The Express.
London, England, 1851-06-07 00:00:00

TRANSPORTATION.

Lord MONTEAOLE sSidheiss«; to call attention to a
petition of which he had given notice on this subject. On
•II emu occasion he had observed that it was utterly im-
e for the mother country altogether to abolish
ortation, tion, but that unless some remedy were applied to
the undoubted grievances of the colonists the example set et
Ihe Ceps of Good Hope would be followed in other parts of
Mr colonial empire. Not only the petition which he held
he hand, but papers recently laid before their lordships,
*roved that the dangers which he bad apprehended
cow rapidly coming to a crisis; and he bcheved that
Minn user effort were made by this country to alter the
mews at employing convicts, there would be a struggle
rather of force then of reason with many of the colonies.
(Hear, hear.) His fears on the subject were strengthened
by the combination of New South Wales with Van Die-
men's Land, and that combination, coupled with the fact of
the withdrawal of troops from New South Wales, now led
him to apprehend a conflict between the colonies and the
mother country. The petition which he held in his hand
emanated from the New South Wales Association for Pre-
venting the Revival of Transportation in that Colony. It
was signed by many persons of considerable importance,
including members of the legislative council ; and in it re-
ference was made to a resolution of the council, declaring
that no more convicts ought to be introduced into
any part of the colony. The petitioners claimed the
fall performance of the promise of the Secretary of
State to abide by the expressed opinion of the
colonial legislature. But they also claimed a good
deal more, and, in fact, that to which he thought they were
not entitled. They said it was unjust, and a violation of
the promise given to them, to divide a portion of the Aus-
tralian territory into a new province. Nothing could be
clearer than that Australia must be thus divided as the ne-
cessity for it should arise ; and yet the petitioners held
that not only should the government abstain from sending
convicts to New South Wales, but also from sending them
to any new state, although the inhabitants and the legisla-
ture of that new state should ask to be assisted with con-
vict labour. The position assumed by the colonists on
that point, he must say, appeared to him utterly inde-
fensible. (Hear, hear.) But the petitioners further said,
and reasonably, that it was impossible that their prosperity
could coexist while the present exclusive and excessive
transportation to Van Diemen's Land continued. If par-
liament wished to maintain the system of transportation
in any part of the Australian colonies it must put an end
to the abuse and excess which now prevailed. However they
might differ on other points, no one could doubt that the
present amount of transportation to Van Diemen's Land
was excessive. (Hear, hear.) He must now call atten-
tion to the character which the complaints of the colonists
had now assumed. Formerly the petitions on this subject
were couched in language of respect and moderation ; but
he was sorry to say that that was the case no longer.
They uniformly attributed to the authorities, and to the
legislature of this country, a breach of faith ; and they spoke
(Whin noble friend (Earl Grey) in terms which he certainly
did not deserve. The breach of faith was traced in his noble
friend's despatches and speeches, and in the contrast be-
tween the principles on which he began to act and those on
which ho had acted recently. But the colonists went be-
yond complaining of a breach of faith. At a public meet-
ing, including magistrates, sheriffs, and municipal authori-
ties, it was said that if convict ships had been sent to a
particular place transportation would have ceased long ago,
for the colonists would not have allowed the convicts to
land ; and it was added that, where they were strong
enough, they would rely on their strength. Nor was this
all. It was further remarked that, after what happened at
the Cape of Oood Hope, there could be no doubt as to what
was the best way of getting rid of convicts ' - and this ob-
servation was received with " three cheers and three more."
It must be remembered that the public land in Austra-
lia was the wealth of the colony; and supposing they
were able, by means of the labour of convicts, to convert that
land from its present insignificant value toe value greater than
any whichhad been realised in any part of the Australian ter-
ritory, there would be employment for the convicts and re-
muneration for the cost, and the convict problem would
be solved. While there were only 49 petitions, signed by
1525 persons, in defence of transportation in a modified
shape, the petitions against any transportation whatever bad
16,000 signatures.
Hari GREY said his noble friend having been kind
enough to send him the petition, and afford him an oppor-
tunity of reading it, be cathemdt he was not quite prepared
for the speech which their Ismiehips had just heard. The
petitioners prayed that swine might not be introduced,
except under such. 'triaged sad salutary regulations al
would preclude their lame into any of the other colonist,
within the express esneerrance and sanction of the ode.
dal legit nwa Dy ea set passed last year it was pme,
sided tbet ea the petition of the inhabitants of the northern
cledtbs seism el New South Wales that part might be
IMO a distinct colony. A few days ago a petitiss
woe teethed km the governor, signed by nearly all the
/Went Indenter& in the district, praying that the crows
wadi merein its powers and give the new colony the ei•
=sof nada labour • end he found from a
dist as of the limeade on which the
hessitheir de la wee tint theegh they contributed
tithe /MOM the legisistere of Sydney refused=
the reseedea Opines sad absolutely did nothing for fink
beweet. The red *est of this petition trustiest the=
mend br pediment for the divides dthe wimp
setbeemmof endthat if it wentereniedtheolteeparamee
Mike* Alan le should not be allowed to avail 611111•1111•01
of movie Meer mess if they found it for their inmost to
den. Ea was most happy to find that his noble Mend did
act sneer in that. The governor, in sending the petition,
ail be had only just received it, and had not time to n-
lll it with say information. Of course, therefbra,
airwerail be taken at present ; but he was prepared to
cep List If the etereise of the government powers was
vasessery for the relief of the inhabitants in the north, it
tiwinlinet be withheld on therewith put forward in the peti-
on.

--liter a few further observations, the subject dropped.
SALMON FISHERIES (SCOTLAhD) BILL.
In reply to the Duke of RICIIYOND,
The Duke of ARGYLL said that it was his intention to
take the opinion of the house on the question in the present
session. He would not, however, move the committal of
the bill on that occasion, but begged to give notice that he
would do so on Monday, the 16th of June.
INTRAMURAL INTERMENTS.

In reply toCordßomnisoLz,
The Earl of CARLISLE said that he knew the Board
of Health were in communication with the cemetery eom-
poise with mewl to the terms on which they were to take
peesewlea dal= eameerisaThe precise nature of these ne
be was not detain a position to state, further then
they derasiel operations of considerable was.

--171;e1r kullahipa actioursed at a quarter past 7 o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—FILIDAY, ZUNI 6.
The Sew= took the chair shortly before 4 o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

METROPOLIS WATER BILL.
Sir 0. GREY moved that it be an instroction to the
committee of selection to appoint a committee for the
Metropolis Water Bill, consisting of Ave members, as in the
Mut private bills.—Ordered.
=PORTS ON ANINDED BILLS CONSIDINSD AND
—Cansesea's CoallFooh Steam Coal and Swan-

MS MI lisagthor Railway (No. 1) ; iaTt itMiehouse
Walsgwodis 11111• Cheat Maims Is Police,
Masegmo'dis, Oas, and Markets (R-oommitted)
BM; Impmeamemt IM; National Land Com-
pany
to be BlBLWodhrd !ma Bridge Bill (mend-
meats posprod).
81COND itaaaare.-431 Bartholomew's Hospital Estate
Bill.

Itz-oonurrrar..--Swanses and Loughor Railway Bill.
PRIVATE LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
In reply to a question (torn Mr. Lyantuorott,
Si, O. GREY said a bill for the better reralation of pri.
trate lunatic asylums was ander consideration, but he did
not think it potable to bring it forward this anion.
COMMON LAW REFORM.
Mr. J. EVANS asked when the report of the canna,-
elm en the principle and practice of common law would be
UEir O. ORZY bad inquired of the earailidasers, who
brped soon to have the report ready.
AFFAIRS OF CEYLON.
Mr. HAWES, in reply to a question Eras Led