and life, and restoration to virtue and to society, ought to be the paramount aim. There can be no surprise that many felons should return from transportation worse than when they went, when it is considered that they have multiplied incitements to the continuance in vice, by being congregated with such a mass of persons, of the same depraved nature as themselves; and the very few inducements practically held out to the cultivation of virtue. It is an universally acknowledged fact, that an association with vicious company increases and confirms evil habit; while it keeps the mind estranged from the performance of even the appearance of moral good. Every attempt, then, that is made to undermine the pillars of innate depravity, and erect on her ruins the temple of morality, however feeble or unsuccessful, cannot fail to excite the most lively sensibilities, and awaken the most ardent feelings and generous sympathies of those who are friends to order, to society, and to humanity.

the scroll which records the actions of these illustrious philanthropists, he is worthy to rank, not only as an hero in the annals of benevolence, but as a genuine Christian, ready to devote his life in the cause of suffering humanity, and of God, whom he is willing and proud to serve. For the facts which are recorded in this work, we have not to trust to the memory or recollection of the author, but we have a diary kept by himself of all the prominent circumstances which took place.

The colonies of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land are increasing rapidly; and on account of the fineness of the climate, the luxuriance of the soil, and of its great natural advantages, the convicts, after the termination of their banishment, in general determine to become settlers, rather than return home. They are still amenable, of course, to the authority of the local government; but if they manifest an improvement in moral character, and conduct themselves with propriety, every facility is The book before us, which is writ- afforded them to become useful memten in a style nervous, pleasing, and bers of the colony. If the father of a perspicuous, without any ostentatious family who had been transported, but display of possessing exclusive know- whose conduct subsequently merits ledge, but with a feeling of philan- the approbation of the governor, he is thropy which reflects credit on its au- sure of being favoured with an order thor, and with an anxious desire to from government, at home, for his ameliorate the condition of the trans- wife and children to go out to him in ports sent to New South Wales and that country, where, in a short time, Van Diemen's Land, contains an ac- they have been known to form comcount of his two voyages ;-one in a fortable and prosperous establishmale convict ship, and the other in a ments. A very liberal provision is female convict ship, with the regula- made for the free women and children, tions on board, and the internal go- during the voyage, for which no vernment of the convicts in these colo- charge whatever is brought against nies, with many other particulars, them, or their father, on the part of which cannot but command universal the government. The inducements to interest and attention. For a man to form a settlement in New South enter the abodes of misery, depravity, Wales are so numerous, and the adand disease-to behold the wretched vantages so great and inviting, partivotaries of vice still clinging to their cularly to laborious industry, that it is idol god-to hear them breathe out well known, and the fact has been anathemas against their best of bene- ascertained beyond question, that factors and to despise all mitiga- many persons have committed some tion of human woe; and yet for him offence, which subjected them to transto persevere in the arduous and lauda-portation, for the purpose of being ble undertaking of effecting a radical sent to this colony at the expense of change in the constitution of their government. minds, by condemning their sinful practices, and inculcating moral and religious precepts, requires the perseverance and intrepidity of an Howard or a Fry; and if our author is not doomed to have his name inscribed on

The liberality with which convicts are victualled for the voyage, now usually of four months' duration, is abundantly shown from the following plan of rations for each mess (six persons) per week :-Sunday, 4lbs. bread,

4lbs. flour, 8lbs. beef, lb. suet, 1lb. of raisins; Monday, 4lbs. bread, 3 pints of peas, lb. butter, 4oz. of rice, 2 pints of oats, and 2oz. of sugar; Tuesday, 4lbs. bread, 4lbs. flour, lb. suet, llb. raisins; Wednesday, 4lbs. bread, 6lbs. pork, 3 pints of peas, lb. of butter; Thursday, 4lbs. bread, 4lbs. flour, lb. suet, llb. raisins, 2 pints oats; Friday, 4lbs. bread, 8lbs. beef, 3lbs. pork, lb butter; and Saturday, 4lbs. bread, 3 pints of peas, 4lbs. of rice, 2 pints of oats, and 2 ounces of sugar; besides a quart of vinegar to each mess; and after the ship has been at sea three or four weeks, loz. of lemon juice, and an equal quantity of sugar, are issued daily to each convict. Every individual also is allowed 120 gallons of water, and 2 gallons of wine; the latter to be distributed under the surgeon's superintendence. The women are allowed the same proportion of wine, and subject to the same restriction in its use: also a like quantity of provisions, with an addition of 3lbs. of Muscovado sugar, and lb. of black tea per week, for each mess of six women.

depravity, and all the evils that follow in its lengthened train, rush on in quick succession, and disarm the possessor of the power to shake them off. "To live well, and to work easy," is a system not very well calculated to reduce the number of delinquents, or to erase the foul spot on the calendar of crime. Idleness is a root which, when once planted, soon thrives, entwines its fibres around the human powers of action, and paralyzes all their operation.

Our author in his first voyage, anxious to accomplish any thing like a reformation in the convicts committed to his charge, who were moving on to a disgraceful and impious termination of their career, determined on attempting the undertaking, although the task appeared discouraging. For this purpose, he established a fixed system of order and regularity in the prison on board the ship and drawing up some regulations for their guidance, and submitting them to the convicts for their inspection and approbation, he found that none expressed a dissentient voice, but, on the contrary, assented to their propriety with the most cordial concurrence. These regulations, which were far from rigorous, were calculated to effect a change in their conduct and behaviour, by which the way for the more important introduction of religious instruction, was prepared and secured. These laws restricted the convicts from cursing and swearing, using obscene conversation, fighting, quarrelling,and stealing. Cleanliness being essentially necessary to the health, comfort, and well-being, of every person on board, the strictest attention to it was enforced on every occasion. Respect and obedience to their officers and guards, as well as submission to those who had the management and care of the messes, formed another salutary feature in this prison discipline; while encouragements were This excellent provision for them promised that those who behaved well during their voyage, with the indolent should be favourably presented, and life which they lead, (having little or those who should dare to break no employment while on board,) is through these rules, were to be pucertainly a defect which calls loudlynished in proportion to the offence, for inquiry. Wherever there is nothing to do, idleness generates all the worst feelings, habits, passions, and desires, that can operate in the human mind. When once idleness becomes a fixed inhabitant in the disposition, No. 41.-VOL. IV.

Every convict on board the ship is provided with one suit of clothes, and a change of linen, besides a flock bed, pillow, and blanket. It should also be mentioned that the free women sent out to join their husbands, are allowed two-thirds of a seaman's ration per diem, and the children one-half the women's allowance. Other necessary comfort and accommodation are provided in case of sickness, as well as the smaller articles of cleanliness, such as soap, combs, razors, &c. &c. Nothing can exceed the bountiful generosity of government, in making such ample provision for convicts, who, one would almost suppose, were destined for an arduous campaign in support of the laws of the country, rather than to suffer for a violation of them.

and never recommended to the Governor of New South Wales.

The convicts, knowing the great benefits arising from the climate, and the impossibility of availing themselves of many of them, without the 20

the junior convicts; and though there were 23 in number, under twenty years of age, not more than 5 out of the whole could read, while several of the remaining 18, could not distin

notice, favour, and countenance, of the Governor, were anxiously led to the strictest observance of these last mentioned clauses. Cleanliness, which is a prominent step to virtue, and without which all attempts at refor-guish the letters of the alphabet. The mation must have been almost ineffec- business of the school was carried on tual, was a most important provision without intermission, and the result in these temporary laws. We admit of the design far exceeded expectathat our gaols and other places of tion. An assiduous attention to the confinement are now rendered much duties of the schoolmaster, excited a more cleanly and wholesome than for- strong and an honourable emulation merly; but still there remains much among them. "In a space of time, to be done, for wherever there is a incredibly short," our author observes, want of cleanliness, there is generally “I succeeded in having all the mema want of virtue. When we see so bers of this little community not only much dirt and filth still occupying a | able to read the scriptures with toleplace in our crowded gaols, we can-rable facility, but also enjoyed the not be astonished not to find crime on | greater gratification of believing that the decline. Remove these barriers to reformation and moral improvement, these stimulants to vice and deformity, and then we may anticipate less need of prisons, and less incitements to crime; and Virtue will be seen rising majestically above the fetters which have enthralled her, and asserting her high and dignified claims to obedience.

These regulations were attended with so much success on board, that it was thought prudent to commence some moral and religious system, on which could be safely founded any expectation of ultimate success. The native beauty and simplicity of the truths of religion being best conveyed to depraved minds in language of mild and temperate remonstrance, recourse was had to conciliation and persuasion; and accordingly bibles, prayer books, and a few tracts, were distributed among the messes. Religious service was also performed, which seemed very much to affect the minds of the prisoners; as many of them subsequently retired apart from their companions, and read with serious and devout attention the religious books given to them. The beneficial consequences of such a system were soon found conspicuously displayed in the conduct of the convicts. They became orderly, and the most general satisfaction prevailed among them, as they almost to a man signified the pleasure they felt at being removed from dangers of the worst kind, and surrounded as they were with every comfort, and every want being bountifully supplied.

A school was opened on board for

their minds were impressed with the wholesome truths of the sacred volume." At the period they were delivered over to the authority at Sidney, each of these juvenile depredators could read the bible fluently, and many of them evinced a familiar acquaintance with the principles of the gospel.

One prevalent evil in the system adopted by Government in sending out these convicts, and which we point out for the purpose of remedy, is, the allowance of spirits, not only to males, but even to married females and children, which we cannot but deprecate in the strongest terms; and which we consider to be the effect of custom, rather than of sound judgment and discretion. No possible reason can be assigned for the allowance of any spirits, except in cases of sickness. It tends not only to kindle the worst passions, to render them insubordinate and refractory, but also to counteract the inculcation and growth of moral good. For a proof of the injurious consequences arising from such a baneful system, we refer to the language of our author, who has given an account not only painful to the best feelings of humanity, but agonizing beyond all description in silent contemplation.

"Imagination can scarcely form such a picture as one of these females, when indulged with this immoderate supply of spirits.

"Few mothers could avoid shuddering to see such a female lay her infant baby across her lap, and pour the liquid poison (rum) into the poor thing's vitals, continuing that diaboli

cal nursing until the nerves of the unconscious and miserable child are incapable of sensation, and it drops senseless from the hands of its inhuman parent."

On the 7th of May, 1818, they landed safely at their appointed destination, viz. Botany Bay; and thus terminated a voyage of considerable length, the circumstances of which were of deep interest, as involving the solution of a most important problem connected with the future happiness of the most worthless and abandoned, viz. whether male convicts are susceptible of being reclaimed from long established habits of idleness, immorality, filth, and wickedness. Here the most demonstrable proof was obtained, that the human heart, however debased by vice, and hardened by practice, still leaves a portion uncontaminated, in which the seeds of virtuous improvement may be cultivated, and that require only a careful and experienced husbandman to cherish, in order to bring again into the state of reproducing wholesome and valuable fruits.

In

opened to the Catholic Lords, which may hereafter be succeeded by an opening to the Catholic Bishops, a recurrence to the Number of the Beast may not be unseasonable. It is extracted from a learned and interesting work by John Edward Clarke :-a work which we would strongly recommend to every reader, who wishes to trace the application of predictions to their legitimate issues.

"It has been already proved that the Beast is some kingdom; and the passage in the sixteenth chapter of the Revelation has been produced, in which the very term Baotλeia, or kingdom, is applied to the dominion of the Beast. This kingdom, therefore, can be no other than that which is purposely omitted in the first Order of the first Class; I mean, "H Aarıvn Baσideia, "The Latin Kingdom." It is thus numbered:

n

B

λ

α

σ

200

10

30

5

10

a

1

666"

THE LATIN KINGDOM.

During our author's stay in this colony, he prosecuted some inquiries on subjects of natural history, which in that country are abundant. following up his scientific pursuits, he found his researches well rewarded by valuable specimens in every branch of natural history, particularly geology, which principally engaged his attention. Of these, he made a very considerable collection. The observations connected with this branch of science, he threw into a concise arrangement, intending to transcribe them at large in a scientific form dur- ANNIVERSARIES OF RELIGIOUS, AND ing his voyage home. However, in returning to England, a dreadful hurricane came on near the Island of Mauritius, which nearly reduced the vessel to a wreck, and the whole collection of his geological specimens, with clothes, books, and papers, ex-ligible description of public liberality cept some private memoranda, were unfortunately lost; and he found himself on the shore of Port Louis, destitute of every personal comfort.

(To be concluded in our next.)

APOCALYPTIC NUMBER.

AT a moment when the door of the
House of Lords is attempted to be

OTHER BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.

THE stature of Benevolence has lately grown so vast, that we cannot with justice draw its features in miniature. Not many years since, a more intel

might be comprised in a single column, than a whole number can now contain. Even the names of our charitable institutions, would at present occupy no contemptible space; our readers must not, therefore, expect from us any thing more than a condensed account,

Prior to the commencement of the public meetings in London, several anniversaries in Ireland had tak

place; of these we proceed to give a general outline.

Sunday School Society for Ireland.

On the 17th of April, 1822, the anniversary of this charity was held at the lecture room of the Dublin institution; the Rt. Hon. the Earl of Roden in the chair. It appears from the report which was read, that the number of schools which this society has assisted, amounts to 1553, containing 156,255 children. The number of gratuitous teachers throughout Ireland, is not less than 11,000, and the income during the last year amounted to £3193. Having received a liberal donation of Bibles and Testaments from the British and Foreign Bible Society, they have issued during the year, 1022 of the former, and 17,574 of the latter, together with vast numbers of spelling books, &c. The total expenditure amounted to upwards of

£2900.

Catholic Schools.

The anniversary of Saffron Hill and St. Mary's Catholic Charities, was held at the Horn Tavern, Kensington; the Rev. Mr. Morris in the chair. The object of this institution is to clothe and educate the children of be apprenticed. poor Irish Catholics, until of an age to 190 children thus

supported, were present, and displayed an appearance which reflected much honour on the managers of this amiable charity.

East London Irish Free School. On Monday, April 29th, a highly respectable meeting of the friends and supporters of this benevolent institution was held at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street; the Rt. Hon. the Earl of Blessington in the chair. From the statements made at this meeting, it appeared, that no less than 8000 boys were scattered through the metropolis, who obtained a livelihood by committing depredations on the pub

Religious Book and Tract Society, lic, the majority of whom consisted of

Ireland.

The anniversary of this society was held on the 15th of April, in the same place as the preceding; the Rt. Hon. Viscount Lorton in the chair. It appears from the report, that during the year, 338,949 tracts have been distributed at reduced prices, and 26,897 given gratuitously to the unhappy inmates of hospitals, gaols, and prisons, the total expenditure amounting to £3,807. 19s. 3d.

children of the lower order of Irish. The object of the society is to teach the boys reading, writing, and arithmetic, and to instruct the girls in schools of this description in the meneedle-work. There are now six. tropolis. The number of children amounts to 300. Since the establishment of this institution about 900 have received instruction, and on the principles of these schools, about 1500

The

children are now under tuition. establishment is founded on liberal principles, so that ladies and gentlemen of every denomination may cooperate, without compromising their

Magdalen Hospital.

Hibernian Bible Society. The annual meeting of this society was held at the Rotunda, Dublin, on Thursday, the 18th of April, the Arch-religious tenets. bishop of Tuam in the chair. The receipts amounted to upwards of £5679, which is an increase on the preceding year of £1745. The Bibles issued were 8704, the Testaments 11,964, the total expenditure £5573. Since the formation of this society, they have issued in Bibles and Testaments 295,695 copies.

Hibernian Church Missionary Society. The anniversary of this society was held in the same place as the preceding, on the day following; his Grace of Tuam again in the chair. The receipts amounted to £2579, of which a considerable sum was transmitted to the parent society in London.

On the last Thursday in April, the 64th anniversary was held at the London Tavern; the Hon. Mr. Percy in the chair. The collections amounted to upwards of £400. Many distinguished characters were present.

Methodist Missionary Society. The Methodist Missionary Society, which is of comparatively recent establishment, now holds a distinguished rank among the most celebrated institutions which benevolence can boast. So rapid has been its growth, that the Methodists have Missionaries in every quarter of the globe; and, what is of superior importance, their exer