Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-06-30
VAN DIEMAN's LAND,
~ L. LIh-A4N - i@<A-'@%;
Hobart Town, March %, lS4O. }

SApSSLLS lOE SOlD6 tllNS d tettSI DOil' 'A'N'
you may be assured | would have written had
not my unhappy state prevented l "Foce a
ietier TO you when passing through the Gun
ST Lawrence and sent il back ny the flIot-
Our voyage was a long one; we sailed from
Quebec on the 27ih September, arrived al Rlo
Janerio in South America Nov. 3Oih, where
we stopt five days for water and provisions.
We had very quick passage from Rio Janerio
10 the Cape of Good Hope, which we passed
on the first of January, and arried here and cast
anchor on the 18th Feb lS40 There was no
sickness on board the vessel that was of con-
iagious nature, and only one death during the
whole voyage; man by the name of Asa Priest,
from Auburn, state of New York. who was one
> of the Prescott prisoners died about four weeks
= after we first sailed Our treatment on board
The vessel was very good, every thing was
done that could be done for our comfort and
convenience. The commander was very fine
man, and the surgeon was very kind and aten-
tive TO US all. My health has been quite poor
and Is much the same as at present; have mol
been able to do any labor sunce my arrival here.
We came ashore on the 18th February and
were taken TO the barracks which were IN rea-
d mess for us. Our clothes were all taken from
as and a suit of convict clothing was furnished
for Us the same day; on The 18th the Govern
or came 10 our station and told us what our fate
was to be; ''that were transported 10 this
place for life, and that we were TO be put al
government work on the road for two years,
and then to be put ont to mastery for the term
of six years and at the expiration Of that time
if there was no charge of fault recorded against
us during that time, that we will be permitted
bxya tIrlo Of nj Chi for
selves but not TO leave the island"
| will now give YOU brief detail of our fare
and treatment here In The morning we are all
called up by the ringing of the bell, get our
tools and are marched 10 our work on the road
at eight our breakfast is brought TO us, which
consists Of one pint of water Cruel, having our
bread dealt ont TO Us before we leave the sta
Tion, supposed 10 be two pounds of brown bread,
which is 10 last for the day; at twelve we get
our dinner consisting Of one pound fresh NUT /
ton or beef, half pound of legetables with the !
soup which Is the only meal we get; at night !
when we get home 10 our station we get an
other pint of wGier Cruel for supper and at dusk
we are locked up in our huts for the night
Sundays we 90 10 church in the forenoon, in
the afternoon we generally have preacher
come to our station and preach TO u.s. We
have 10 work FIVE and half DAYS per week,
being exempt Saturday afternoon 10 wash and
repair our clothes. Our clolhing consists of
two SUITS one leather cap round jacket, waist
coat, and panls, two cotton shirts, and three
pair of coarse shoes, all of the poorest kind; we
have no stockings, handkerchief nor miitens;
only one sut of such things as we do get is al
lowed Us at a time, so that we are without a
change If there is christianity IN this then
am no Judge, but allowing me TO be a Judge
with respect TO the proceedings in Canada and
the disposition of us and others. | think their
proceedings are equal to that which led TO the
rebellion in Canada
] do think that if our cases were fully made
known TO the authorities in England, the way
and manner in which the most or all were got
INTO the expedition, that they, the home gov
erament, would take the thing into considera-
tion, and 81 not grant US free pardon, that
they would allow Us The liberty Of the island
that we might at least share in some degree
some small portion Of humanity Therefore |
hope my friends, if have any, Will make eve
~ effort in their power Tor our benefit; now is
The tine because that il is now that we stand
IN need.
APRIL 4th 1910.
Since I commenced this letter one more of
our unfortunate fellow sufferers has been taken
from US by the hand of death. He was very
fine mau but Of a weakly constituencies
taken III while at work on the road, was taken
to The hospital, where the epidemic was IA
qing and he soon became infected, which proved
fatal in d verv few days. lie has left wife
and TWO children residing in Ogdensburg, was
b,-- tanner and CflrrJpr
l bope nv dear parents brothers, sisters and
~,