superintendents, for which the settlers paid a moderate price; but on
the arrival of General Darling, the government assumed an aspect of
increasing rigour, and the reins of authority were tightened until they
were in danger of breaking. It does not belong to this work to examine
minutely the general policy of that ruler; it was, however, held in
earnest detestation by those who were, or had been prisoners. The
magistrates were empowered to inflict corporal punishment to a very
questionable extent, and it was customary for one settler to judge and
sentence the servant of another, who in his turn performed a similar
office. It is surely not necessary to prove, that the moderate exercise
of such extensive powers depended rather on the equitable temper of
British gentlemen than the practical limitation of their power.

On the arrival of Sir Richard Bourke, the successor of Darling, the
spirit of convict discipline underwent a change. By a new law he
lessened the power of the magistrates to inflict corporal punishment,
and particularly terminated the system of distributing through
successive days the sentence awarded. The magistrates complained that
the convict servants treated the penalties to which they were liable
with derision, and petitions from various districts of the colony
claimed the restoration of the abolished laws. This led to the issue of
an order to the various district magistrates, requesting their personal
attendance at the triangles, and a special report upon the extent of
suffering which resulted from the application of the lash.
Superintendent Ernest Augustus Slade, son of General Slade, prepared a
scourge, which was called the "regulation cat." Every flagellator
through the colony was supplied with this instrument, and the effects it
produced are described with scientific minuteness. The last victim was
much more fortunate than the first: the lash loosened, or softened, and
became more merciful at every stroke.

The description of several hundred cases in the course of one month,
prove how useless, how unequal, and unavailing this form of torture.
Such as these: "a fair skinned young man, he bore his punishment well;"
"he resolved to bear his punishment like a man;" "he begged for some
water;" "he seemed much exhausted, and cried like a child;" "this man
never moved or spoke;" "he seemed to suffer much mental pain;" "he bit
his lip, he had had former punishments;" "he neither cried nor spoke;"
"he crie