American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1844-12-20
From the Philadel phia Inquirer.
TRAN PORTATION AND IT'S HORRORS.

we recently gave an outline OF q lecture de-
liVered in London by Il Mr.. MfCarty, on the
horrors of transportation. The last steamer
brought us another lecture on the same subject
and by the same individual. In il he alludes
to Macquarie Harbor as penal settlement,
and gives most fearful picture of its horrors
About three quarters of q mile out in the sea,
''thore is rock, which was used as place of
punishment for the refractory to be sent to at
night. Sleeping on this island was very Sc
vere there was strong surge always running,
they could not land without being wet to the
neck, and forced to sleep in wet clothes all
might, or lie naked in a wet cabin. Every man
of these mad chains or, and nine-tenihs loaded
with heavy irons. Fires were not allowed af
ter late at night; the prisoners did not arrive
until half past six; they we're locked up all
night; any Of them who took cramp in the
bowels, or commissions, generally died in the
night. A great number of these horrid men
committed murder in order to he hanged IN
deed. the thing was quite common. They
used to gamble for life; they would conclude
tsykill some person, to be hanged; generally a
4 bit of fiat stone was picked up-one of them
b spat one side of it and tossed it up, the 9TH
u ir cried Wet or Dry, and, if he won, whoe-
yer he named was a doomed man. They
Svouid split bis skull with spade or, two of
them would strangle him with chain! If
. they were detected, that was what they want
ed The military and overseers knew that if
any OF these men were seen to laugh, that he
premedtated suicide or murder. The pheno-
menon Of convict laughing was out of the
question, except that demoniac smile of green
and deep sunk bitterness of spirit, only known
to transported man."
/ In the year 1916, there were l6 capital con-
! victions in the criminal courts of Sydney, all
for violence; and IN the same year there were
convictions for petty offences, 90 600 The
Rev. Mr.. NJ Encroe attended "a executions in
one year. There is a small rock miles from
Norfolk Island, called Philips Island-thls is
. the only object ever seen from this place. The
number of men now there is about 1900
There is no woman liquor, tobacco, or money
in the island. Men do all washing, cooking,
mending, Sc About 200 of them are in dou-
BILE irons, having lettcr from one ankle to the
other, four feet long, and Il long chain from one
ankle to the waist, and down to tho other an
kle, grey and yellow jackets, grey caps, strong
shoes, SC. They do all manner of work; dig,
cut timber, mining, stone cutting, building,
road making, and excavating. They have not
the least appearance of men; their clothes are
/ lslovenly put on; tawny, stagnant features,
l sluggish eye, a drowsyox like movement of the
- limos and shoulders, and Il downward head,
w plainly indicating indifference to all things but
Fself. All these mark the approach of the colt
I Wet who has felt and trod the bIood-stained soil
Of Norfolk Island. They arc locked up inlong
ranges of buildings assleeping rooms; the berths
are narrow, so much so that man cannot turn
in the night. They are always, night and day,
under military guard-sixty rounds of small
ball acknowledgement and loaded; besides the
iron souled overseer. They wash at five in the
morning; breakfast at the same tme-damper
and cruel; dinner-salt pork, unfit for use; 20
years old beef cake of maize, soups, &C.
There are orders to be clean always, but this
is impossible. The military are not allowed to
speak to them. Up to 1887 there was a great
amount of murder, for the purpose of going to
Sydney to prosecute, and getting rest from
their harasssng toll; but now they are tried by
commission on the island, and hanged on the
spot"
The convicts have but one object-an intense
thirst for liberty. This they attempt to gain
by any means; their faces are like demons;
perjury and murder are virtues in this dark
spot. If one of them was found praying, they
were sure to murder him, or entrap him.
Sometimes such men are pat to sleep alone,
fearing their assassination. Thrty-one con-
'vcts were left to be hanged at one time; they
remained six months in this dreadful suspense.
At length came the clergyman, who found
~ them all naked, in cell so small that it was
almost like the backhole in Calcutta. He
brought repreve for eighteen, leaving thir-
, teen to their fate; but the repreved cried for
being sent back to the chain, preierring death;
while the doomed ones thanked Heaven and
kissed the shoes of the good man who showed
them the light of heavenly peace. They were
full two days hanging and burying them
The doctor preached from their fresh graves to
their companions; beneath fifteen graves lay
hands of blood--that is murderers! The COM
manding governors castle stands on green
spot, mounted with cannon; the pacing sentry
strides his plodding rounds; nothing bat cells,
whips, triangles, soldiers, guns, cannons and
the gallows, meet the eye at every turn. The
governor goes abroad with guard; fear, ma
lice, and murder Turk in every mind.
At this part of the lecture considerable con-
fusion arose, which stopped the lecturer.
woman shouted out, James James and faint
ed by the stairs, while a poor widow fell into
Mysteries, who had a son and daughter trans
| ported. The lecturer said, he felt keenly the
J feelings of all the bereaved, but must continue
~ tAwarn the world of the sacred portals of the
law, and recommend religion, sobriety, morali-
ty, charity, and good hours, to all. Letters,
he said were received from convicts; if any
person heard good news from convct's letter,
it was all lie; if. the letter is not smuggled il
il opened at an Office, and read by clerk
whose duty it is, if it contain anything de-
! scribing the suffering, to burn it. If you write