The writer of the following letter was Rev. Richard Johnson (1753-1827), the first Anglican Chaplain in New South Wales. The ships, arriving in Port Jackson in June 1790 were
Neptune 520 convicts, but 163 had died on board and 269 landed sick Scarborough 252 convicts, but 68 had died on board and 96 landed sick Surprise 211 convicts, but 42 had died on board and 121 landed sick"I have been on board these different ships - was first on board the Surprise – went down amongst the convicts, where I beheld a sight truly shocking to the feelings of humanity, a great number of them lying, some half and other quite naked, without either bed or bedding, unable to turn themselves. Spoke to them as I passed along, but the smell was so offensive I could hardly bear it. "I then went on board the Scarborough, proposed to go down among them but was dissuaded from it by the captain. The Neptune was still more wretched and intolerable, therefore never attempted it. "Some of these unhappy people died after the ships came into the harbour, before they could be taken on shore; part of these had been thrown into the harbour, and their dead bodies cast upon the shore, and were seen lying naked upon the rocks; took an occasion to represent this to his Excellency, in consequence of which immediate orders were sent on board that those who died on board should be carried to the opposite North Shore to be buried." |