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
Lately this benignant purpose has been carried further; for, if the
father of a family have had the misfortune to fall under the frowns of
justice, and should his conduct subsequently in New South Wales merit
the approbation of the Governor, he will obtain His Excellency’s
recommendation, and is sure of being favoured with an order from the
Government at home for his wife and children to go out to him in that
country, where in a short time they have been known to form comfortable
and prosperous establishments. A very liberal provision is made for the
free women and children during the voyage, for which no charge whatever
is made against them, or their father, on the part of the Government.
The inducements to form a settlement in New South Wales are so numerous,
and the advantages so great and inviting, particularly to laborious
industry, that numbers have applied for the sanction of Government to be
sent out to that country; but, having no apparent sufficient funds, have
been refused, on account of the great length of the voyage, and the
necessary and unavoidable expense. It is however well known, and the
fact has been ascertained beyond question, that many instances have
occurred of persons, so refused, having afterwards committed some
offence which subjected them to transportation, and thus effected their
purpose at the expense of the Government.
The liberality with which convicts destined for transportation are
clothed and victualled for the voyage, now usually of four months
duration, is highly deserving of praise, many of the persons so
circumstanced, or rather the majority of them, living more comfortably,
by many degrees, during that period, than they had been used to do for
many years before. Although, according to the present regulations, they
unfortunately have nothing in the way of employment to occupy their time
on the way out; still as the greatest care is taken of their health, at
the same time that they are abundantly fed, they generally look well,
and are in perfect health, by the period of their arrival, and fully
capable of proceeding to any work without delay.
As the public may not, perhaps, be generally informed of the minor
particulars of the preparations and reception of convicts, and the
outfit necessary for the voyage, it may not be deemed out of place to
set forth here the comforts provided for them during their conveyance to
New South Wales or Van Diemen’s Land. Every convict received on board
the ship which is to convey the number determined by Government for
transportation, is provided with one suit of clothes and a change of
linen, besides a flock bed, pillow, and blanket; and the following
weekly supply of provisions is regularly served out to a mess of six
persons in each.
_Plan of Rations for each Mess per Week._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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