Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/378

"A few days previous to Governor Hunter's departure from this colony, the person who acted as his clerk was discovered to have made several erasements in the indents sent with the convicts to this colony, which it has since appeared was done for the reward of £12 for changing from 'life' to seven years, and more in some cases. It appeared that at least 200 prisoners have had their terms thus changed, which has introduced such confusion into the indents and Orders-in-Council by which these convicts were transported, that there is great difficulty in tracing any convict's term of transportation, but by secret inquiries and secondary means.

"It has lately been discovered that the (convict) clerks in my office have had similar transactions, and received considerable property from convicts to change their times, but as the indents and Orders-in-Council have been constantly in my own possession they were soon detected, and a stop put to it, as your Lordship will perceive by the enclosed notice. I have felt it my duty to state this circumstance to account for the numbers who may have been taken up in England as having escaped from this colony."

Condign punishment was meted out to clerks on several occasions. Transportation to Norfolk Island was a ready resource. To facilitate detection Lord Hobart (29th Aug. 1802) transmitted duplicate lists of the convicts sent to the colony during Hunter's "administration, specifying the several periods of their respective sentences." The escape of convicts concealed in departing vessels (even without the connivance of the captains) may be illustrated by one example. S. Halerow, of La Fortune, private ship of war, wrote thus, 3rd Feb. 1802, to King from Rio Janeiro:

"After leaving Port Jackson (June 1801), and your officers attending to search the ship and to muster the people permitted by your Excellency to come on board, near three days had elapsed when it was observed there were a number of strange faces upon deck. The hands were called out, and found, upon muster, nineteen men who had found means to get on board and stow themselves away, which men were immediately confined in irons and put on prisoners' allowance. I found they were sickly from confinement, and was obliged to release them for the benefit of their health."

At St. Maria Island, while the privateer was "wooding and watering," the greater part of the prisoners escaped. At Rio the remainder got on shore "by the guard boat and by swimming." A leak had driven Halcrow into Rio. He had been unsuccessful, taking only one brig in ballast, and one loaded with sugar, &c. He sent the names of the runaways, and hoped their escape in his ship would not be imputed to his neglect, "as they have been, from the provisions consumed, a great loss to the cruise. I beg my best respects to Mrs. King, and remain, &c."