The Express.
London, England, 1853-07-19 00:00:00

TRANSPORTATION BILL.

Altar a abort conversation in a low tons across the table,
between the Lord Chancellor, Lord Sc. tone,
and the
Duke of Newcastle, the house went into committee on this
bill.

Clasen 1 to 4 Wm agreed to.

Oa clause 4,
The LORD CHANCELLOR explained that the object
of the clause was to substitute for the punishment of seven
years' transportation a punishment of four years' penal
servitude, which was considered to be practically the same
in extent, because, though the sentence of transportation
wee seminally for seven years, the convict was seat to pri-
sm Is, • year and a half or two years, end afterwards was
seat to labour at one of, the convict establishments.
The clause was agreed to, as were clauses up to 8.
On class* 8,
The LORD CHANCELLOR explained the object of the
clause, which was to provide work at one of the public
establishments at (kapott, or Portland Island, or else-
where' after the convict bad left prison, so that he might
not be compelled to ge back to his old haunts, and might
have an inducement to behave himself well. In order that
they should not come into competition with the labourers
in the district, the work imposed upon them would he
harder, and the wages smaller, than was imposed on others.
The convicted thieves of London, for instance, would not
be permitted to come within a certain distance of the me-
tropolis. He hoped that when these persons were for some
time employed in the public works that they would be
received back into society as reformed or partially reformed
enaracters. He was net insane enough to suppose that the
system would effect ell that they wished, but it was the hest
that, under the circumstances, suggested itself to the
government, and he trusted that it would to some extent
NOW*: the object they had in view.
The Earl of HARROWBY thought that it would be by
so means desirable to accumulate large bodies of convicts
is particular localities. He thought the inhabitants of
such districts would complain very loudly of such a think.
He would suggest that the convicts be seat out of the coun-
try, and that a certain punishment be imposed upon them
if they returned.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE said that the clause
was not constructed with the view of compelling large ag-
gregations of convicts in particular localities, but It was
necessary when they were driven from prison, that they
should be furnished with the means of existence so as to
give them *very possible motive for seeking an improved
mode of existence in other parts of the country than those
which bad been the haunts of their crimes.

iiiloiCnicuisraz, which
were ineedible, _ _ _

The Earl of HARDWICHE said they would place the
loeslities in tLis country, where these convicts were sent, in
the same position that they placed the colonies, and the
same outcry would be raised. His conviction was that the
seem would utterly fail.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE said the object was not to
online them to any locality, but that no one should come
out of prison end say that he was not able to obtain work.
After these persons were employed for some time on public
works, he thought it was extremely probable—looking to
the want of labour which at present existed—that other
persons would seek their labour, end that they would be
brought back into society. If they were to expatriate these
persons, other countries would have reason to complain
that the vice engendered hero had been thrown upon them.
(Hear, bear.)
The Bari of ELLENDOROUGH said that he thought
the measure for a uniform system of police throughout the
country ought to go pari passer with this measure, for he
believed that those gentlemen who issued from the prisons
in a state of incipient virtue would require to be closely
watched by the police, and that this measure of great humanity
would depend very much for its success on the strength with
which they exercised their batons. (" Hear, hear," and
laughter.) Whilst legislating for the amelioration of those
who committed crime, they ought to take into their con-
sideration that yet uncontaminated portion of society who
might be of by what they were now attempting to carry
, into operation.
After • few words from the Duke of BUCCLZUCH, the
elauW was agreed to, as were the other clauses of the bill.
THE INDIAN SALT TAX, &c.
The Earl of ALBEMARLE presented • petition from
the Bristol Chamber of Commerce, praying that the mono-
poly of salt exercised by the East Inds' Company might
be abolished, but that, should it be considered still expe-
dient to levy a tax on this necessary of life, it should be in
such a form u to press less heavily ,on the poor of India
than the present system of taxation.