Making of the West Indies

now plunged in the depths of misery, and cannot
escape her impending fate, unless your lordship
interposes and prevail with Majesty for a royal
pardon."
While on the question of transportation, one may
note that the penitentiary for women at Botany
Bay is described in Mr Tighe Hopkins's new book,
"The Romance of Fraud" (1914: pp. 109-110). The
"Factory," as it was called, "an agreeable retreat,"
was under the charge of a Mrs Gordon. Three
classes of women were admitted — (1) Those who had
not been assigned as servants, on arrival in the
Colony ; (2) those whose masters had returned them
upon the hands of the Government; and (3) those
who, having fulfilled their terms, were biding some
blest reversal of fortune. Mrs Gordon had two
daughters, who were regarded as not the most
perfect examples of virtue to the numerous females
under her charge. Mrs Gordon's "lambs" were
petted. They were never put to work ; and every
girl might be the architect of her own fortune.
The "Factory" was at once a moderately grateful
asylum, show place, and a matrimonial agency.
"It may have been several other things, and was
presumably not the most reputable institution in
the Colony. A child born there was baptised in
the name of the Governor of the Colony. Mrs
Gordon, one may conjecture, retired on a com-
petency." Mr Tighe Hopkins tells me he has
forgotten where he discovered about Mrs Gordon.
Perhaps some of your readers may know.
[THE END.]