The cruel twisted fate of an innocent man continues; readers can only feel outrage and incredulity at the inhumane system of British justice in 19th Century Australia.   I am overviewing a novel written by  Marcus Clarke called *"For the Term Of HIs Natural Life"* published in 1874.  Although a fiction, it is considered a very accurate account of what occurred in the penal settlements of this time.  

The information on Marcus Clarke in a post from 11 days ago. [source](https://steemit.com/history/@angiemitchell/an-overview-of-the-man-whose-claim-to-fame-is-the-masterpiece-for-the-term-of-his-natural-life)

<center>![](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQ4eo77JgnfcwRqdTd11ntoa8gaaWkmxU1gw5oRxgawpC/9781925355659.jpg)</center><center>[source](http://google.com)</center>
 
My first introductory of the story was posted 10 days ago.[source](https://steemit.com/history/@angiemitchell/a-cruel-twist-of-fate-changes-a-young-man-s-life-forever-the-prologue-sets-the-scene-for-the-term-of-his-natural-life) The novel is long and comprehensive with  such characters as villains, a fair lady, the hero who is the convict and religious ministers who believe that convicts must repent.  

In this post, my fifth one Rufus Dawes has been sent back to  Port Arthur in Van Diemen's Land (aka Tasmania, Australia). Having lost all threads of hope to being set free at the testimony of Sylvia Vickers in the Court case he withdraws even further rejecting a kindness in the form of chewing tobacco from a parson called Mr North.

But today I tell a tragically sad story about a young man aged 22 who held a job as a bank clerk in London.  He was charged and sentenced to the penal settlement on very dubious and unproven evidence related to stealing money.  We first meet him when he was working as a butler in the Commandant's house, Captain Burgess.   His name is Kirkman, a pale thin young man.  A very prudish and conservative religiously methodist fellow who could not abide the swearing of this Captain.  

Unfortunately for Kirkman, Captain Burgess took such great offence at him covering his ears when he swore that he tossed him into the prison with the rough and tough convicts.  He had to be punished!  The poor man was so scared that he continually begged for mercy from Captain Burgess and the help from Mr North and the guards to let him go back to the Commandant's house.  

<center>![](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmaZUBeCEF7jAa99zRczxaid5vySZu2pQqmfCQkVnT2U7G/New%20Note.jpeg)</center><center>[source](http://google.com)</center>

Kirkman sustained a beating from the convicts until he was moved into his own cell at Mr North's forthright request. The next morning Dawes gently advised the poor frighted and bruised Kirkman to keep quiet and just do the work.  But Kirkman was passed the stage of rational thinking, he raced to the water to drown himself.   On hearing this information Captain Burgess was further enraged and ordered that Kirkman receive 100 lashes as punishment for attempted suicide. 

He needed to be taught a lesson!

Mr North did his best to stop the lashing, he pleaded with the obstinate and cruel Burgess telling him that it would kill Kirkman.   Burgess did not listen, he was too intent to punish  Kirkman, to teach him a lesson.  So it went ahead as schedule.  

<center>![](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmVFQ3KL2hxnWP3pKeySAc6SsK2rEBg3QKRDtrbH7WQEtC/New%20Note.jpeg)</center><center>[source](http://google.com)

As fate would have it, Captain Burgess chose Dawes to whip Kirkman.   Dawes refused until he was threatened with a whipping himself.   He had not choice.   After 10 lashes Dawes threw the whip down as Kirkman's head had rolled to one side unconscious.  It was then that Dawes offered that he be whipped in Kirkman's place.   He was and received 100 lashes at the same time Kirkman's lashing continued.   Two other convicts were happy comply to Burgess.  

Mr North's prediction of killing Kirkman came true, he died at number 53 lash.  Mr North was incensed with so much anger and loathing that when he sailed to Hobart that afternoon he took himself to Major Vickers's house to report the terrible injustice and wrongdoing.  Captain Burgess killed a man!   Mr North tried but being listened to let along justice being done was highly unlikely given that Burgess was in charge and that a lashing of an insolent difficult convict was normal.  

Anyway Captain Frere was the investigating officer as the Assistant Police Magistrate.  (The outcome was obvious!)


<center>![](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmPEAMn5ppougJoX8ai7gHniKjhCRHknNr68Fpe617ZheZ/New%20Note.jpeg)</center><center>[source](http://google.com)</center>


Meanwhile back at Port Arthur Dawes is put into hospital, although a harsh place he considered it a welcome relief from the work and hardship of the prison.  He stays there recovering until he insults the new parson, Mr Meekin, a sanctimonious fundamental religious man of no understanding and compassion for the convict Rufus Dawes.  Captain Burgess sends him back to the work gang chained in irons.  

There is no light at the end of this tunnel for Rufus Dawes.



Cheers and Blessings


<center>![](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmUEF7oim3SqMmBCGb616ChgnxbYhYzZKYk2z3KWmcTML1/3zpz8WQe4SNGuAzd7k7QMKdLSWy23uByCkjEHp26L7GRRHQqNxHS3eRKhKqtTz6BiB1i4z65CNWyXKdGSKpFKs6jtQTjR2Tu77txDMx4AkVjmV4u6ne18xJytJgrehbUqqFEgaJpcTPiUQ2jqCMV.jpg)</center>


<center>![](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZXwd8sB5HeHG8ddr1jmuFDnzebicEnpnCKhFuxiZS1VN/C3TZR1g81UNaPs7vzNXHueW5ZM76DSHWEY7onmfLxcK2iNu4N1DDtamY97dmQ3wS4StVpxBsdgAaJvfZ2FsBrviAB1TAUZ5E4mwjRDUisGBaXzzsu5kKAKG.jpg)</center>


(*A fun beach morning for holiday makers and happy families.*)
![](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmXWEJPYofnRt6CjeZXXdcxzt5QG6tV3tNv1RQnVuuYtjN/IMG_4670.jpg)