530 JUDGE-ADVOCATE COLLINS. 1756-1810 have awakened the sympathy of those in power; and he was, almost immediately after its publication, offered the government of the Lieutenant- projected settlement in Yan Diemen's Land, which he accepted, Governor. ^^^ sailed once more for that quarter of the globe, where he founded his new colony ; struggled with great difficulties, which he overcame; and after remaining there eight years, was enjoying the flourishing state his exertions had produced, when he died suddenly after a few days' confinement from a slight cold, on the 24th March, 181 D. "His person was remarkably handsome and his manners ex- tremely prepossessing ; while to a cultivated understanding and an early fondness for the belles lettres, he joined the most social Character disposition. How he was esteemed by the inhabitants of the colony iaritv^^" over which he presided, will appear by the following extract of a letter announcing his decease : — *By the death of Colonel Collins this colony has sustained a loss it wUl take a number of years to get over. I have known and served with him from the first estab- lishment of the colony; and when I speak the feelings of my heart on this melancholy occasion, I am sure that it is not my single voice, but that of every department whatsoever in the settlement, who, with the most heartfelt regret, universally acknowledge him to have been the father and friend of all.* " The foregoing detailrf appeared as a foot-note in the Memoirs of Holt's Joseph Holt, edited by T. Crofton Croker, vol. ii, p. 252. Holt
- ^"°*' met Lieutenant-Governor Collins during his stay in Van Diemen's
Land in the year 1805, and wrote of him as follows ; — " This gentleman had the good will, the good wishes, and the good word of every one in the settlement. His conduct was exemplary, and his disposition most humane. His treatment of runaway con- victs was conciliatory, and even kind. He would go into the forests, Runaway among the natives, to allow these poor creatures, the runaways, convicts^ an oppoi-tunity of returning to their former condition ; and, half dead with cold and hunger, they would come and drop on their knees before him, imploring pardon for their behaviour.
- Well,' he would say to them, * now that you have lived in
the bush, do you think the change you made was for the better t Are you sorry for what you have done 1 '
- Yes, sir.*
- And will you promise me never to go away again 1 '
- Never, sir.*
- Go to the storekeeper, then,* the benevolent Collins would say,
' and get a suit of slops and your week's rations, and then go to the overseer and attend to your work. I give you my pardon ; but remember that I expect you will keep your promise to me.' " I never heard of any other Governor or commandant acting in this manner, nor did I ever witness such leniency from any Governor. I have, however, been assured that there was less Digitized by Google
