FROST AT PORT ARTHUR.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Issue 105, 1 August 1843, Page 3

FROST AT PORT ARTHUR.

| At Impression Bay Frost is at work. It was S | never my fortune to see Frost at home ; and, |f 1 as he approached, T should have sought in vain || I to decipher the Chartist leader, the J.P. of Lord If | John Russell, in the careworn prisoner with P J winged leather cap in probation livery of felon If „, gray - . I || “I was anxious to see you, Mr. Frost,” 11| $ began, “because I parted from a friend of yours If || in August last, who still entertains a most lively || §j interest in your fate; and I promised Mr if P R-— : , if practicable, to exchange a vivd M s voce communication with you.” 1 |f I At mention of Mr. R = —’s name a sort of g

I I flash overspread the countenance of Frost, arm I almost think a tear, and yet I could not be^ 1 sure, started to his eye. “ I hope, Sir,” he said, " you left Mr. R -■ in good health ?” “ Quite well. You are,' however, no doubt I aware that Mr. R has also paid somewhat 8 of a penalty to the Chartist monster ?” I " Yes, sir, lam ; I saw an account of his I imprisonment, and one, also,. of his liberation, g Pray what does Mr. R -think of us ?” 1 " Oh, he is radically cured. He considers; I he acted very like a fool, although his folly | stopped immeasurably short of yourS.” | “I mean, sir, what hopes does he entertain! with respect to our pardon ?” "Very little indeed, I apprehend. For my own part, I should conceive that to be a question beyond the pale of hope.” g | "Indeed!” echoed Frost, seemingly slightly i moved. “But, sir, did you see the debate oni itlie subject, which was decided against by the B speaker’s voice alone ?” B "I do not” I replied, " recollect such a de- i | bate ; but of a pardon, I conceive there is no H | reasonable ground* for the entertainment of a S i "I don’t know, sir; I may be wrong, I may g §l' disappointed, but I certainly do entertain M , I", such an hope.” ’ ' | ‘ It seems,” I continued, “like cruelty to | I argue against you in such a manner, still I can- | not help expressing my belief that you are 1 widely deceiving yourself.” | "You see,” said Frost, clinging to the hope® he could not bring his mind to relinquish, “y° u » see Feafgus O’Connor has been liberated, andgl we ought to have the benefit of the point of law B in our.favour.” , || " I cannot argue that point; but tell me, do 1| you imagine the change of ministry has bettered® || your prospects, or do you think that any go- B || vernment would be justified in the recinding B j§ your sentence ? Depend upon it you will never B p| he permitted to quit this island. Chartism is aB hvdra-headed monster : and were you again to 11 land in England, you would again, perforce, ® ?4 become the rallying ..point of your party ; you® || would be dragged into the stormy sea of poli- B H tics : and, if not a mover, you would' be made all I tool. What prudent government would run'® such a hazard ?” B “ There may, sir, be many reasons against B my pardon, but there are many reasons, and® justice, for its concession.” -• 11 “ If I might offer a suggestion, Mr. Frost, it B would be to the effect that you ought to turn' B your attention towards the attainment of what B are termed colonial indulgences, and seek to see B your wile and family around you here.” B Frost coloured at the idea, which he repudi- B ated strongly, declaring he would never bring fl H his wife and grown-up daughters to such a place fl IH in his condition. I debated the matter calmly B ppatientlv. fl H “As to your condition,” I remarked, the fl world draws a wide distinction between State fl criminals and petty larceny rogues, so that I do fl not see that that is a valid objection against fl bringing cut your family. That you may obtain fl your emancipation in clue course, I have little fl doubt; and if so, what is there to prevent your fl enjoying peace and quiet ?” B " I have no earthly objection to live here,” fl said Frost. “ I like the country, as far as I B have seen: I have enjoyed excellent health, fl and my spirits are wonderfully good, all things B considered; still it would be a rash thing fo-fl I bring out my wife and fumilv without seeing a fl I clear way for their provision.” ° If I. “Oh!” I observed, " any man of common B I intelligence, with the use of head or hands, ® • | must do well here.” if I "pßut, s:r, you are, of course, aware that IB' I have got into trouble ; I lost my situation as afl p writer in the commandant’s office at Port B I Australasian Sugar Company. —The®. | competition with English refined sugar offered fl fat extended credit, of which there are four S| I parcels upon our market, has prevented' the B I sales of the company from exceeding the aver- B I age amount of the last month ; but their sugars fl I are becoming articles of regular export to the fl I ocher Australasian Colonies; and purchases for Iff I such shipments have been repeated this week, fl Iby parties who had previously made trial offl | smaller quantities, and have much approved the B : j? qualities. It is rumoured that their prices willß • |be lowered to a point which will totally pre- fl . | elude importation, and the large buyers have fl lin consequence refrained from purchasing; but fl !j no notice of such intention has yet been given fl | The sugar here and on the passage hither must fl come into consumption, and no advantage willfl |be gained; hut if the importations continue,® | after it is knowii in England that the colonial fl j manufacture is fairly established, and capable of fl [ supplying three times the consumption of the .fl j colony, such a reduction will certainly take B 1 place. Treacle at 2yd. per lb. is finding its fl way into general consumption, and the demand fl from the grocers increases considerably. Loaves if and tittlers sd. per lb.; lumps, 4yd. per ditto ; R ' crushed lumps, 40/. per ton; fine pieces, 2G/‘ if to 32/. : molasses, 13/. per ton. d The debate in the United States on the £ British treaty was conducted with closed doors Vf f .'i but the weather being hot, honourable ihiein- ra -1 If TTirmT I 111 l I I liiliiii iiwiUTi iiwlimiiimi ■mniiMWMi I n■in mi iiniT'ii~ ‘I •

:Wy . talked .so .loud ; that the details of the treaty were common talk in Washington before passed the Senate. ( So. much for secret s^sisioh. ,Walue of .the IGhinese Guns.—ThS' number of ; guns taken by the British :forces at amounted to 172, mostly made of | ’ and from 12 to 14 feet long. The value B °l^ e CO PP er g uns taken at Chinhae, amounted ■ t6v 10,000/., having been sold lor that sum at 1 Calcutta. All the copper guns taken at Woo-. B and 34 others, mostly 12 and 24-pounders ■ have been shipped for Calcutta, but it is not n jffet known how the proceeds will be applied,. H'vjshetber deposited in the chest that belongs to fflt|j{fe Consolidated Fund, or awarded to the 9 Victorious soldiers and sailors in the shape of B ]Mze-money. In addition to these an immense ■ quantity of iron guns have been destroyed, with ■ cither warlike instruments, from the tliree- ■ ponged toasting-forks, as the Chinese spears ■ termed, to the powerful two-handed B S#ords. S . t)f out-door games among the Chinese, kitel.'flying is the most popular. In this the celesa tial& excel; they show their superiority as well i ip the curious construction of their kites, as in ■me height to which they make them mount. \ RHy means of round holes, supplied, with vibrat-1 ■ ipg. cords, their kites are made to produce a 1 Ibud humming noise, like that of a top. The ■.ninth day of the moon is a holiday,' especially lufeyoted to this national pastime, on which day ■ humbers may be seen repairing to the hills for K the purpose of kite-flying.