ved a grant from the crown, and erected a humble chapel and
dwelling-house; which he ascribed partly to the charity, and partly the
penance of his flock. He used a common brush to sprinkle them with holy
water, and spoke of their faults without much softness or reserve.
Occasionally an execution required his services at Launceston, otherwise
a place long overlooked by the priesthood.[136]

The return of the Sabbath was unattended in the country with a religious
welcome. Many employed their time in hunting: the more scrupulous in
visits, and the profane in labor or intemperance. A gentleman, now
distinguished among the wesleyans, was found by his neighbour ploughing
by the road side on Sunday morning: both himself and his men had
forgotten the day. Yet at the houses of all, a minister of religion, of
any name, met a cheerful entertainment and a willing audience. Whether
that the presence of an intelligent stranger is itself a grateful
interruption to rural solitude, or that the miseries resulting from sin
were too apparent for dispute, the utility of religion was never openly
questioned; and it is certain, that few people were less inclined to
reject the instructions, or to affront the ministers of religion.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 121: _Collins_, vol. i. p. 498.]

[Footnote 122: _Life of John Mason Good._]

[Footnote 123: _Holt_, vol. ii. p. 97.]

[Footnote 124: _Bigge's Report_, p. 104.]

[Footnote 125: _Works_, vol. ii. p. 44.]

[Footnote 126: _Reid's Voyages_, p. 312.]

[Footnote 127: He is thus described by a companion, in the _Hermit in
Van Diemen's Land_: "The good old gentleman at length warmed with the
subject, and said in an under tone--'You must come and see Bob at the
cottage. Yeoix, yeoix: tantivy, tantivy;' to which friendly invitation I
immediately assented."]

[Footnote 128: The following is a discourse delivered by Captain Nairn,
and by its constant repetition was impressed upon the memory of the
relator. Captain Nairn would stand and thus address the prisoners on a
Sunday morning:--"Now, my men, listen to me. I want you all to get on. I
was once a poor man like you; but I used to work perseveringly, and do
things diligently and as such got taken notice of, until I became a
captain of the 46th. Now, I want you to work perseveringly; do things
diligently, and that will make you comfortable; and I will assist you,
that you may have houses for yourselves, and rise up to be equal to me."
It may be