Narrative of a Visit to the Australian Colonies/Chapter 13
CHAPTER XIII.
On returning to Hobart Town, we found the little congregation with which we had become associated, in a state requiring care: a conference was therefore held with the two persons, who, with ourselves, were members of the Society of Friends in England, and it was concluded to organize a meeting for discipline, for the purpose of preserving good order, keeping records, discharging regularly the expenses attendant upon the occupation of the room in which the meetings for worship were held, and maintaining a general care respecting such other matters, as might be connected with the welfare of those professing with the Society of Friends, in this Colony.
At the first of these meetings, which was held on the 20th of 9th month, 1833, the certificates of George Washington Walker and myself, sanctioning our visit to the Southern Hemisphere, were read.—Appendix A.—A certificate of the membership of another individual, who had brought this document with him from England, was also read, and a record was made of the membership of two other Friends, with a notice of the respective Monthly Meetings in England, to which they belonged. A list of the names of other persons attending the meetings of Friends in Hobart Town, and of those professing an attachment to the principles of the Society in other parts of the Island, was likewise entered on minute.
We continued in Hobart Town at this time for twelve weeks, in the course of which, a few more meetings for discipline were held, two persons were admitted into membership, and it was concluded to hold one of these meetings monthly, under the appellation of "Hobart Town Monthly Meeting of Friends."
Meetings for worship continued to be regularly held on First day mornings, and reading meetings in the afternoons. A meeting for worship was also settled on Fifth-day evenings, not because the evening was preferred, for the meetings held at that time were often heavy, from the exhausted state of those who composed them, but because we could only have the use of the room in which we met, in an evening, as it was used for a school, in the day-time, on week-days.
We also invited the inhabitants of Hobart Town to a meeting for Public Worship, and to another for the promotion of Temperance; both of these were held in the Court House, the use of which was kindly granted for these purposes, on various occasions. On going to the former of these meetings I felt a perfect blank, as regarded anything to communicate, but was preserved quiet, trusting in the Lord, in whose counsel, I apprehended, I had requested the meeting to be convened. The passage of Scripture, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God," impressed my mind soon after sitting down, along with the belief that it was my duty to rise, and quote it, and to make some comments upon the cause of this fearfulness, as well as upon the plan of salvation by Jesus Christ; inviting all to come unto God by him, and to abide in him, and to prove this abiding, by walking as he also walked. The congregation was attentive, and a preciously solemn feeling pervaded the meeting toward the close, in which prayer was put up for an increase in the knowledge of the things belonging to salvation, and of a disposition to practice them.
The Lieutenant Governor and several other persons of note attended the Temperance Lecture; in which, after explaining the origin and progress of Temperance Societies, and conveying much general information, I invited a more extensive co-operation with them. I was induced to give this lecture from a sense of duty; and I had great occasion to render God hearty thanks, for enabling me to unfold to the company something of the working of the mystery of iniquity, as connected with the use of strong drink, and to do it in such a way as to keep hold of their kindly feelings, whilst attacking unsparingly the habits and indulgences of many present.
10th mo. 4th. I read, "Three Months in Jamaica, " by Henry Whitely. What a picture does it present of colonial slavery, and human depravity! Severe as is the discipline of the prisoners in this colony, it is not to be compared with the tyrannical barbarity exercised upon the poor Negroes; yet I think the vengeful part of the former, both degrading and demoralizing. A Magistrate who formerly thought the flagellation of prisoners necessary, said, a short time ago, when conversing with us on the subject, that he was now convinced that it was an ineffectual punishment, universally degrading in its consequences. This is an increasing conviction among men who have gained some degree of victory over themselves: those who are. in bondage to their own evil passions are attached to the system, by which a man may receive far beyond "forty stripes save one,"—upon complaint before a magistrate. It may, however, generally be observed, that those who plead for flogging, practice swearing, whether magistrates or others: and their own overbearing manner is often the exciting cause of the insolence in the prisoner, which occasions him to be brought before a magistrate and to receive flagellation.
Had justice toward offenders been more duly considered the legislature would probably, long ere this, have been induced to inquire more seriously than it has done, into the causes of crime, with a view to remedying them. This consideration is especially due to prisoners, when it appears, that the use of ardent spirits is the chief cause of crime, and that, by legalizing the sale of this article, and by the countenance given to its use by the community, they and the Government are the chief patrons of crime.
Want of education being another fertile source of vice, consideration ought to be had for those who are ignorant, and through this cause go astray. It is not generally with themselves that the fault of the want of better education lies. Again, the immoral example of persons of the upper and middle classes, and often of the professed teachers of religion, has, beyond a doubt, a great place in the encouragement of crime. By far the greater proportion of prisoners is from the lower class; and it will be found, that most of the crimes which they have committed, were committed under the excitement of ardent spirits; and that, apart from this excitement, they are not commonly more depraved than the generality of their countrymen. Also, that most of their robberies were committed to enable them to obtain money to pay for indulgence in vice; and that the example of similar indulgence by persons above them in circumstances, was a great means of destroying in their minds the barrier of that moral principle, which would have made them fear such indulgence. Those who expect the punishment of crime to prevent its commission, whilst such fertile sources of its propagation remain, Mill certainly be disappointed. The removal of persons who have become contaminated, will no doubt, prevent crime increasing as it would do, were their influence continued on the British population; but unless the incentives to crime be removed, punishing it will only be like trying to pump out a river that threatens inundation to a country, whilst the remedy of stopping the springs that supply it, is neglected.
About this time I wrote a small tract, entitled, "A Concise Apology for the Peculiarities of the Society of Friends, commonly called Quakers, in their Language, Costume, and Manners." These peculiarities having often been the subjects of so much inquiry and objection, as to limit our opportunities of explaining our views of the Gospel in regard to more fundamental points, and especially, to that immediate teaching of the Divine Spirit, which, when fully followed, we believe, leads into the practice we have adopted.—Appendix B.
In the 10th month, a young woman, professing with the Independents, refused to take an oath, as witness, in the Supreme Court. She was called upon to state her reasons for this refusal, which she did in a clear and concise manner, urging the command of Christ as the ground of her objection. According to existing regulations, the Judge must have committed her to prison for contempt of court, had the matter been pressed! but to avoid this, the Counsel withdrew her evidence.
This circumstance increased an exercise that my mind had been under, respecting the practice of judicial swearing, and this feeling was further increased, by learning that a discourse had been delivered in the Independent chapel, attempting to defend the practice; and believing that it would conduce to my peace to throw something before the public on the subject, I wrote an essay, entitled, "The Question, are Judicial Oaths Lawful? answered; with some Observations on the Moral Influence of Oaths." In this tract the fallacy of the arguments brought forward in support of the practice of Judicial Swearing was proved on Scriptural grounds.—Appendix C.
10th mo. 16th. We had a religious interview with the Hulk Chain-gang, in a long shed, in which they regularly assemble for worship, on First and Fourth days. The discipline of this gang is very strict; and from its local situation, the men are effectually kept from strong drink. The hulks, on board of which they sleep, are kept clean, and are well ventilated: they are moored close alongside of the yard in which the men muster. These prisoners are employed in public works of improvement on the side of Sulivans Cove, and are kept constantly under an overseer and a military guard. This gang, which forms an important link in the chain of the prison-discipline of the colony, is depicted, in the annexed etching, copied from a work called "Ross's Hobart Town Annual."
10th mo. 24th. A young Irishman called upon me, who came to V. D. Land, a few months ago, with a small sum of money, and soon after his arrival got into a situation; but giving way to dissipated habits, and making a mock, as he said, of temperance, he found many of his own stamp, who were willing to seek his friendship while his 
A Chain Gang.
Convicts going to work nr. Sidney N. S. Wales.
money lasted. This was not long; and as he soon incapacitated himself by intemperance, he lost his situation. When his money was gone, his friends were gone also; and some that he had helped, were unwilling to help him in return, and he was at his wit's end to know what to do. Many young men who come out with fair prospects, ruin themselves in this way, and then find fault with the Colony. Without persons have capital, and conduct to take care of it, they should not emigrate to the Australian Colonies. If they have stability, and their capital be in their physical powers, and they have ability to employ it efficiently, in mechanical occupations, or in agricultural labour, it may be of good service.
10th mo. 25th. We ascended Mount Wellington. At the base, sandstone and limestone, form low hills; further up, compact argillaceous rock rises into higher hills, which abound in marine fossils. The height of the mountain is four thousand feet. Near the top, basalt shows itself in some places, in columnar cliffs. The trees, for two-thirds of its height, are Stringy-bark, White and Blue Gum, Peppermint, &c. A species of Eucalyptus, unknown in the lower part of the forest, is frequent at an elevation of three thousand feet. Another is found on the top of the mountain. The different species of Eucalyptus are very common, and form at least seven-eighths of the vast forests of Tasmania. In the middle region of the mountain, the climate and soil are humid. The Tasmanian Myrtle, Fagus Cunninghamii, here forms trees of moderate size; the Australian Pepper-tree, Tasmania fragrans, is frequent; the Broad-leaved Grass-tree, Richea Dracophylla, forms a striking object; it is very abundant, and on an average, from ten to fifteen feet high; it is much branched, and has broad, grassy foliage. The branches are terminated by spike-like panicles of white flowers, intermingled with broad, bracteal leaves, tinged with pink. Culcitium salicifolium, Hakea lissosperma, Telopea truncata, Corraea ferruginea, Gaultheria hispida, Prostanthera lasianthos, Friesia peduncularis, and many other shrubs, are met with in the middle region of the mountain. For a considerable part of the way up, we availed ourselves of a path that is nearly obliterated, which was used by the workmen, when laying a watercourse from the breast of the mountain, for the purpose of supplying Hobart Town with water. This path led through a forest of Tree-ferns, surmounted by Myrtle, &c. Nearer the top, we had to pass a large tract of tumbled basalt. The upper parts of many of the stones were split off, probably by the alternations of frost and heat. A few patches of snow were still remaining.
The top of the mountain is rather hollow, sloping toward Birches Bay, in the direction of which, a stream of excellent water flows. The ground is swampy, with rocks and stony hills. Astelia alpina, Glichenia alpina, Drosera arcturi, several remarkable shrubby Asters, a prostrate species of Leptospermum, Exocarpos humifusus, a dense bushy Richea, and several mountain shrubs, of the Epacris tribe, are scattered in the swamps, and among the rocks. Two Snipes flew up from a marsh, in which there was a frog with a voice much like that of the English Red Grouse.
We ascended the highest portions of the mountain on the west and south, from which the view is extremely fine. It commands the whole of the south-east portion of V. D. Land, with its numerous bays, peninsulas, and adjacent, small islands, the singular outlines of which may be seen upon one of the ma£s at the end of this volume. The ocean forms the horizon, from the westward of the mouth of D'Entrecasteaux Channel, and to the southward, and as far to the north-east as about St. Patricks Head. The atmosphere was rather milky to the north, so as not to leave the horizon very distinct in that direction. To the westward we thought we could recognise the Peak of Teneriffe, and some of the mountains near Macquarie Harbour, Port Davey, and the South Cape. Hobart Town, Sorell Town, and the cultivated lands, with the houses of the settlers about Richmond, New Norfolk, and Hamilton, along with the courses of the rivers Derwent and Huon, were striking objects. The green patches of cultivated land on Browns River, and in various other places, in the recesses of the "bush," proved interestingly, the powers of industry in subduing the forest.
In descending, we got into a thick part of the forest, through which we had sometimes to force our way among deep cutting-grass, and tangled Bauera; and sometimes we had to travel on fallen trees, at an elevation above "terra firma," much greater than was agreeable. We were glad to reach a known track, in the foot of the mountain while twilight lasted, having effected the descent in 3½ hours.
While we were at Hobart Town, at this time a prisoner, named Robert King, died in the Hospital. We had long felt much interest respecting him, on account of his simple piety. He gave me the following account of his life, which I have interspersed with a few remarks upon his situation as a prisoner, and his state as a practical Christian.
Robert King, was the son of persons in respectable circumstances, who resided in London: they gave him a good education, but at an early age he fell into much evil, under the influence of bad company: he became exceedingly intemperate, and immoral in other respects; and at length, his conduct was unbearable to his relations, and they closed their doors against him, so that he became, in the true sense of the word, an Outcast. He joined himself to a gang of thieves in Tothill-fields; who supported themselves in their profligacy, by picking pockets, and committing other kinds of robbery. He adopted infidel principles, on similar grounds to those on which, there is reason to believe, many other infidels have also adopted them; and who are, nevertheless, very ready to ridicule the truths of Christianity, with a pretence of being very knowing about them:—"Not," said R. King, "because I had carefully examined the subject and found any reasonable objection to the truths of Holy Scripture; but because I wished to be an infidel, and hoped there was no future state; for, I knew, if there was, I had no prospect of happiness in it."
But though R. King had joined with those fools, who, in their folly, deny the being of a God, and who make a mock of sin, yet God, who is long-suffering, and rich in mercy, still followed him for good; and, in the dispensation of his providence, the transgressor was arrested by the strong arm of the law, when sinning with a high hand, and was tried, found guilty, and sentenced to be transported.
Having forfeited, by his crimes, that freedom to which, as an Englishman, he was born, his ankles were loaded with chains, and he was subjected to the rigid discipline of a convict, on a voyage of sixteen thousand miles from his native land—that land to which he was never more to return—and on arriving at Hobart Town, he, and his numerous shipmates, under like circumstances, were assigned into bond service. This service differs little from slavery, except that the prisoner remains the property of the Government, and consequently cannot be sold by his master. The master agrees with the Government to comply with certain terms in regard to the food, clothing, and labour of the assigned servant; and the servant may complain to a magistrate if his master fail to do justly in these respects. But the prisoner is liable, on the complaint of his master, to be flogged or sent to work in chains, for insubordination and other offences; and his insubordination may often be little more than irritation of temper, excited by an unreasonable master.
The convict, like a slave, may happen to be the servant of a kind or of a hard-hearted master; and if he should be the servant of a hard master, he must bear it, for he cannot change at pleasure, because he is in bondage—galling bondage! a state from which even those who have the best of masters, are glad to be delivered.
On arriving in Van Diemens Land, R. King saw several young men, whom he had known in England, such as himself, but who, in the day of their trouble had sought the Lord, and had come under the power of religion; and the change in them was so great, that he began to think there was more in religion than he had been willing to admit. Happily for him, he was assigned to a kind and pious master, whose wife was of similar character; and their example helped to deepen those favourable impressions which he had received, in regard to religion, at a time when his heart was softened by the affliction that he had brought upon himself by his sins. His mind now became open to the convictions of the Holy Spirit as a reprover of evil; he saw the sinfulness of sin, and felt the terror of the Lord in his soul, because of his transgression; and, in repentance, he began to cry for mercy, to that God whom he had despised; for he now no longer doubted the existence of that Almighty Being, whose hand lay heavy upon him in judgment. He lamented his folly, abhorring himself in deep humiliation ; and the Lord was pleased to open his understanding, to look upon Jesus, as the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world ; and to give him an evidence by the Spirit, of the pardon of his sins, through faith in that atoning blood which was shed upon the cross, for the redemption of sinners.
The sense of the love of God, who had been thus merciful to him, contrited him greatly, and he earnestly desired to live to his glory; but he found that the natural depravity of his own heart had been so greatly increased by indulgence in sin, that he was very easily ensnared. He now experimentally learned, that he could only stand against temptation by watchfulness and prayer to God, who alone was able to deliver him. In these exercises he persevered, and God was honoured by his upright conduct, which gained him also the favour of pious persons, who became acquainted with him, and who esteemed him as a brother in Christ, notwithstanding, he was still a prisoner. His master was interested in the management of "a Sabbath school;" and in this, R. King gladly rendered assistance, from a desire to do what he could, toward training up children in the fear of the Lord, in the hope that they might be preserved from the snares into which he had fallen.
As he grew in grace, he felt more strongly his own unworthiness and helplessness, and understood better than when he was first awakened from sleep in sin, that it is for Christ's sake alone, and through his intercession, that mankind have access to the throne of grace; and he became diligent in waiting upon God, with his mind stayed upon Him, and in lifting up his heart in prayer, according to the sense of his necessity, given him at the time.
After having maintained a Christian character for a considerable period, he was attacked by a fever; and though he recovered from it so as to be able to walk out, and enjoy the fresh air, yet the effects of his former depravity upon his constitution prevented him from regaining his strength, and he died while yet but a young man. Disease, for a short time, rather beclouded his mind; and he expressed a fear respecting the sincerity of his love to God: but the fruits meet for repentance, that he had continued to bring forth from the time of his awakening, left no room to doubt his sincerity, but afforded ground to believe, that, as he had penitently sought the forgiveness of his sins, through Jesus Christ, and the help of God, to turn away from his wickedness, and to do that which was lawful and right, he was mercifully prepared to join the glorious company, "who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."[1]
- ↑ This account of R. King, with a few additional remarks, is published by "The York Friends' Tract Association," under the title of "The Van Diemens Land Convict."