an lying on his straw mat undressed, and to all
appearance asleep. ---- desired him to get up, calling him by his name,
and to dress himself. He did so, and came out into the yard, where ----
inserted the ironwood gag into his mouth, and the sound produced by his
breathing through it (which appeared to be done with great difficulty)
resembled a low indistinct whistle. He then led him to the lamp post in
the yard, placing him with his back to it, and his arms being taken
round were secured by the handcuffs round the post. As the night was
very chilly, I buttoned his jacket up to the throat, speaking at the
same time a few words to cheer him, that brought tears from his
sightless eyes, to think that some one felt for his miserable and
forlorn condition; and this convinced me still further, that even the
most hardened villain can be melted by kindness, however trifling.
Having enquired how long he was to remain in the condition described, I
was told three hours!"

"Perkins had another drubbing some time since coming out of church. ----
a prisoner constable, was the first to fall on him, and after him a host
who soon covered him with blood and wounds, for not walking in a proper
manner out of church. And the commandant allowed this drubbing to stand
as a sort of instalment of punishment when the man was brought up for
trial. On account of the beating he received a lighter magisterial
sentence. Mr. ---- told me one day that the commandant censured the
conduct of the constables who complained of some man not opening his
mouth to have the inside of it searched for tobacco. It seems they were
deemed blameworthy for having in this instance neglected to use
violence. 'Why didn't you knock him down like a bullock?' was the
interrogatory at Norfolk Island!"--_Correspondence_, pp. 41, 42.

"Before Mr. Price's arrival I resided for twelve months on the Cascade
station. Its strength was between three and four hundred men. I have
known this station to continue twenty days without a single case
requiring the intervention of a magistrate. Within three months after
Mr. Price's arrival, I have known forty cases for the police-office on
one single morning! Many of the men thus brought up were sentenced to
solitary confinement, and sent to the Longridge cells--our own not being
sufficient to contain a quarter of them. The Longridge station had a
strength of five hundred men, and the united solitary sentences of both
stations often trebly fi