In so numerous a community many persons of perverted genius and of mechanical ingenuity could not but be assembled.  Let me produce the following example.  Frazer was an iron manufacturer, bred at Sheffield, of whose abilities as a workman we had witnessed many proofs.  The governor had written to England for a set of locks to be sent out for the security of the public stores, which were to be so constructed as to be incapable of being picked.  On their arrival his excellency sent for Frazer and bade him examine them telling him at the same time that they could not be picked.  Frazer laughed and asked for a crooked nail only, to open them all.  A nail was brought, and in an instant he verified his assertion.  Astonished at his dexterity, a gentleman present determined to put it to farther proof.  He was sent for in a hurry, some days after, to the hospital, where a lock of still superior intricacy and expense to the others had been provided.  He was told that the key was lost and that the lock must be immediately picked.  He examined it attentively, remarked that it was the production of a workman, and demanded ten minutes to make an instrument ’to speak with it.’  Without carrying the lock with him, he went directly to his shop, and at the expiration of his term returned, applied his instrument, and open flew the lock.  But it was not only in this part of his business that he excelled:  he executed every branch of it in superior style.  Had not his villainy been still more notorious than his skill, he would have proved an invaluable possession to a new country.  He had passed through innumerable scenes in life, and had played many parts.  When too lazy to work at his trade he had turned thief in fifty different shapes, was a receiver of stolen goods, a soldier and a travelling conjurer.  He once confessed to me that he had made a set of tools, for a gang of coiners, every man of whom was hanged.

Were the nature of the subject worthy of farther illustration, many similar proofs of misapplied talents might be adduced.

Their love of the marvellous has been recorded in an early part of this work.  The imposture of the gold finder, however prominent and glaring, nevertheless contributed to awaken attention and to create merriment.  He enjoyed the reputation of a discoverer, until experiment detected the imposition.  But others were less successful to acquire even momentary admiration.  The execution of forgery seems to demand at least neatness of imitation and dexterity of address.  On arrival of the first fleet of ships from England, several convicts brought out recommendatory letters from different friends.  Of these some were genuine, and many owed their birth to the ingenuity of the bearers.  But these last were all such bungling performances as to produce only instant detection and succeeding contempt.  One of them addressed to the governor, with the name of Baron Hotham affixed to it, began ‘Honored Sir!’