convicts, never. Robberies were
less frequent than usual, and the journals singularly free from the
details of crime. The animating influence of confidence reposed,
elevates the least romantic natures: since they were trusted, they were
faithful: all returned home to their servitude.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 17: The sheriff, Mr. Dudley Fereday, had before dismissed that
portion which guarded the gaol: he affected to believe that the
prisoners were not safe. There was small chance of escaping, so observed
the newspapers, while the civilians were on guard--the prisoners
themselves had given up all hope! But the sheriff thought otherwise, or
more probably availed himself of his office, to cast into the dirt the
honors of the civic guard; who had observed the forms of military
discipline, and who merited a more distinguished termination to their
service.]

SECTION VII.

While the hostile proceeding was in progress, the future preserver of
the natives, Mr. Robinson, had already given his thoughts to their
conciliation. In 1829, he was appointed to take charge of Brune Island,
where twelve natives, captured, were located, and mixed with others who
had attained a partial civilisation. Mr. Robinson attempted to acquire
their language, and was soon able to understand them. The pecuniary
advantages of his office were not very alluring: L50 a-year, and
rations, were thought equal to obtain a person of good character to
manage the infant establishment, and to effect the proposed intercourse
with this unfortunate race. Mr. Robinson described his plan, _as the
employment of persuasion only_, and requiring the withdrawment of
intimidation. He first laboured to acquire the language--a task of some
difficulty: the English were scarcely less ignorant on this subject,
than when they first landed, and the dialects of the tribes differed
considerably. The aborigines were supposed to understand the English
tongue much more extensively; but the words with which they were most
familiar, were the imprecations so often addressed to them--they were
able to retort common terms of menace. Their intercourse with
bushrangers and stock-keepers on remote stations, was the chief source
of their knowledge. To learn the language as an instrument of
civilisation, would be the first idea of a Christian missionary; but it
was a conception, too lofty for the colonial mind. It was forgotten that
by no other means can savages be softened, or permanently