Page:Narrative of a Visit to the Australian Colonies.djvu/65

1832.] examining the state of their own hearts before the Lord, he endeavoured to be similarly occupied.

We several times visited the prisoners in the Penitentiary, who assembled for religious purposes in a mess-room accommodating about 450 at a time: their quietness and attention were very striking; notwithstanding many of them wore chains, the least clink was rarely to be heard; many of them appeared truly grateful for a little religious counsel extended in Christian sympathy.

The Penitentiary contains upwards of 600 prisoners: it is the great receptacle of convicts on their arrival in the Colony: those returned from assigned service for misconduct, or other causes, are also sent here; and those retained for some of the public-works are likewise lodged in this place. Considering the class of its inmates, they are under good discipline. They are sent out in the morning under overseers and guards, to work on the roads, and in the various departments, as sawyers, carpenters, builders, &c. and they are all mustered and locked up at night. This precaution renders property remarkably secure in Hobart Town; where formerly robbery was very common. The Penitentiary has a large day-room, and numerous sleeping wards. The men are lodged on two tiers of barrack-bedsteads. These are large platforms without any separation, which is a great evil. In every room there is a man in charge, who is answerable for the conduct of the rest; but it is rare for one to dare to complain of the misconduct of his fellow. Each individual has a bed, blanket, and coverlet; and the place is well ventilated and clean. A tread-mill is attached to this building, which serves the purpose of special punishment, and grinds corn for the institution.—At a subsequent period, a large addition was made to this prison, including a number of solitary cells, and an Episcopal chapel, part of which is open also to the public.

In the latter part of the 4th month, a Temperance Society was first established in Hobart Town, but not without considerable opposition. The Lieut. Governor became its Patron; and the senior Colonial Chaplain, stated, in support of the object, that he had attended between three