|
23rd April 40 women from Newgate were brought to the
ship on a lighter; three more women followed from Exeter and one from the
Justitia Hulk at Woolwich. Later two women from York and three from
Winchester were brought up and another three from Newcastle, one of whom
was so old and infirm as to require assistance to get up the ships side.
On the 27th three more women arrived from Shrewsbury,
two from Carlisle and four from Lancaster. They were all cold and wet and
were given dry clothes, refreshment and allowed to retire.
Eighteen more women arrived on the 28th and displayed
riotous conduct and mischievous disposition. Most of these were from
Lancaster. The women who arrived from Ilchester a few hours later were of
a more decent and modest appearance than any yet seen
On the 29th, eight prisoners arrived from different
country prisons. Three or four displayed wild, extravagant and disgusting
behavior which according to Reid's Journal, was readily suppressed as soon
as the women boarded.
Thomas Reid wrote to the editor of the London Times
on 1st May regarding the women:
Female convict ship Morley, Galleon's-reach
'SIR, - Having lately noticed in several papers
various accounts of the refractory conduct of 40 unfortunate female
convicts in Newgate on the night previous to their being removed to the
Morley, as well as communications to the same effect having been made to
me since their embarkation, I think a few observations on the subject may
not be unacceptable to the public; and if you think the following worth
insertion in your paper, you are at liberty to make them public.
Of the behaviour of these women in Newgate I can say
nothing, though I have great reason to believe it was not half so bad as
has been represented: of their conduct here I am happy that it is in my
power to bear honourable testimony. On first coming on board three or four
of them showed some disposition to be unruly; but a timely rebuke, with a
positive assurance that all irregularity of conduct would be opposed and
punished, put an immediate stop to it. Those who pretend to say that the
humane exertions of Mrs. Fry and the committee of ladies have produced no
beneficial change on the minds and morals of these misguided creatures,
need only visit them here to be convinced of the fallacy of their
assertions, by proofs more irrefragable than the most specious arguments
of speculative logicians. They will find many of them reading the
Scriptures with apparently devout attention, and I firmly believe real
advantage. I am not ashamed to acknowledge, that I have given every
exertion in my power towards establishing a system of religious behaviour
amongst them; and therefore feel no hesitation in putting my name to this
statement'
(The Times, Wednesday,
May 03, 1820; pg. 3; Issue 10923; col D)
More about the voyage of the Morley
SELECT HERE to read the Journal of the voyage of the
Morley
Fifty women were landed in Hobart in September 1820 and
seven women from the Janus were taken on board to travel to Port
Jackson
SELECT HERE to find out what happened to some of the women after they
arrived in Sydney
Read about surgeon Thomas Reid and the voyage of the
Morley in the Melbourne Age 12 April 1946
|
