the necessary preliminary arrangements for the approaching embarkation. On Saturday, the 17th, the ship dropped down to Woolwich; and on Monday, the 19th, ninety prisoners were inspected and embarked from the Warrior hulk, and ninety-four

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