[Footnote 173: The author is assured by a clergyman, that he has been
dismissed his attendance upon a prisoner, within a few days of his
execution, for refusing to write down the particulars of his life.]

[Footnote 174: "The flagitious proceedings of several of these men were
clearly traced to have had their source in the weakness or improper
treatment of their employers, whose ill-judged neglect of discipline, or
corrupt toleration of irregularity, had contributed to entail
consequences so awful to those victims to offended justice. If it shall
be ascertained, any settler makes payment to convict servants in stock,
or apportions to them land for their exclusive benefit, or suffers them
to be employed in any other than his immediate service, every support
and indulgence of the crown will be withdrawn."--_Gazette Notice, Sept.
1826._]

[Footnote 175: _Ross's Almanack._]

SECTION XIII.

To preserve the continuity of this narrative, it may be advisable to
give throughout the incidents which relate to Macquarie Harbour. The
short but severe government (1824) of Lieutenant Wright was superseded
by Captain Butler (1825), of whom the common testimony is favorable. Its
economical results will be comprehended in that general view of prison
labor, reserved for the close of this volume. He extended cultivation,
and thus mitigated the sufferings of the prisoners; and by building
ships, varied the industry of the men--many of whom went down for
punishment, but returned skilful mechanics.

Of all the thousands professing to bring back its consolation to the
wretched, not one minister had been found--perhaps not sought for--to
try there the remedies of the gospel. That a Wesleyan missionary
ventured, entitles him to the esteem of mankind. Governor Arthur
suggested, and even entreated this direction of missionary labours: he
wrote to Joseph Butterworth, M.P., and to the Colonial-office, and the
Rev. Mr. Schofield was appointed to enter this moral desert. On his
arrival in 1829, he heard terrific accounts of the perils of that place:
he was told, that his labors would be useless, and his life sacrificed.
He hesitated for a time; but Arthur declared that such a post of danger,
he, as a soldier, should consider one of honor.

Mr. Schofield proved that he was neither deficient in zeal nor prudence.
The place prepared for his ministry was, indeed, comfortless: the wind
overpowered his voice, and his congregation shivered with