No. VII.—JUNE 9, 1852. Trust no future, howe'er pleasant! Let us then be up and doing, EXPERIENCE OF A PRISONER. To the Editor of the Pestonjee Bomanjee Journal. SIR,-On reading your Journal No. IV., I was much pleased with the information which our religious instructor has so kindly given us in it, respecting the condition and future prospects of "ticket of leave" holders. I cannot allow the present favourable opportunity to pass, without expressing my gratitude for the measures that have been taken by so many kind and Christian friends in behalf of our improvement and reformation. Having observed how deeply interested the prisoners were in the information presented to them on their prospects, and hoping that the same interest will be extended to this address, I beg leave to give a few words of advice to them through the medium of your Journal, believing that no one can be better suited for executing a duty of this description than one of themselves. "DEAR FELLOW-PRISONERS,-We have seen many changes since we stood before the bar of judgment to receive the sentences due to our offences. We have all since that time passed a certain period (more or less than twelve months) in separate confinement, where the means were amply afforded us of improving our minds, and also of throwing off many old and dissolute habits, which, if retained, must eventually prove disastrous to us. No doubt this punishment was found very severe to most, if not all; I know it was some time before I could reconcile myself to the idea of being locked up in a small cell, without the privilege—as I then considered it—of conversing or associating with others placed in the same deplorable circumstances. "But my then indiscriminating judgment could not penetrate beyond the dark mist which arose from a mind clouded with a misconception of what was really right or wrong, and too often involved me in perplexities, which I had great difficulty in extricating myself from. But let selfishness and prejudice give way to sound reason, and we shall be compelled to confess that separate confinement is a kind, a wise, not a cruel and unnecessary mode of punishment. Let us fairly weigh the rules and regulations which we were bound to obey, and we must allow that, properly regarded, they are calculated to produce salutary and beneficial effects; and, therefore, that the framers of them were guided by wisdom. "After passing the usual time in separate confinement, we were removed to public works, there to acquire habits of regularity and industry, under strict discipline. I was sent to Portland, where I found at first the work very laborious, partly from being unaccustomed to it, and partly from being in a discontented frame of mind. I thank God for opening my eyes to see my folly and danger, and also for shewing me the fatal errors and mistakes which I so often made through the imperfection of a perverse judgment. Soon as the cloud of prejudice had been removed, enabling me to see things in their true colours, all my difficulties vanished, and I became reconciled to my condition. Since that time I can conscientiously say that I have spent some of the happiest days of my life at Portland. Often at night I have gone into my little cell oppressed with the heat, and fatigued by the labours of the day, yet have enjoyed that peace of mind which more than compensates for all other privations. I firmly believe that many poor prisoners, although stained and disgraced by crime, who have been made sensible of the heinousness of their guilt, not only towards man, but towards God, and have, through the operation of the Holy Spirit, fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before them in the Gospel, are blessed-though in a dungeon with that peace of mind which even kings might envy. "A man may boast of liberty and happiness, but if he is a servant of sin, and allows himself to be governed by pride, envy, rage, passion, &c., it is quite clear, that although he may enjoy civil liberty, it is not a perfect nor peaceful liberty, but a cruel and dangerous thraldom in which he lives. There are numbers of persons at the present day in a Christian country, who, like the Jews of old, will not allow that they are bondsmen, because they have never been deprived of civil liberty, nor-as they term it been in bondage to any man; but our blessed Lord tells them that they are bondsmen till the Son of God sets them free; and that when he sets them free, they will then, and not till then, be free indeed. Oh that we may all enjoy this liberty which our Saviour speaks of the liberty of our immortal souls—which is of infinitely greater importance than that of the body. The means that were furnished at Portland for our reformation, and for the cultivation of our good qualities, were truly great; and I do sincerely hope that the admirable discipline of that establishment, and the untiring efforts of its chaplain, will not be lost upon us. "If we have conducted ourselves in such a way asto enable the prison authorities to recommend us for embarkation with a ticket of leave for one of the Australian colonies, we have arrived at another stage in our probation; this all of us have obtained, and we are now far on the way to our destination, if God spares us. This part of our probation is doubtless a severe trial to most here, particularly to those who have been unaccustomed to a seafaring life. I confess that I feel it the most disagreeable punishment that has been inflicted on me. We are all of us now in association; there is no separate confinement, but I believe there are many on board who, notwithstanding the aversion they have to exclusion from their fellow-creatures, would prefer solitude to compulsory intermixture with men of all kinds of dispositions. "Let us, however, cheer up, looking towards the gracious promise of God, that the present trials, which are but for a moment, work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.' I, now, as a fellowprisoner, entertaining feelings of concern and affection for you, ask, what fruit have we of those things whereof we are now ashamed? Surely we cannot look back upon our life without blushing at the wickedness of despising the forbearance of God; we must be constrained to acknowledge that all His ways are verity and truth; and that the love which he hath shown in sparing and preserving us all these long dark years, passeth all knowledge and conception on our part. Let the immensity of this love stimulate us for the rest of the time we may be here, so to conduct ourselves as to do credit to the discipline and treatment we have undergone, and are undergoing. For the future, let us endeavour, through the help of God, to do that which is lawful and right, so that we may all land with good characters. "From the account that has been given of our future position, it appears to be ably and kindly regulated, and I consider it very good. When we land, we shall either be hired out by masters or remain in Government employ until, after a short period, our conduct recommends us for a conditional pardon, which will enable us to select whatever colony or situation our inclinations or advantage may point out. These facts ought to encourage us to look forward to brighter and happier days. If we have taken advantage of the means of instruction bestowed on us through charity and kindly feeling, we shall have cause to bless God for the punishment we have undergone. However disgraceful it may be, if it has effected our reformation, that disgrace and that punishment are trifling matters in comparison with the joy and happiness in store for us. "Let us, then, henceforth determine, with the grace of God, to do that which is right, to labour diligently for our own salvation, and to do unto all men as we would that they should do unto us. Let us show by our conduct, in whatever situation we may be placed, that we have profited by the instruction offered to us. Let us ardently strive to live a godly, righteous, and sober life. Let not the efforts of those zealous and unwearied friends who have all along studied our good, prove unavailing. |