CHAPTER VIII.

Concluding statements-Letter from Inspector of Schools- Summary of apparent good accomplished-Extract from a prisoner's letter, after he had been some time in the colony.

IN pursuing the foregoing narrative, the reader cannot fail to be struck with the quiet, orderly, and superior behaviour of the prisoners, the punctuality and cheerfulness with which they performed the duties involved in our daily routine, and especially with the diligence and zeal with which they attended to the great and important business of their education. It will be observed that we had no infliction of corporal punishment; a mode of dealing, at least with adult offenders, which generally tends to debase and harden, and to extinguish every remaining spark of virtue, self-respect, and manliness of feeling. It will be seen that the prisoners in the "Earl Grey" were governed by daily Christian instruction, accompanied with fervent prayer, and by uniformly kind and manly treatment, that they were ruled by a consistent discipline, which ever required a close and punctual observance of all established regulations; a prompt, cheerful, and courteous obedience, given on right principles, to every lawful command; a becoming and respectful carriage; and the habitual use of correct and irre

proachable language in all their communications with each other, and with all men. Thus we have an ad

ditional illustration of the soundness of the scheme of instruction and moral discipline which had been framed during my former voyages, and which is detailed in the concluding portion of this volume.

"The entire management, as well as the medical treatment of the convicts," is very wisely, and indeed, considering that he is engaged on naval service, is necessarily intrusted to "the surgeon-superintendent," the only naval officer on board, who is also held responsible for the care and expenditure of her Majesty's stores; is commanded "to issue such rules and regulations for the promotion of good order on the part of the convicts as he may judge proper, inserting copies thereof in his Journal;" and "to appoint from among the convicts in health, those whom he may think most fit and trustworthy to act as attendants on the sick." "As it is highly desirable to keep the minds of convicts as constantly and usefully employed as possible, he is to exert his best endeavours to establish schools, under such regulations as circumstances will permit;" is "to read the Church Service every Sunday to the convicts... and also a Sermon ;" and, finally, is required" to use every possible means to promote a religious and moral disposition in the convicts." The authority with which the surgeon-superintendent is thus invested, and the instructions which he is required to carry into effect, fully and distinctly determine his position in the ship, at the same time that they afford

the most gratifying proof of the interest with which the Admiralty regards the convicts, and the soundness of the views entertained of their condition and moral wants.

The twenty-four schools into which the whole of the prisoners were classified, were kept in active and regular operation till nearly the end of the voyage, when some changes were made, more effectually to help forward those individuals who were still incapable of reading the New Testament with ease and comfort. The patient diligence of the teachers, and persevering application of the pupils, were most gratifying; and the active and untiring zeal of my inspector of schools excited my admiration. To him, to W-B-, to my chief captain, to the other petty officers and schoolmasters, and to many who were called to fill office, I have cause to feel grateful: and it will be an unhappy day for me when I find myself capable of forgetting them and their exiled associates at the throne of grace.

My monthly examination of the schools took place in the manner mentioned in "Instruction and Management; "but the formation of a Board of Examiners at the termination of the voyage, as on former occasions, to wind up by a general examination, and award prizes, was, in the "Earl Grey," morally impossible. The duty was therefore executed by myself, assisted by the most fit and intelligent of my petty officers and schoolmasters.

*Part II. chap. xvi.

A Table, shewing the result of our final examination, will be found in the Appendix; it presents, also, a view of the state of education in my other ships. The number taught to write in the "Earl Grey" was unusually small, and for this reason;-the number who, when they embarked, were unable to read, was very considerable, and a great many of them got on very slowly, and required extra attention. I could not, therefore, spare my schoolmasters either to teach or learn to write. It was far more important that the whole of the people should be taught to read the Bible, than that either few or many of them should be taught to write. Those who desire to learn to write may do so in the colony; but if a prisoner land unable to read the sacred Scriptures, the probability is that he will never learn.

After the statements made in the foregoing pages, it is unnecessary to add many words with reference to the amount of good actually or apparently accomplished, through the Divine blessing, during our voyage. The whole of the prisoners were, on landing, with one exception, able to read the Holy Scriptures; and, with two exceptions, they all landed in the possession of a Bible or Testament, and other valuable and instructive books; most of them received also a Prayer-book.

Even those who gave no decided evidence that they had received the truth in the love of it, received, nevertheless, no inconsiderable benefit from the system of instruction and discipline followed out during

the voyage; and though they may have hitherto, in their unbelief, put away from them the salvation of the Gospel, and thus increased their guilt and danger, yet the instruction they have received may, at some future time, either in health or sickness, be made effectual through grace to their conversion to God.

The great body of the prisoners gave unequivocal evidence of improvement, both intellectual and moral. Their behaviour towards each other, and towards all on board, was highly satisfactory. Nearly all of them had, in some degree, acquired a habit of application and the love of useful knowledge. They became thoughtful, learned to command their temper, to be obliging and courteous, and, generally speaking, conducted themselves in a manner that would have done credit to any portion of the labouring community of England. With scarcely an exception, their conversation was remarkably correct; only on one or two occasions, during the whole voyage, did I hear an improper expression proceed from their lips: and I hesitate not to say, that I should rejoice to see every community of men, whether at sea or on shore, characterised by a similar tone of decorum.

With reference to those men (114 in number) whose enmity to the Gospel appeared to have been subdued -who professed to take up their cross and to follow Christ, and whose temper and conduct, conversation, tastes, and habits, whilst on board, tallied with their profession; we dare not doubt their convictions of sin, their persuasion that in the Lord Jesus alone they