and had lost his way in the intricate forest: his life was thus endangered more than once, on similar excursions.

The Settlement was greatly improved since our former visits, but was still incomplete in accommodation, for the separation and instruction of the prisoners, who were now, 887 in number. The association of men of this description, in common day-yards, and sleeping-places, is fraught with much evil, that is very difficult to obviate.

In consequence of the prisoners living on salt meat, and being defectively supplied with vegetables, a large number were suffering from scurvy. Nineteen, who were in the Hospital, chiefly from this disease, presented as appalling a picture of human wretchedness, as I recollect ever to have witnessed. This defect, on being represented to the Government, was speedily remedied, by the cultivation of more land with vegetables, and an occasional supply of fresh meat.

The general discipline of the Settlement was improved, but we found very little reformation on religious principle; and very few of the educated prisoners showed any disposition to assist in the instruction of the others, in the evening school, which was held twice a week. The few books to which the prisoners had access, were diligently read, but the number of these was small.

The prisoners were employed in ship-building, shoemaking, breaking stones, cutting timber, brick-making, &c. and many of them were working reluctantly, as is always the case where labour is compulsory, and without reward.-A few men, employed in making bread, were locked up in the bakehouse till the bread was delivered to the Commissariat Officer, to prevent pilfering, which is sometimes attempted here, very artfully.

An interesting addition has lately been made to this Settlement, in an establishment for convict boys, on a point of land, now called Point Puer, access from which to the main land is cut off by a military guard. 157 of these boys, formerly kept on board the hulks, on the Thames, are here placed under restraint and coercive labour, as a punishment. By these means, combined with attention to education, they are

acquiring habits, calculated to enable them to maintain themselves honestly. The restraint is irksome, but upon the whole, the boys seem pleased with the idea of being put in the way of obtaining a livelihood.--Considerable difficulty has been found, as might be expected, in raising the morals of these juvenile delinquents, from a most degraded state.

On the 21st, attended by a prisoner constable, we returned to Norfolk Bay, and proceeded to Eagle Hawk Neck, and from thence down Eagle Hawk Bay, to Woody Island, where, as well as at many other places, constables are stationed. From Woody Island, we were rowed to a coal mine, lately opened, on Sloping Main, a point of Tasmans Peninsula: we crossed this point to a hut, where we took up our quarters for the night. Here we read a portion of Scripture, to a few constables and soldiers, and addressed them on the importance of attending to their eternal interests.

When passing through the forest between Long Bay and Norfolk Bay, a large Black Snake met us on the path, which we, of course, left to make way for the snake: it passed us with its head a little raised, and with an air of boldness that was rather appalling. Stout switches being plentiful in the bush, G. W. Walker immediately cut one, and following the venomous reptile, despatched it with a single blow.

On the 22nd, we returned to the coal mine, and mustered the prisoners employed in it; with whom we had a religious interview, as we had also had, with the different groups at Port Arthur. The coal from this place makes hot fires, but scarcely changes its form in burning: it finds a market in Hobart Town, for about ten shillings a ton. Only the top seam has yet been worked. Access is gained to it by a level, that is very little above the high water mark.

Having completed our visit, we returned across Frederick Henry Bay, and landed near Lauderdale, where I left my companion, and proceeded by Clarence Plains and Kangaroo Point, to Hobart Town, which place I was favoured to reach in safety, thankful in having been privileged with fine weather, in a deeply interesting excursion, in which storms would have exposed us to great risk.

Anguillaria uniflora, Anopterus glandulosus, and several

other interesting plants, were in flower, on Tasmans Peninsula, as was also Thysanotus Patersonii, on Clarence Plains. The last is a low, twining plant, with fringed, purple blossoms, delightfully fragrant.

On returning to Hobart Town, I had the satisfaction to find my friend Daniel Wheeler restored to health, and proposing soon to depart for Sydney; whither G. W. Walker and myself had, for some time, believed it would be right for us to accompany him and his son.

24th. George W. Walker rejoined me in Hobart Town, where we made up a report, of our visit to Port Arthur, containing the substance of the foregoing remarks, and presented it to the Lieutenant Governor.-Feeling much interested for the prisoners, and for the Catechist who had lately come into office at the Penal Settlement, but who was absent during our visit, I addressed a letter to him, of which an extract is inserted in APPENDIX. I.

30th. Our meetings were largely attended, and were seasons of comfort. D. Wheeler and myself had to inculcate in them, the necessity of a more full submission to the inward dominion of Christ, as the leader and governor of his people; testifying, that, without submission to his Spirit, we can never truly assure ourselves of the pardon of our sins, even through faith in his blood; as he said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father, which is in heaven."

12th mo. 1st. I had a conference with a person respecting the settlement of his affairs, and took some memorandums, from which the draft of his will was prepared, which was read to him, in the company of his wife and sons. It is to be regretted that the Laws of Primogeniture and Entail, which are of prejudicial influence in Great Britain, should be in force in a new Colony like this. Their direct tendency is, to preserve influence in the hands of persons who may have nothing to qualify them to use it aright, and thus to prevent the influence of others, who may have every necessary qualification to benefit the public, but may not be possessed of great property; and this is but a small part of the evil connected with these laws. My attention has long been

attracted to their pernicious effect upon the progress of civil and religious improvement in my native land, the prosperity of which lies near to my heart.

4th. We have lately met with several of the Pensioners who came out with us in the Science. Many of them, and of other persons of the lowest class, find difficulty in obtaining employment. Some of the steadier ones are employed as police-constables, at the wage of one shilling and nine pence a day. Several have died, and others have been brought into circumstances of degradation, through intemperance.

10th. We completed the shipment of our luggage, and embarked on board the Henry Freeling, after taking leave of our friends; from many of whom it was a trial to part.

11th. The wind being unfavourable, we went on shore, to meeting. To myself it was a season of poverty, but not without consolation. My work being done here, at least for the present, it has pleased my Heavenly Father to permit me to feel much of my own emptiness, but in something of true stillness, in which I desire to give all glory to the Lord, in the acknowledgment of being an unprofitable servant.-We took tea with Philip Palmer, who was at this time holding the office of Rural Dean, and from whom we had received much kindness. Several other persons were also of the company, among whom was William Marshall, the surgeon of the Alligator, ship-ofwar, with whom we had, at various times, much pleasant intercourse. He took no active part in fighting, but laboured diligently to promote the spread of the Gospel of Peace; often reasoning also with the people, on temperance, righteousness and judgment to come. In many respects, we felt much unity of spirit with him, notwithstanding we considered his position on board a ship-of-war, a very doubtful one for a vital Christian.—[This valuable individual lost his life in the Niger expedition, in 1841.]

After this visit we returned on board the Henry Freeling, accompanied by our kind friend T. J. Crouch, who took leave of us at a late hour, when the ketch was preparing for sea.

CHAPTER XX.

Voyage to Sydney.-Cape Howe.-Diversity of Gifts.-Dangerous Situation.-Port Jackson.-Sydney.-Religious Instruction. Aborigines.-Rock Oysters. -Brugmansia.-Visit to the Governor.-Projected Visit to Norfolk Island.— Meetings on Ship-board.-S. Marsden.-New Year's Day.-Shrubs." Brickfielder."-First Meetings on Shore.-Temperance Meeting.-Works of Creation.-Visit to the Governor, at Parramatta. - Card Playing.-Snake.Elizabeth Bay. Fig-tree and Acrosticum grande.-Peaches.-Plants.-School Meeting.-Group of Aborigines.-Parasites.-Meeting in the Court-House.— Luminous Appearances in the Sea.-New Zealand Hostages.- Imposition on Medical Men.--Meeting on Board the Henry Porcher.

12th mo. 12th. THE weather was beautifully clear, and the moon was shining brightly, when we came on board the Henry Freeling, last night. The ketch was soon got under weigh, and it was proceeding smoothly down the Derwent when we retired to rest; but we had scarcely cleared Storm Bay, before our gentle breeze increased into a gale. At an early hour we were roused by the rolling of the vessel, on a heavy sea: it frequently washed over the deck, the seams of which had opened under the influence of the dry atmosphere of Tasmania, so that some of us were soon compelled, from the dripping in, of the salt-water, to leave our berths, and take to the sofas.

17th. At sun-set, we were off Cape Howe, the southeast point of New South Wales: the cape and adjacent coast were faintly visible. The sea had been rough much of the time since we left Hobart Town. The roll of the vessel was so great after rounding Cape Pillar, as to make some of the oldest sailors on board, sick. Birds have been numerous, and we have seen a few whales.

18th. The weather was fine in the forenoon. In the course