oner 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
diabolical deeds. The treatment has been directly reverse where a
King's officer has been placed on board the transport, who
evinced an unshaken resolution to perform his duty. The convicts
which came out on board the Royal Admiral, Captain Bond, met with
a treatment, and arrived in a condition, which reflected the
highest honour on the humanity and prudence of her esteemed
commander, and might be properly held forth as a model and an
example to the masters of all transports who may in future be
employed in the service. Every attention was paid to their
cleanliness in particular, care was taken to provide them with
the most wholesome provisions, and their messes were so varied as
to prevent any dislike arising from repetitions with too much
frequency; on the slightest appearance of indisposition, some
nourishing broths, wine, etc. were constantly ordered; twice a
day they were mustered on deck, and the ship was completely
fumigated: The whole arrived in the most excellent health and
spirits imaginable. If every master had displayed a similar good
conduct, there would have been no ground for the present
complaint, nor any room for the remedy which I suggest in the
preceding part of this article.

A number of gentlemen, of small fortunes, might be appointed,
whose characters will bear the strictest investigation, and whose
talents are adequate to the task, to go over to the colony as
justices of the peace, in order that the general welfare and
individual security of the colony should be promoted. To these
persons many indulgences might be granted, and a respectable
salary ought to be attached to the office, so as to enable them
to support that degree of respectability and dignity w