Two Voyages to New South Wales and Van Diemen's LandReid, Thomas
History
Two Voyages to New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land
Reid, Thomas
Exiles -- Australia -- New South Wales; Exiles -- Australia -- Tasmania
It has been observed to you, by my good friend Mr. Reddall, that by good
behaviour in the colony you may make reparation for the injury done to
society, and benefit those of your fellow creatures who may have the
misfortune to be similarly situated with yourselves, by securing to them
the blessings which you have so happily enjoyed. If it can be
satisfactorily proved that religious instruction is capable of working
an entire and permanent reform in those ill-fated mortals who have
forfeited the protection of their country’s laws, the attention of
Government, and of the Nation generally, will be directed to the
investigation of means to lessen the hardships they have hitherto been
doomed to suffer; and the demonstration of a fact so desirable would
give infinite delight to those benefactresses who take so much interest
in your welfare. Can your minds be so depraved, as ever to lose the
remembrance of the noble exertions used by these amiable ladies,
particularly Mrs. Fry and Mrs. Pryor, to restore your peace of mind in
this life, and secure your happiness in the next? Can any of you be
insensible to that benevolent zeal which induced Mrs. Fry to visit you
in this ship at times when several of her nearest relations were on
their death-bed? Perhaps at this very moment she is supplicating Heaven
that you may become thoroughly reformed, and, although the morning of
your lives has been clouded by guilt, that joy and gladness may surround
your setting sun. Perhaps also, at this very time, some of you have a
parent, brother, sister, or some dear friend, lamenting your folly, and
in secret silence offering the unavailing tribute of heart-rending and
corroding tears over your sacrificed virtue. Are your souls so hardened
that you will not do your best to dry up their tears? or will you by
vicious practices infuse new bitterness into the cup of misery, and
bring down their grey hairs with sorrow to the grave?
During my stay in the colony I shall have opportunities of hearing how
you behave, of which, as well as of your behaviour during the voyage, I
promise you I will make a faithful report to your friends in England, if
God be pleased to allow me life to return thither. Virtue is now calling
on you to walk in her salutary paths, and I beseech you, my friends, do
not reject her heavenly invitation. Listen to the divine promise in 2nd
Corinthians, 6th chapter, 17th and 18th verses, “Come out from among
them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord; and touch not the unclean
thing; and I will raise you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall
be my daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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