The Express.
London, England, 1849-09-27 00:00:00

COLONIAL.

NEW SOUTH WALES.
By way of Singapore and the overland India and
China mail, we have received advives and journals
from Sydney to the 11th of June. The revival of the
convict or transportation system, at the recommenda-
tion of Earl Grey, has elicited from the colonists ex-
pressions of the strongest disapprobation. In the
Legislative Council, on June ls., Mr. Cowper, the
member for Cumberland, moved, with reference to
Earl Grey's despatch of Sept. 3, 1848, " That this
council declines to accede to the proposal therein con-
tained for the renewal of transports ion to this colony,
and strongly protests against the adoption of any mea-
sure by which the colony would be degraded into a
penal settlement ; and that this council, there-
fore, would earnestly entreat her Majesty to be
graciously plenum to revoke the order in council by
which this colony has been again made a place to
which British offenders may be transported." Vas
important resolution was carried neon. con. without a
debate. The unanimity of the representatives, sup-
ported, indeed almost led, by Governor Fitzroy, ought
to secure the object the colonists seek. The Sydney
Morning Herdd, Jane 8, referring to the vote of the
Legislative Council, remarks : " Earl Grey and his
colleagues should now be made to understand, if they
could not or would not understand before, that, so far
as the colonists of New South Wales are
mace/nod, the transportation question is set-
tled settled fully and finally settled for
ever. To attempt to moot it any more, under
whatever name or pretext, would be not only to
waste precious time, but to Jesuit this whole commu-
nity." But notwithstanding this unmistakeable feel-
ing of the colonists on the question of transportation,
Earl Grey unadvisedly sent out a cargo of convicts by
the Hashemey, which vessel arrived at Sydney on
June 10, and the colonists were thereby thrown into
a state of great excitement. The colonists at once
resolved to make a determined stand, and adopted

the only constitutional means of makieN known to
her Majesty the grievance so uneeremonton.ly thrust
upon them by Earl Grey. On June 11th the people
of Sydney, as one man, assembled on the vacant
ground near Circular-wharf. The chair was
taken by Mr. Lowe, the Legislative Council
member for the city of Sydney. Such was
the tone of public feeling at this instant, that im-
prudent demagogues might have fanned the glowing
embers into • lilac, and the fire of sedition have run
riot. The citizens of Sydney had a legitimate object,
and they took legitimate means to carry it into effect.
The natation of the Legislative Council, noticed
above, was carried sub silentio those of the monster
meeting were carried in the same unequivooal and
self-speaking manner. On the day of meeting all
badmen was easpended—a grave silence was ob-
served. The Hashemey, with her argo of convicts,
was within sight of the usembled thousands of the
colonists, when the latter recorded their most solemn
protest against the transportation system in the fol-
lowing emphatic and unmistakeable language:
We, the ins and loyal subjects of Her Mast Gracious
ll ejeaty, inhabitants of the city or Sydney and its immedi-
ate neighbonrhood, in public meeting assembled, do hereby
enter our most deliberate and solemn protest against the
transportation of 13:itish criminals to the colony of New
South Wales.
1. Because it is in violation of the will of the majority
of the colonists, as is clearly evidenced by their o:primed
opinions on the question at all times.
2. Because numbers among us have emigrated en the
' faith of the Briti.h government, that transportation to this
oniony had ceased forever.
3 Because it is inoompatable with our existence as
ae.freeptibloo.lo7y, deel
anotherrienlesslVrnment, to be made the re-
lon..
4. Because it is in the thr4theet degree unjust to sterilise the
great social and political interests of the colony at large to
the pecuniary profit of a fraction of its inhabitants.
6. Because being firmly and devotedly attached to the
British crown, we greatly fear that the perpetration of so
stupendous an act of injustice by her Majesty's government,
will go far towards alienating the affections of the people of
this colony from the mother country.
For these end many kindred reasons, in the exercise of our
duty to our country—for the love we bear our families, in
the strength of our loyalty to Great Britain, and from the
depth of our reverence for Almighty God—we protest,
against the landing again of British convicts on then shot a
This protest was presented to Governor Fitzroy by
a deputation, with a request that he would forward it
to her Majesty. We believe a copy of the protest
was despatched by the overland India mail, and if so
it is now in the hands of Earl Grey, who ought to be,
if he will be, convincedthat to persist in a measure so
repugnant to the feelings of a large and free commu-
nity, must at a very early day separate the colonies
of Australia from the British crown. He may re-
mark that Governor Fitzroy has signified his inten-
tion not to land the convicts per ILashemey until the
answer of Etrl Grey is received.

MALTA, Sam 20, 10 r.m.

The Princess Belgiojosa, the soi-disant heroine of
Itely, left Malta with her family on the 16th, in the
French steamer for Greece. Several others of the
more wealthy of the refugees left at the same time,
preferring to live and spend their money in Greece, a
country which has afforded an asylum to their dis-
tressed countrymen, rather than in a British posses-
sion where they have been so infamously treated.
The murrain or plague amongst the cattle hu de-
creased in virulence. One of the proprietors who lost
fifty head in one night, described the symptoms as
follows: all at once the animal is seized with a faint-
ly se and loss of appetite; debility quickly follows,
with intense diarrhcca ; then a violent perspiration,
with a foaming at the mouth, a swelling of the body,
and death. All these will occur within an hour or
so. No cure has been adopted, for the different
stages follow each other s 3 rapidly, that it is difficult
to prescribe one. In England it would be difficult to
believe that any one could be found to sell or buy
such meat; but here it has been sold at a penny to
twopence the pound, the police, as usual, looking on.
The poor Sicilian and other refugees are still in the
lazaretto. Many of them are very ill. There will not
be many left by Christmas.
On the 18th the Sardinian brig Concordia put in
here for repair, on her way to Athens, from Genoa,
with 160 Italian refugees on board. Moat of
them were from Rome. It is said that the brig
makes mu& water, and that the refugees must
be landed for her to undergo the necessary repairs.
I regret to say that no more kindness has been shown
to them than to the other poor creatures who are now
dying in the lazaretto. Immediately it was ascer-
tained that the vessel could rot proceed in cense-
qunee of her leaky state, the passengers were taken
out of her, and placed upon the open docks of pon-
toons, exposed, without shelter, to all the heat of a
September run, and the heavy, dews of the night.
Thus, it would appear that the orders left by Mr. More
O'Ferrall admit of no relaxation in regard to these
unfortunates, amongst whom are people of rank and
property. If a cargo of African slaves were treated
in the same manner, all the journals of Europe would
cry out against such an act of barbarity. Many ima-
gine that Colonel Jones, the officer administering the
government, would have acted differently, but it is
evident he has the title only and not the power.
Rosland's steamer, on the 19th, brought us a Gaily-
nani of the 11th, containing a quotation from the
Daily News, that Mr. More O'Ferrall had been cen-
sured by the uolonial-offios for his recent treatment of
the Italian refugees, and had in consequence tendered
his resignation. Yon can have no idea of the excite-
went such news occasioned ; the people appeared wild
with joy, and had the article certified that it had been
laccepted, the town would have been fully illuminated.
If he is wise he will not return to Malta.
ig