Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 2.djvu/75

 TSEB SfeCCSSTD KJ5BT, S0 yqys^ th»t they nerer 'will be capable ol any labonr. . . • ^'^f^ By ibe aorgeon's retnxns of this day tfasre are 4Sd under medioal treatment ; when the ahips arrived we had not fifty pec^le sick in the colOTiy.''* Phillip spoke in general terms from information that had been supplied to him, bat it happens that with regard to the transactions on board of one of the transports, at least, we have a tmstworfchy eye-witness. The ships brought out detachments of the New South Wales Corps. That on board the Surprize was commanded by Oaptain William onMn Hill, wlio has written a graphic and touching account of account. the horrors that came under his observation. His narrative was sent to the philanthropist, William Wilberf orce.f So deep an impression did the horrors of the voyage make upon Captain Hill that he declared that he should never recover his accustomed vivacity and spirits. What made these dreadful scenes the harder to witness was his inability to interfere. He was in command of a detachment of troops, but he had no control over the management of the convicts. They were entirely at the mercy of the masters of his inabuity TT3T-I nj *° interfere. the transports. ^' Had I been empowered," he wrote, '^ it would have been the most grateful task of my life to have prevented so many of my fellow-creatures so much misery and death.'' The Bev. Richard Johnson, chaplain of the settlement, visited the Surprize soon after her arrival, and saw for him- self the state of affairs on board. His version:^ .of the con- The dition of the convicts on this vessel bears out all that Captain account? " QSl had written. After visiting the Surprize, Mr. Johnson went on board the Scarborough, but the condition of the convicts was so revolting that the captain dissuaded him from going below. t CbfitMA HiU'B nanatiTe will be iaimd printed at kngtk in the ffietDiiflri Beeoicb, vol. i, part 2, pp. 866-868. X Mr. Johnson's j»tat«ment will be found pnnted at lengtkisi ihe fiiftorical Becords, toI. i, part 2, pp. 886-389.
 * ffittovioftl Beoordft, taL i, part % pp. 86<lr^a6S.