ELIZABETH FRY, waggons, their behaviour was reckless, bold, and disorderly. Shouting, singing, fighting, laughing, bandying low jests with the boisterous crowds as- sembled to witness their departure, they were with difficulty conveyed, chained in couples, on board ship. Mrs. Fry mildly expostulated with the authorities on permitting these horrible scenes to occur; and obtained their consent to establish some order. Hackney coaches were used instead of the waggons, the women were divided into classes of twelve, Bibles were given to them, and their irons removed. To procure work, the next step, for these convicts, 128 in number, was no easy undertaking ; until Admiral Young suggested patchwork, which sold well in New South Wales. The Manchester firms were written to ; and in a few days they sent a sufficient number of pieces of coloured cotton to make several quilts, which afterwards sold for a guinea each at Rio de Janeiro. Their kind and beloved benefactress, with her companions, paid them a parting visit; and the scene on board was most touching :- "Mrs. Fry stood at the door of the cabin, attended by her friends and the Captain; she was on the quarter-deck, facing them. The sailors, anxious to see what was going on, clambered into the rigging, on to the capstan, or mingled in the outskirts of the group. The silence was profound, when Mrs. Fry opened her Bible, and in a clear, audible voice, read a portion from it. The crews pf the vessels in 82
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=