An Address to the Inhabitants of the Colonies | Page 4

OF THE COLONIES,
ESTABLISHED IN NEW SOUTH WALES AND NORFOLK
ISLAND.

BY THE REV. RICHARD JOHNSON, A.B. CHAPLAIN TO THE
COLONIES
WRITTEN IN THE YEAR 1792
PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR
* * * * *
TO ALL INHABITANTS, AND ESPECIALLY TO THE UNHAPPY
PRISONERS AND CONVICTS ESTABLISHED AT PORT
JACKSON AND NORFOLK ISLAND, THIS AFFECTIONATE
ADDRESS IS DEDICATED AND PRESENTED, BY THEIR VERY
SINCERE AND SYMPATHIZING FRIEND, AND FAITHFUL
SERVANT, IN THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, RICHARD JOHNSON.
* * * * *
TO THE BRITISH AND OTHER EUROPEAN INHABITANTS OF
NEW SOUTH WALES AND NORFOLK ISLAND.
My Beloved,
I do not think it necessary to make an apology for putting this Address
into your hands; or to enter into a long detail of the reasons which
induced me to write it.
One reason may suffice. I find I cannot express my regard for you, so
often, or so fully, as I wish, in any other way.
On our first arrival in this distant part of the world, and for some time
afterwards, our numbers were comparatively small; and while they
resided nearly upon one spot, I could not only preach to them on the
Lord's day, but also converse with them, and admonish them, more
privately.
But since that period, we have gradually increased in number every
year (notwithstanding the great mortality we have sometimes known)
by the multitudes that have been sent hither after us. The colony
already begins to spread, and will probably spread more and more
every year, both by new settlements formed in different places under
the crown, and by a number of individuals continually becoming
settlers. Thus the extent of what I call my parish, and consequently of
my parochial duty, is enlarging daily. On the other hand, my health is
not so good, nor my constitution so strong, as formerly. And therefore I
feel it impracticable, and impossible for me, either to preach, or to
converse with you so freely, as my inclination and affection would
prompt me to do.

I have therefore thought it might be proper for me, and I hope it may
prove useful to you, to write such an Address as I now present you with.
I transmitted a copy of it to my friends in England with a request, that if
they approved of it, a sufficient number might be printed, and sent to
me. Thus I am now able to leave with you a testimony of my affection
for you, and of my sincere and heart-felt concern, for your BEST,
because your ETERNAL, welfare. My times are in the hand of God. He,
and He only, knows how long I may live, or how long my present
connection with you, may continue. I trust, however, that so long as the
all-wise Disposer of all events shall be pleased to spare my life, and
strength; and government shall deem my services in this remote land,
necessary, it will still be, as it has hitherto been, my most ardet desire,
my uniform endeavour, and my greatest pleasure, to promote your
happiness. And when recalled to my native country, or removed by my
God to my eternal home, to receive that crown of righteousness, which
I humbly trust is laid upon me, by reading and carefully perusing the
following pages, I hope you will be convinced, and reminded how
sincerely you were pitied, and how dearly beloved by
Richard Johnson. Port Jackson, Oct. 30. 1792.
At this date, exclusive of those who died or were born on the voyage
from England:
Baptisms.....226 Marriages....220 Burials......854
* * * * *
ADVERTISEMENT.
The author hopes that all well-disposed persons will excuse the
imperfections they may meet in this Address. It is the first time of his
appearance in print, and may be the last. Nor would he have attemped it
now, were it not for the very peculiar situation he is in, and the hope he
entertains, that his feeble, but he trusts, sincere, attempt, may, by the
blessing of God, be made useful to those unhappy persons, with whom
he is so nearly connected, and for whose salvation and happiness he is
so deeply concerned.
And he returns his most sincere and hearty thanks to true Christians of
every denomination, for their kind remembrance of him at the throne of
grace. He still hopes, because he still needs, a continuance of their
fervent prayers to God for him, that he may be indued with those gifts,
and with that wisdom, zeal, and faithfulness which are so needful to

direct, support, and strengthen him--and may be favoured with more
manifold and abundant success in that arduous, trying, yet honourable,
and at times he can say, pleasant and delightful work, in which he is
engaged.
* * * * *

ADDRESS, &c.

PART I.