Page:Narrative of a Visit to the Australian Colonies.djvu/50

20 pardon, which would give them the liberty of the colony: and that a further continuance in good conduct, would open the way for a free pardon, which would liberate those who received it, to return to their native land. That the masters to whom they were assigned, would in the meantime, provide them a sufficiency of food, clothing, and bedding; and that the Government expected them to labour for their masters without wages, and to do it cheerfully.

After the Lieut. Governor had concluded, I begged leave to say a few words, and my request was readily granted. I endeavoured to enforce what the Governor had said, pointing out its bearing upon their immortal interests; also directing their attention to their own experience, in regard to the cause of the sins for which they stood convicted before a human tribunal, and of many others, of which they were guilty in the sight of God, at whose judgment-seat they must all stand. This cause, I suggested to them, was their neglecting to confer with their own consciences, and I recommended them to the daily exercise of this duty, in order that they might understand their need of the help of the Holy Spirit, to resist sin, and of the atonement of a Saviour for pardon, and thus be prepared to pray for help and pardon in the name of Jesus, who came to save men from their sins, and not in them; and in order that they might keep these things in remembrance, I recommended them daily to read their Bibles.

Several of the convicts who arrived by the Elizabeth, had belonged to a society of thieves in London, who limited their number to forty members, admitted by their captain, at any age, but preferring the young. They were distinguished by marks, which had occasionally been changed because others had imitated them. They met at certain times to be trained to expertness in pocket-picking, and to divide their booty, which was expended in dissipation and profligacy, unless any of their number were in prison; in which case a portion was devoted to paying counsel for them on their trial. Several other such societies are said to exist in the metropolis of England. Some of the juvenile prisoners had been confined on board a hulk before being