men, I know of few with more real kindliness of nature, or more profound regard for duty to his God. For his pious and gentle lady the Natives cherished tender feelings Dr. Nixon, Bishop of Tasmania, was ever a friend to both.
The Catechist he accused of cruel treatment and neglect of the children under his care, and he therefore removed the young people from his roof, and suspended the officer from service. Mr. Clark did not deny his having flogged the girls, but declared he had done so in religious anger at their moral offences. One in particular had been seduced into improper society, and was long kept in rigid seclusion. With all my admiration for the Catechist, I regret that his excitable temperament should have led him to such excess of discipline. It is not a solitary instance of benevolence held in abeyance through respect to Solomon's counsel of using the rod.
The Superintendent was right in principle, though the Government failed properly to support his authority. He was zealous in the performance of his duties to the Natives, but was aware of the hostility rising against him. In a letter, answering some inquiries of mine about the Blacks, he wrote, in the bitterness of his disappointment, on March 10th, 1847: "The official directions of the Government provide amply for their handsome provision, though hitherto a faction has often interfered with the instructions furnished. I think, so far from being neglected, they are, and have been, plagued by too much interference." Elsewhere he assigns a reason for the non-progression of the people—"the withering uncertainty of the principles of their superiors."
It was a month after the date of that letter that the following communication was addressed to Dr. Jeanneret: "His Excellency has it in contemplation to break up the aboriginal establishment at Flinders Island at an early period, and that, should his intention be carried into effect, your appointment as Superintendent would probably cease, as your services would not be required." No charges are here named, no reference is made to maladministration. On May 4th he was directed to replace the children with Mr. Clark. On the following day a letter was sent, intimating the appointment of a successor—Dr. Milligan—"for the express purpose," added the document, "of effecting the removal of the Aborignes to the mainland. As this is to
