delivery. Circumstances did justify hopes in
some; but they sank as the vessel got rapidly
out to sea. Still many clung to them; adverse
winds might keep us in the Downs, where a
countermand might yet be received. These
hopes were, however, in no case realised.
Order and quiet was now maintained; but
the men generally were much depressed as
we gradually lost sight of land, and began to
speculate upon the sufferings which awaited
them. Our place of destination was generally
understood (although that was kept as secret
as possible) to be Norfolk Island.

Once at sea, and every hope being cut off
for the present, I resolved to submit myself
as cheerfully as possible to my strange fate,
and to endeavour to be useful to my fellow
prisoners; trusting that my life might be
spared through the dangers of a long sea
voyage, and the hardships of a penal settlement,
until that day of justice and reinstatement
in society which I never doubted would,
sooner or later, arrive. I was made librarian,
chaplain's clerk, and inspector of the night
watch; so that, although my miseries were
neither few nor trifling, the want of occupation
was not one of the number. The books
constituting the library were supplied by
various charitable societies; they were selected
with care, being confined to religious and
scientific subjects popularly treated, excluding
such as would convey information that was
likely to be misapplied. Many were on
natural history with plates, and these were
much sought after by those who could not
read -- a large proportion. Our books were
a blessing, and I am persuaded had a good
effect upon the minds and feelings. There
were about one hundred volumes, great and
small; and, notwithstanding they were in
constant circulation, there was not one
deficient at the end of the voyage.

The authorities aboard were very jealous of
books upon nautical and geographical subjects.
On one occasion the captain, noticing
a volume of " Guthrie's Geography " in a
prisoner's hand, immediately seized and threw
it overboard. It was supposed that information
might be derived from such sources which
would tempt the prisoners to endeavour to
take the ship, and effect their escape; and,
in truth, the practicability of this was a
favourite topic; especially with those who had
been transported before, and who had pretty
accurate information as to instances of both
success and failure in the seizing of ships, as
well by crews as by convicts. Our irons had
been taken off on first getting to sea, and it
was said that the capture of the ship, and
an escape to the coast would be easy, if the
prisoners were true to each other. The
successful seizure of the Wellington by convicts
on its way from Sydney to Norfolk
Island, as well as the famous mutiny of the
Bounty, were quoted as instances of the
facility with which the object might be
accomplished. It was generally believed that
a sudden rush upon the poop would settle
the matter -- that the sentinels would, in a
moment, be overpowered and disarmed.
Amongst the prisoners were several old
sailors who, it was believed, would be able to
steer the ship should the mates prove
refractory. Nothing, I believe, prevented the
attempt but the consciousness that there
were those among themselves who would
have been as much opposed to their design
as the captain himself, and who would have
frustrated it, if there had been any serious
intention of carrying it into execution. Before
we were well out of the Channel we
encountered a severe gale, which carried away
our foretop-gallant mast and royal. A great
number of the prisoners were sea-sick. When
it is remembered how wretched is the saloon
of even a first-class steamer occupied by the
most civilised of human beings, with
convenient berths, attentive stewards, and all
suitable appliances, some faint, but very
inadequate idea, may be gained of the loathsome
and miserable circumstances in which I
was placed, with one-third of our party sea-
sick, and no provision made for such a state
of things.

We had not been a month at sea when the
small-pox broke out amongst us; although, by
the exertions of the medical officer, it was
confined to six of our number. A young
man, whom I had previously remarked as one
of the finest and most robust-looking aboard,
fell a victim. He was committed to the deep
in the usual manner; the church service
being read by the chaplain, and I acting as
clerk. All the prisoners were assembled on.
deck, and many of them seemed affected. For
myself I rejoiced that, although a transported
convict, and in spite of my degrading dress
and miserable condition, I could respond
without shame to the beautiful prayers of
the burial service. The rest recovered;
and, after this, the general health was very
good. We had no vegetables, except some
preserved potatoes, which only lasted three
weeks.

Before we arrived at the Cape we kept too
far out at sea to catch more than shadowy
glimpses of the land; these, however, sufficed
for topics of conversation, especially as we
were enabled to learn from day to day the
exact progress we made. The most distinct
view we obtained of any land was of Gough's
Island, in 40 degrees, 19 minutes latitude, and
7 degrees, 30 minutes west longitude; six days
after sighting which we bore up for the Cape,
at the request of the surgeon, who represented
to the captain that the health of the prisoners
required rest and the support of fresh
provisions for a few days. Flights of pigeons
indicated the approach of land, though still
five hundred miles distant. The water lost
its deep blue tint, and the swell of the waves
grew less and less. We entered Symon's Bay
seventy-one days after leaving Woolwich.
When one lynx-eyed man declared he could