being made only for the number which might be landed in New South
Wales, and by which means the owner of the transport would study
to preserve the life of each individual with the most studious
attention, since the loss of a single life would be a diminution
of his profit, and there could no longer be a danger of the
unhappy prisoners being suffered to perish from any negligence or
severity. In addition to this, the surgeon and the master might
receive a reward for each person whom they delivered in good
order, if their humanity was such as to require a pecuniary
stimulus. I believe this has been tried in some instances, at
least report has so stated, and, if so, there must have been
sufficient evidence gained of the superiority of the method over
that which was formerly adopted. It might not be a bad plan to
try if some of the superfluous frigates in the service might not
be converted into good transports; for there could be no doubt
that, in vessels of this description, the accommodations which
might be afforded to the convicts would much exceed those of the
common transport ships, and the prisoners would of course be
sooner fit for duty, and less liable to the attacks of disease.
Out of several ships that have arrived, not two-thirds of the
number of convicts originally put on board have reached their
place of destination; and this mortality, it is feared, must have
been occasioned by the embezzlement of the provisions and stores
which were intended for the use of the captives. It is also much
to be feared that an undue degree of severity has oftentimes been
exercised towards the convicts, under the pretence of some
attempts to mutiny and effect their escape, and such methods of
throwing censure upon the innocent, to excuse wantonness and
cruelty, cannot be too severely reprehended, if reprehension be
all that can be inflicted upon the perpetrators of such