Page 554 - for-the-term-of-his-natural-life

which I am inclined to believe, though unwilling to con-
fess); what circumstance can have brought about the sudden
awakening of the powers that be to James North’s fitness for
duty?
HOBART TOWN, Jan. 12th.
‘DEAR NORTH,—I have much pleasure in informing
you that you can be appointed Protestant chaplain at Nor-
folk Island, if you like. It seems that they did not get on well
with the last man, and when my advice was asked, I at once
recommended you for the office. The pay is small, but you
have a house and so on. It is certainly better than Bathurst,
and indeed is considered rather a prize in the clerical lot-
tery.
‘There is to be an investigation into affairs down there.
Poor old Pratt—who went down, as you know, at the earnest
solicitation of the Government—seems to have become ab-
surdly lenient with the prisoners, and it is reported that the
island is in a frightful state. Sir Eardley is looking out for
some disciplinarian to take the place in hand.
‘In the meantime, the chaplaincy is vacant, and I thought
of you.’
I must consider this seeming good fortune further.
February 19th.—I accept. There is work to be done
among those unhappy men that may be my purgation. The
authorities shall hear me yet—though inquiry was stifled at
Port Arthur. By the way, a Pharaoh had arisen who knows
not Joseph. It is evident that the meddlesome parson, who
complained of men being flogged to death, is forgotten, as
the men are! How many ghosts must haunt the dismal lone-