The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1822-09-26 00:00:00

MICE OS STOCKS YESTERDAY.

3 per Ct. C 005... 8111 I Es. Bills, 4 .....1,0001.
New 4 par Cents. 100ji I 31 2 pr.
lop. 9 pr. Ct. An..3oh I Ditto Swell.. 7 3 pr.
Laths 80ut15..48 46 pr. I laths for .. 2334
Lottery Tickets 22413 a. Cow. fW ditto.. 81111

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NEW SOUTH WALES.

EXTRACT PROM THE REPORT OP THE COMMIS-
SIONER Of INQUIRY INTO THE STILTS OP THE
COLONY OF NEW SOUTH WALES.

(Cuotinued from our Paper of yesterday.)

Great difficulty is found in distinguishing between
the real and pretended motives for applications of
convicts to be married in the colony; and no doubt
is entertained, that the marriage obligation is con-
tracted for the purpose of making an alteration in
the civil condition of the parties. This alteration
is certainly more abrupt than is consistent with a
just notion of punishment; but, as long as the
punishment of the female convicts consisted of de-
tention and labour in the factory at Paraniatia, it
was better policy to give them a chance of correct-
ing their morsls by esrly marriage, than to continue
that detention with the certainty of more deeply
depraving them in their single state.
Instances very frequently occur of the marriage
of convicts with emancipated convict women, and
with young women who are born in the culouy, to
which the latter ate as much prompted by their
early dispositions to marriage, as by the asso-
ciations into which they are led, from the admission
of the convict labourers to the houses sod tables of
the lower classes of emancipated convict settlers,
to whom they are assigned. The marriage of
the native born youths with female convicts are very
rare; a circumstance that is attributable to the
gettersl disinclination to early marriage that is ob-
servable amistigst them, and partly to the abandoned
nod dissolute habits of the female convicts, but
chiefly to a sense of pride in the native-born youths,
approaching to contempt for the vices vad depra-
vity of the convicts, even when manifested in the
persons of their own parents.
The applications of male and female convicts to
be allowed to marry are addressed to the chaplains
of the districts, who make inquiries where they
can, and sometimes make a reference to the prin-
cipal superintendent of convicts, for information of
their condition. A list of the-se applicatiotte is sub-
mitted to the Governor, with such remarks upon
the condition or circumstances of the parties apply-
ing, as may have occurred to the chaplains, orcome
to their knowledge, oil the fitat Monday of each
mouth. This regulation took place in the month
of October 1816, to remedy some inconvenience of
the former practice, that consisted only of trans-
mitting to the Governor certificates signed by
the chaplains, that the bums had been published.
It was alleged that sufficient time was trot given by
that means for inquiry into the condition of the
parties; and it was certainly desirable, that if re-
ference or appeal was made to the authority or the
discretion of the Governor, that it should be made
before, rather than after the publication of the
banns three times in the church. By the new regu-
lation, more time is required from the first pentad
of application for marriage, to the solemnization of
it than is always consistent with the views of the
parties; and where they live at a distance from the
chaplains, it may operate as a discouragement to
marriage. By the correspondence that took place
between the Governor and Mr. filaraden upon the
subject, the former was of opinion, that it was bet-
ter to loco. that risk than afraid an inducement to
hasty sod injudicious connexions, by limiting the
period of otjection to the ordinary one of three
weeks; and in this opinion I concur.
. _

As too information is transmitted in the hulk
lists of the single or sua;ried state of the convicts,
and when there are so malty motives in New South
Wales for concealing it, it is very difficult, almost
impossible, to ascertain it.
Two affecting consequences of a second marriage
contracted in New South Wales during the lite-
time of a first and absent husband, are mentioned
by Mr. Marsden in his evidence; slid lie states
such marriages to have been of frequent occur.
reuse. These consequences may be greatly ob-.
viated, by requiring the gaolers of the differtot
prisons in England to communicate the information
that they may receive respecting the single or mar-
ried condition of the convicts sent to the hulks;
and by adding these particulars, corrected by sub-
sequent inquiry there, to the communications trans-
mitted in the hulk lists. A much better chance
will then exist of obtaining a true statement, when
the advantages attending the marriage state in New
South %Vales are unknown or unperceived, then
when they form, as they certainly do in that co-
lony, a very strong temptation to imposture.
This disposition is further prompted by an idea
that was represented fo me to have prevailed amongst
the convicts, that capital conviction followed by sen-
tence of death, alltrwards commuted to trans-
portation fur lute, operated as a dissolution of the
marriage contract ; and it may therefore be an ad-
ditional reason for disappointing, by early inquity,
any undue expectutiosi to which such an idea must
give rise.
The power of aisirning female convicts from the
factory to individuals,
_ has been intrusted to the
acting magistrates at Palamatta, Mr. Marsden and
Mr. Hannibal McArthur. The conduct of these
females in service, is the subject of frequent com-
plaint to the Magistrates, and its that case they are
returned to the factory.
The connections that they form in service, and in
the families of the settler., rod either in marriage
or in their return to Parsmatta, where the off-
spring of their illicit intercourse is maintained at
the expense of the Crown, in return for their own
labour. As long as the great disproportion con•
filmes to exist between the mole and female popu-
lation in New South %Vales, the temptations to
illicit intercourse in both, and all the crimes that are
committed for the purpose of supporting it, must
be expected to prevail. Female convict servants
will continue to be seduced from the houses of their
masters, and will find asylums, in the houses of
single men, under the pretence of service ; and the
still greater evil will continue, of the seduction of
the native-born young women by the male convict.,
and their marriage with them. It is not therefore
without serious apprehension, that the most intel-
ligent persons in the colonythave contemplated any
reduction in the number of female convicts to
be transported thither in future; and have been led
to consider, that any additional facilities given by
Goternment to the return of those whose terms of
service have expired, independent of such as they
may acquire by their own good conduct in the
colony, would occasion an additional expense to

Government, and operate as an encouragement to
profitable prostitution; particular exceptions no
doubt will occur, 'oboe it may be advisable to
afford these facilities to married %omen, who have left
families in England ; but to these, even in the pr,_
sent state of the colony, there exist such ample
opportunities, by good conduct in service, of re.,l-
- the means of return, that if their absence from
their native country, and their punishment be pro.
longed, it may without iejnst•ce be attributed to
themselves. One application only fur the means of
returning was made to me by any female who bid
been a convict, and ber case was not entitled to any
consideration.

For the general prevention and pursuit of climes,
or for the control of the convicts, it did not appear
to me that the rural police, or that of the towns of
New South Wales, were as efficient and active Iva
the Colony required. The chief constables of the
districts, the exception of Mr. Francis Oakes,
whose attention lies much confined to the town of
Paramatta, were tint men of personal activity;
and the chief countable of Sydney was too much
advanced in years, and though respettable in
charactei not an Ificiently literate to python) some
of the most iiitortant duties with which he was
charged. Each of the two chief constables of
Witidtor and Par/mutts received salaries of fifty
pounds from the police fund, and fees attached to
their office. The chief constable of Sydney re-
ceived a salary of 601. The allowance of a district
constalsle in the country, consists of the assignment
to him of • government convict, who is victualled
from the King's store; the allowance of rations for
himself and his family, and two suits of slops per
annum, which have always been in arrear, or very
irregular} issued.
The allowances to the constables at Sydney has
been larger than to those in the country, or at Para-
mutts. The salaries of each of the aix district
constables at Sydney amounted to 15/. per 'onion,
and have latterly been raised to 301. They
have en allowance of a ration end a half for them-
setae'', which was further increased to • double
ration, and rations fur their families, and slops,
which, like the sane ullowance to other constables,
have beet' is wear, or irregularly supplied.

(To be continued)

THE ARMY.

One company of the 66th (Berkshire) ref:mint of fm.t
(General 0, Nicholle, Colimel) has been ordered to com-
mence its march on the 24th, from Carlisle far Sunderland,
where it will arrive on the 28th instant, in order to joie its
regiment, preparatory to the half yerily inspection.
Two stool's of the 14th (or the Oorhess of York's Own)
light dragoons (General J. W. Earl of ft idgewater, Carkinel
are ordered to touch on the 2d of October, from Birmiug.
hsm, for the put pose of joiniag the regiment, whirls is order-
ed for inspretion on tile 4th of the said mouth. The above
two stoops are directed to retina to Blimingliam or Satur-
day, the sth October.