Page 547 - INDIANNAVYV1

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HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 513

sideration of the pt^culiar circniiistaiifes in which he liad been
placed.
In reph' to a question put to them by the judge, the jury
stated their belief to be (1), that the boys came willingly
on board the 'Clive;' (2), that they were obtained by
purchase.
On the 12th of April, the judge passed sentence on Com-
mander Hawkins, who was condemned to " be transported
to the east coast of New South Wales for the term of seven
years."
On the following day the negro boys, brought by the 'Clive'
from Zanzibar, were taken before the Senior Magistrate of
Police, and informed, through an interpreter, that they were to
consider themselves at perfect liberty to go where they pleased.
They were given to understand that the usual bounty would be
paid tliem if they would return on board ship ; but that, in case
they wished to go back to their parents, care would be taken to
send them to the country from whence they came. A large
number selected to return to the 'Clive.'
Commander Hawkins continues as follows his narrative of
the transactions, addressed to Sir Pultency Malcolm:—
"You will see by the paragraph in my letter, of the 24th of
April, IcSol, to your brother (marked E) that I was reduced to
great diiliculties. After my conviction your brother visited me
in gaol, and told me he hoped I should get my back pay, and
my memorial complied with ; but he gave me no promise of
support in case it should fail. However, I thought it best to
(e; " My dear Sir,
" The Grovcrnment have decided I am only to get heutenant's pay to tlie
time of conviction, and then no pay whatever, with the exception of tiic month luui
seventeen days I lield command of the 'Clive.' I have ilcferred writing till this
has been settled, as I daresay you have to determine what will lay in your power
to do for me in a pecuniary point. I may now look on myself as a ruined man,
as the sum I have to receive is only adequate to pay a most pressing debt due t-o
Mr. VV^est, taken up by Iiim when I was last in Bombay to save me from gaol, and
which at that time 1 was assured I should have it in my power to pay trum my
expected promised waj;es of the 'Clive.' As for myself, I liave nothin,', hut am
in debt at le:i>t a couple of tliousaiul rupees, in addition to the sum ilue to Mr.
West, wiiich i feel bounil in honour to pay, lio having become bail for mc.
Having placed impHcit confidence in getting the wliole of my arrears, us in
command of the ' Clive,' I gave him to understand he should liavo the money
to a certainty. There is no provision made for mo wliile I remain at New South
Wales, and it may be for seven years. This is exactly my situation at present.
I need scarcely remind you Imw fre(pient!y you have jiroinised to support me in
the event of this unfortunate affair taking an adverse turn. It is liardly, I trust,
necessary to put you in mind how freipiently it was ple<lged my jiecuniary affairs
should not sillier. At that time tliey did not in the least operate in swaying mo
to adopt the honourable course 1 may safely assert I pm*sued. .\lthough you
know how far it was in my ])ower to iiave proceeiled in a different way, you know
liow well 1 have preservecl silen(;e even to my most intimate connections, and also
how 1 luive taken the load off your shoulders and put it on my own. I then-fire
look to you for that support you are bound in honour to grant me. Trusting in
which I remain, «i.c.
LL 2