Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 2.djvu/60

 a THE WBEOK 07 1789 Table Bay, gave up the idea of taking her to Saldhana Bay, and had her hanled on shore, where she served for a time as a habitation for the crew. Her complete destruction by wind and weather was only a question of time. In the Naval Chronicle it is stated that the Guardian almost imme- diately after her return to the Gape was driven on shore in. An erroneous a hurricano and destroyed, and the statement is repeated by "^^ ' writers of Australian history, apparently on this authority. But Eiou's report to the Admiralty shows that nothing of the sort occurred. The vessel was deliberately laid on shore, and had not broken up when her commander left the Gape, conwcte The behaviour of the convicts on board the Guardian won on the Guardian. Riou's admiration and gratitude. "Writing from the Gape, on the 20th May, 1790,* he spoke of the twenty convicts which his duty compelled him to send to Port Jackson, and stated that but for their assistance and support the Guardian would never have got back to Table Bay. He added : — '^ Their conduct prior to the melancholy accident that hap- pened on the 23rd of December last was always such as may be commended, and from their first entrance into the t?na^giSe ^^P ^* Spithead they ever assisted and did their duty in the ship, ij]jQ manner as the crew.^* With the object of encouraging the men in the hour of peril, Biou told them that so far as depended upon him " not one of them should ever be con- victs,'^ and he asked the Lords of the Admiralty, through Secretary Stephens, to give effect to his promise. Riou's confidence in the justice of the Admiralty was not misplaced. awndSionai ^^^ Suggestion was adopted, and on the 16th November, pardon. 1790, Grcuville wrote a letter to Gt)vernor Phillip directing him to issue his warrant for the pardon of the convicts in question, on condition, however, " of their continuing abroad in such parts or places as may be hereafter directed by you for the terms specified in their several sentences of trans- portation."t Phillip carried out his instructions, which he • Historical Records, vol. i, part 2, p. 338. f lb., p. 414.