There was a nice breeze, but the sea was perfectly smooth, and the ship glided through the water with a delightful glibness ; so that I felt 1 ought to be doing something towards learning my duties while 1 was able, and c nfided to Mac Nab that I should like to hold an inspection of the convicts, who were all gathered on the main deck in charge of their warders and the marines, who mounted sentry over them with loaded muskets and fixed bayonets. I found that I had made an official appli cation in the right quarter by accident, for Mac Nab immediately said— ‘ At what time ? at once ?’

And when I replied in the affirmative, gave certain sharp orders, the result of which was that in less than ten minutes a warder came up to me, touched his cap, and reported ‘ All ready, sir. ’ And following him, I found the convicts drawn up in lines, bare-footted. My in spection of them was a mere form, for, of course, they were sent on board sound and clean, but I made certain suggestions with regard to the sanitary arrangements between decks, where their hammocks were slung, ami these were promptly attended to where practicable. When I had done Mac Nab challenged me to a game of chess, and for tunately we proved to be very evenly matched. He was quite right in relying so much upon it as a resource ; how we should have got through the weeks without it I cannot imagine ; we played at least six hours daily out of the twenty-four. When we got into the broad swell of the Atlantic I had a week’s sea sickness, during which Mac Nab had the best of me at chess, and after I was well I began to have some trouble with the convicts. What schemers they were ! Their one great object was to get a glass of grog or wine, which could only be done by my order, and they regularly studied the complaints for which I pre scribed such medical comforts, and either si raulated or managed to produce them arti ficially. 