Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/378

 ** A few days pi ev ions to rjo'eiiior Hiiiitei's depurtui'v front this oolouy, the peraon who iu-'tod as his clerk wits iliscdvered to have made several I b«r&sement« in the indents sent with the t^auvicts to this colony, wltich it I, has since ap^^^tearetl waa done for the teward of £12 for changing fi-om | 200 pHsoners htive had their ternis thn« rhaiiged, which has iiiti o hut as the indents and Oniers-in -Council have been constantly in niy own possewaion they were soon detected, and a Rtop put to it, aa your Lordship will perceive by the enclosed notice. | I have felt it my duty to state this t-ircumatance to account for the jnimbers wlio may have been taken up m England as having escaped from this colony," Condign ijunishment was meted out to clerks on several oeeaBions. Transportation to Norfolk Island was a ready resource. To facilitate detection Lord Hobart (20th Aug. 1B02) transmitted duplicate lists of the convicts sent to the colony during; Hunter's *^ administration, specifying the [.eeveral periods of their respective sentences." The escape ^ of convicts concealed in departing vessels (even without the connivance of the caxitains) may he illustrated hy one example. S. Halcrow, of La Fnn<l, upon ninstcr, nineteen men who luid found means to eet on lioanl and stow themselves nway, which men were imn^ediatcly conhned in irons iind put on prisoners' allowance. I found they were sickly from coniine' nient, and was obligcil to rcleiise them for the benefit of theii- health/' At St* Maria Island, while the privateer was ** wooding and watering," the greater part of the prisoners escaped. At Rio the remainder got on shore ** hy the guard boat and by swimming. A leak had driven Halcrow into Rio. He had been unsuccessful, taking only oiie brig in ballast, and one loaded with sugar, &c. He sent the names of the runaways, and hoped their escape in his sbip would not be imputed to his neglect, as they have been, from the provisions consumed, a great loss to the cruise. I beg my best respects to Mrs. King, and remain, l^c."
 * life' to seven yeara^ and more in some cases. It appeared that at least
 * lt has lately been diacovered that the (convict) clerks in ray office