CHAPTER II.

Hobart Town.-Col. Arthur.-Intense Sleep.-J. Leach.-Unexpected Meeting. -Home.-Meetings for Worship. -The Liberty.-Convict Ship.-Prisoners. -Settlement of the Colony.-Female Factory.-Trees.-Animals.-Chaingang.--Woody Hills.-Government Garden.-Bees.-Assigned Prisoners.New Norfolk.-Bush Road.-The Clyde.-Green Valley.-Bothwell.-Hamilton.-Fences.-Remarkable Rock.-Porter and Thieving.-Emigrants.-Style of living —Animals.-Hostile Aborigines.—Hospitality.—Bush-rangers.—She Oak.—Plains.—Remarkable Impression.--Sawyer's Huts.-Inn.

HOBART Town, the capital of Tasmania or Van Diemens Land, is beautifully situated on undulating ground by the side of an estuary called the Derwent, from its resemblance to the lake of that name in Cumberland-In 1831, the number of its inhabitants was 8,360. In 1837 it had become augmented to 14,461, and was still rapidly increasing. The streets are spacious, and most of them cross at right angles. The houses are chiefly brick, and covered with shingles that have the appearance of slates: they stand separately in little gardens, except in a few of the streets best situated for business, and extend over several low hills at the foot of Mount Wellington, which is 4,000 feet high, and covered with wood, except where bassaltic cliffs protrude near the top. The view from the town toward the sea is exceedingly beautiful, extending over many miles of water, enlivened by shipping and bounded by woody hills, on which the greenness of numerous patches of cultivated ground, ornamented by whitewashed cottages, has taken the place of the sombre forest. The sketch of this picturesque spot forming the frontispiece of this volume, was taken by my friend Charles Wheeler, in 1833. Since that period it has undergone several alterations, and a tall cupola has been substituted for the spire of the Episcopal place of worship.

Soon after we came to anchor in Sulivans Cove, on which the town stands, several persons came on board to enquire for intelligence from England, and among them a merchant, on whom we had letters of credit. With him we went on shore, and he introduced us to the Lieutenant Governor, Col. George Arthur; to whom we delivered a letter of introduction from Lord Goderich, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, commending us to the protection of the Lieut. Governor, and requesting him to forward, what Lord Goderich was pleased to call, our benevolent object, so far as he could consistently with the public good. Our first interview with Col. Arthur, gave us a favourable impression of his character, as a Governor and as a Christian, which further acquaintance with him strongly confirmed he took great interest in the temporal and spiritual prosperity of the Colonists, and in the reformation of the prisoner population, as well as in the welfare of the surviving remnant of the native Black Inhabitants; and he assured us that every facility should be granted us, in attempts to further any of these objects.

In the evening we returned on board the Science, and the chief mate requested us to wake him at 10 o'clock, that he might see the lights of the steerage passengers put out; some of them having been on shore and having returned intoxicated: he had been kept up during the past two nights, in consequence of the position of the vessel in regard to the land; and now, when 10 o'clock arrived and he had been a short time asleep, we found it impracticable to awake him. After vainly trying a variety of expedients, some of which made him speak, but without consciousness, we extinguished the lights ourselves, the captain being on shore. The mate slept soundly till five in the morning, when he awoke in terror, under a vague idea of neglect of duty.

2nd mo. 9th. We went on shore with John Leach, a young man from Bradford, Yorkshire, professing with the Wesleyans, who came to V. D. Land under an apprehension of religious duty at this time he worked as a journeyman cabinet maker three days in the week for his support, and devoted the remainder of his time to religious purposes.-We made calls

on several persons to whom we had letters of introduction, and engaged a lodging in Liverpool Street, near the entrance into the Government Domain.-When walking in the town, my companion met one of his nephews, whose residence was in a distant part of the island, and who was greatly surprised to see his relative, having had no notice of his intention to visit this part of the world. This unexpected interview was mutually agreeable; for thus far from home, (and every one in this country calls his native land Home) the mind clings with increased attachment to every tie and every recollection.

12th. We sat down together to wait upon the Lord, in our own sitting room, and were joined by the captain of a vessel who had lately taken some of the Aborigines to Flinders Island, where they are provided for by the Government.-We continued the practice of holding our meetings for worship, on first days and once in the course of the week, for a considerable period by ourselves, unless, as on this occasion, any one casually stepped in. In the evening we accepted an invitation from the Lieut. Governor, to take tea with him and his family-a numerous and interesting group. After tea, at the request of the Lieut. Governor, I read to them the 6th chapter of John, the servants being likewise assembled at the evening devotion of the family; and after a subsequent pause, I also expressed a few words, on the importance of an individual participation in the bread which came down from heaven, which Christ declared to be his flesh, that he would give for the life of the world. We were favoured on this occasion, to feel comfort from the Lord, especially in a short interval of silence, which terminated in vocal prayer.

15th. The little vessel which we saw on the 4th instant, proved to be the Liberty, she arrived at Hobart Town yesterday: we went on board of her to day, and learned from the captain that she was built out of the wreck of the Betsy and Sophia, which sailed from London on the 4th of the 6th month, 1831, on a whaling expedition, and which had gone to the Island of Desolation or Kerguelens Land, to take a kind of seal called the Sea Elephant: she had nearly completed her cargo from the blubber of this animal and that of the Black Whale, and was coming out of one of the bays,

when she unshipped her rudder, and in spite of all exertions, went to leeward upon the rocks, and became a wreck: the papers and stores were saved, and the latter were sufficient to serve four months; but calculating upon the uncertainty of escaping for a long time from these inhospitable shores, the men immediately took to the scanty allowance of 2lbs of biscuit each, with about 4lbs. of pork per week, for the whole nineteen men; two of whom had been brought from Prince Edward's Island, where they had been left by the captain of another ship. They used the flesh of Sea Elephants and of birds, to supply the deficiency in other food. They were wrecked on the 16th of 3rd mo. 1831. After being on the island about a month, they began to build their little vessel, which they named "The Liberty;" and in which fourteen of them sailed on the 12th of the 12th mo. Their sufferings made many of them thoughtful, and they kept up religious service on board. They made this voyage in the latitude of 44° S. and had plenty of wind. Three times they had heavy gales, but their little bark, which had one mast and was about twenty tons burden, rode so well over the billows, that they shipped no seas; but they had almost constantly to work the pumps. They reached Macquarie Harbour, on the west coast of this Island, when they had only 6lbs. of biscuit left. It was late when they arrived at the Penal Settlement, and the Commandant was in bed; the captain therefore remained till morning before seeing him, but was furnished with comfortable accommodation. When he awoke, and found himself in a house, he said it was long before he could realize his situation, or be sure that he was not dreaming. The Commandant treated this crew with great kindness, and a pious minister addressed them so movingly in the chapel, that the hardy sailor said, "There was hardly any body there that did not cry." They were furnished with a plentiful supply of provisions, and sailed from Macquarie Harbour on the 4th inst. and were favoured to arrive here in good health, after a voyage of about 3,500 miles. Five men whom they left on the island, were afraid to come in the Liberty; the provision and ammunition were therefore

divided with them. V. D. Land, to bring these men away, but they had been previously taken off by an American Whaler.

A vessel was afterwards sent from

16th. We went on board the Elizabeth, in company with Captain Forster, the chief police magistrate, to whom we had been introduced by the Governor, and witnessed the examination of part of the convicts, just arrived from England in this ship. A variety of questions were put to them relating to the crimes for which they had been sentenced to transportation, the number of times they had previously been apprehended, the causes of their apprehension, the punishments they had received, the state of their families, what their parents were, whether they could read or write, their occupation, &c. of all which a record is kept. The Government was already in possession of information on many of these subjects, but further particulars are often elicited after the arrival of the prisoners. The convicts are assigned as servants to the colonists, and the vacancies occasioned by any others having obtained tickets-of-leave are first supplied; the rest are then assigned to the service of such as apply for them, except in cases of second transportation, when they are mostly sent to a penal settlement.In the present instance, a man was brought out a second time; but on account of his having behaved well on the voyage, and some other circumstances in his favour, he was ordered by the Governor into a chain-gang; where, if he continue to improve, he will after a certain time be assigned to private service.

Dr. Martin, the Surgeon-superintendent, who came out with the ship, went over it with us: it had been kept so clean and well ventilated, that it was perfectly free from unpleasant smell, notwithstanding the prisoners, 220 in number, had slept in it last night. The boys were separated from the men, and a system of discipline and instruction was pursued amongst them, that was attended with very pleasing results. Some of the convicts were employed by the Doctor as assistants and monitors. Out of 120 of the prisoners, 76 could not read; and many of them seemed never to have had any care bestowed upon them