258

THE TABLES TURNED.

the works;" and then adds that they " appeared lost to every impulse of independent thought and action."

Their refusal to attend, or join in the English service, was certainly no proof of a want of independent thought and action.

The Superintendent found among the Irish prisoners "a singular inaptitude to comprehend the nature of moral agencies, or to be affected by them; neither did they understand the desirableness of self-reliance, or the necessity for the exercise of habits of propriety, industry, and prudence, in extricating themselves from the consequences of former errors."

The tables are now turned. The laudation of what is styled the Irish Intermediate System, has been carried so far, of late, that colonists who know nothing of it, or of Irish convicts, are asking for Irish convicts.*

Of this we have a remarkable example in the

* Sir Walter Crofton stated, at a meeting of the Association

י

Promotion of Social Science, that "many applications

EXAMINATION OF MR. BURGESS.

259

examination of Mr. Lock C. Burgess, before the Transportation Committee of the House of Commons, in May, 1861 :

"What would be the advantage of having shortsentence men?"

"None in particular. I prefer men coming from such discipline as that which Captain Crofton gives, to any free-men you could send."

"Have you had any from Captain Crofton ?"

"No. But generally speaking we find the Irish convicts do better, after a time, than the English convicts. Though I am an Irishman, it is not for that reason I say so. The reason the people prefer the Irish convicts to the English is their seldom being habitual criminals."

"Have you had any Irish convicts ?"

"Not lately; but we have had them."

"Have you had, during the last six years, a single Irish convict ?"

from the employers of labour in England," had been made to him "to send them over gangs of Irish convicts, provided they were placed under the supervision of police."

260 THE FACING HE WAS PUT THROUGH.

"I think we have."

'During the time Captain Crofton has been at the head of the convict establishment in Ireland,

have you had any?"

"Some of the men that went to that district of Champion Bay were Irishmen-Smith O'Brien's men-the best men I ever had."

"But have you, since Captain Crofton took charge of the penal establishments of Ireland, had a single Irish prisoner sent to you ?”

"I do not know."

"This is rather an important point, because you say that you prefer Captain Crofton's men."

"I mean from what I have read of his treatment of the prisoners. I do not mean that I have had any experience of them.”

"From what you have read of his system, you think you would like to have men who have come through his establishments ?"

66 Exactly."

INCONSIDERATE LAUDATION.

261

"But have you had no personal experience of

them ?"

"None."

"And none have been sent to the colony?"

"None that I know of."

"You have seen nothing at home of Captain

Crofton's system?"

"No. I have only read his pamphlets."

Mr. Lock Burgess, who was put through his facing in this style, is a pretty good specimen of nine-tenths of those who are lauding the Irish system, of which they are altogether ignorant.

"Are you satisfied, on the whole, with the class of prisoners that the Government have sent out to the colony?"

"Yes."

"And you are anxious to have 600 or 800 sent out annually?”

"Yes; say 600."

The following memorial has been lately presented to the Colonial Secretary, the Duke of

262

THE COLONISTS' MEMORIAL.

Newcastle, by a large number of respectable

colonists, from Western Australia :

"MY LORD DUKE,

"We, the undersigned, owners

of land and employers of labour, merchants, and others, interested in the colony of Western Australia, beg most respectfully to lay before your Grace a few facts connected with the subject of transportation to the colony.

'Encouraged by the patient and attentive consideration which you have ever given, on occasions when we have solicited the same favours, we have the greater confidence in again availing ourselves of your Grace's consideration, from the fact that the subject on which we desire to address you is just now one of more than colonial importance, and is engaging the serious attention, as it affects the welfare, of the kingdom at large.

"Her Majesty having named a special commission to inquire into the operations of the