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UNDER CONSIDERATION.

excellence of the climate, wherein epidemics are almost unknown; these are considerations which induce us respectfully, but most earnestly, to ask of Her Majesty's Government an extension of the system of transportation already so successfully, and only in too limited an extent, carried on for the last twelve years, and to trust that they will be considered of sufficient force to induce the sending out of an increased number of convicts, of whom there may be a reasonable hope of reformation."

The Royal Commission on Convict Management, is sitting while I write; it is therefore impossible to say, with certainty, what the answer to the memorial from the colonists of Western Australia, will be; but it is more than probable, that the Government will continue to send convicts to that colony, probably at the rate of about 1000 per

annum.

The propriety of acceding to this memorial has been discussed at a meeting of the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science,

d a resolution carried in direct opposition to

its

THE QUESTION DISCUSSED.

269

prayer; but the arguments were on one side,

and the voting on the other.

The General Secretary-who made some unwise and rash remarks on the Irish Convict System, of the working of which he seems totally ignorant-moved:

"That it is not desirable to attempt any return to the old system of transportation, which, apart from the opposition it would provoke in the colonies, would entail heavy and permanent expenses on this country, without producing any adequate advantages, or any results which would not be better, as well as more cheaply obtained, by well-regulated convict establishments at home."

It was moved, as an amendment, by Major Sandford, of Western Australia :—

"That modified system of transportation to the colonies, with their consent, will be advantageous to the mothercountry and the colonies themselves."

Sensible speeches-in which the right of the colonists to decide for themselves in a matter so closely affecting their own interests-were made by Lord Alfred Churchill, M.P., and Lord

270

SENSIBLE ADVICE.

Lyttleton. Lord Alfred Churchill recommended that a proportion of free labourers, as well as of convicts, should be sent to this colony. He dwelt on the necessity of sending women there, and said that Irish girls had no prejudices against marrying ticket-of-leave men. To this Mr. Adderley replied that "to go to a healthy climate, with an Irish girl, would be no punishment.'

This is all true, but it is not exactly the state of the case, or precisely what Lord Alfred Churchill said. The convicts are not to go out with the Irish girls; but, if well behaved, they will have a chance of winning them there; and in sober seriousness, we know of no better means of reclaiming a wild, foolish, or bad man from crime, than that of marrying him to a good Irish girl.

Major Sandford, who is a colonist from Western Australia, and who knows far more about transportation than the General Secretary of the Association for the Promotion of Social Science,

SIR W. CROFTON'S SPEECH.

271

at whose tea parties there is often a great deal of small talk-stated that the convict establishment of Fremantle had jail accommodation for 3000 prisoners; that the ticket-of-leave men had behaved admirably; that they had been employed in the outlying district, thirty miles from the residence of a magistrate, or a police station, and that no serious offences had been committed; and that the colonists were disposed, by fair and kind treatment, to give convicts every chance of redeeming their lost positions in society.

Sir Walter Crofton spoke strongly against transportation to Western Australia, and concluded by recommending its adoption :-" Our object is to punish the offender, and prevent others from committing the crime, by deterring them from following his bad example. Now, any one who knows the situation of Western Australia, and the position of a convict when sent there, cannot for a moment consider that such a position would deter a man from serious crime."

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A WORD ON LUSK.

Granted, Sir Walter. Let us, therefore, use it

as an encouragement to virtue.

There would be no difficulty in applying Sir Walter Crofton's words to his pet prison, or rather farm, at Lusk, where convicts get "the news of the day," and spend such "a happy Christmas." "Now, every one who knows the situation of Lusk, and the position of a convict when sent there, cannot for one moment consider that such a position would deter a man from serious crime."

I should infinitely prefer emigration to transportation, and hope that the present improved system of deporting our prisoners will eventually resolve itself into it, or into something very like it. Mr. Hughes, of Tasmania, said that nearly all the convicts sent to Western Australia, moved off to other colonies, at the expiration of their sentences. To this there can be no objectionthe world is wide enough for them.

The memorialists speak of the difficulties of a convict's escape as almost insurmountable. This