Two Voyages to New South Wales and Van Dieman's Land
Maker
Thomas Reid
Date1822
Object number00005798
NameBook
MediumPaper, board, ink
DimensionsOverall: 236 x 154 mm, 0.55 kg
ClassificationsBooks and journals
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionA book by Thomas Reid titled "Two Voyages to New South Wales and Van Dieman's Land : with a Description of the Present Conditions of the Colony Including Acts and Observations Relative to the State and Management of Convicts of Both Sexes. Also Reflections on Seduction and its General Consequences".HistoryThomas Reid, a trained surgeon, was encouraged by prison reformer Elizabeth Fry to serve as ship's surgeon aboard the male convict transport NEPTUNE in 1817 and later aboard the female transport MORLEY in 1820. In addition to the health of those on board, Reid also had the authority in all matters regarding the passengers and convicts. In Reid's eyes this very much included the prisoner’s moral, religious and educational wellbeing. As a reformer, he felt strongly that his charges should take the opportunity of their sentence to improve themselves. He instigated literacy classes on board and believed that given good guidance and instruction, most of those who found themselves transported, could make a positive contribution to society. 121 women who signed a letter of thanks to Reid for his humanitarian attitude towards them on board the MORLEY noting;
We can never make a proper return to Mr. Reid, our surgeon, for his continual watchfulness over our health both of soul and body; for it is to him, under God, we owe the great blessing of being made acquainted with the Holy Scriptures and the sweets of religion, of which most of us had been ignorant all our lives before, or had forgotten through our depraved habits."
Reid wrote of his experience and his opinions in 'Two Voyages to New South Wales and Van Dieman’s Land' and his work was generally well received when it was published as question of transportation and general treatment and conduct of convicts was an ongoing debate in Britain at this time.
SignificanceThomas Reid participated in and saw firsthand the life and opportunities that awaited convicts transported to Australia. As a supporter of reform he found himself in the midst of conflicting views of the treatment of prisoners, both male and female, and what was expected of them on their arrival in the colonies.
