The Sun.
London, England, 1853-04-29 00:00:00

TICKETS OF LEAVE TO CONVICTS.

Earl GREY rose, according to notice, to put a ques-
tion to the noble lord at the head of the Government,
relative to the granting of tickets of leave to convicts
at Portland, Dartmoor, Gibraltar and Bermuda, who
under the regulations in force when they were sent to
those establishments might expect to get to the colonies
with tickets of leave, and also how many convicts are
still detained in those establishments who under these
regulations would be already entitled to be removed with
tickets of leave. He said their lordships would remem-
ber that in this it became necessary to make some con-
siderable alterations with regard to the system of trans-
portation, and a committee of their lordships was ap-
pointed, which collected some very valuable evidence on
the subject, and in consequence of the report of that
committee the scheme originally determined on at the
end of 1846 was to a slight degree modified, and since
that time had continued in force. The principle of that
scheme was that offenders were subject to punishment
in this country, first by separate confinement, then by
imprisonment in public works, and ultimately they were
removed to a penal colony. That system had worked
very successfully, and had had the best effect in securing
the reformation of the convicts. , About two or three
months ago, however, it was announced in that and the
other house of parliament that the removal of convicts
with tickets of leave to Van Diemen's Land was to cease
altogether, that not another ship was to be sent there,
and that, even with regard to Western Australia, only a
small number was to be sent. Now, there were in the
establishments a considerable number of convicts' to
whom had been held out the promise that by good con-
duct they might entitle themselves to be removed with
tickets of leave to the colonies ; and he therefore wished
to ask the question of which he had given notice. He
would only add that the keystone of all improvements of
late years adopted in the treatment of convicts had been
keeping faith rigidly with them, holding out no induce-
ment of indulgence in consequence of good conduct
which had not been strictly fulfilled.
The Earl of ABERDEEN said no one knew better
than the noble earl the great difficulty of dealing with
such a question as this. The question was, how far it
was practicable to comply with the expectations which
had been held out to these persons. He entirely agreed
with the noble earl that it was necessary to preserve
good faith with all those who had reason to expect indul-
gence in consequence of good conduct, but to send them
to the colonies was impossible, and therefore it was not
possible to comply literally w ith the terms held out.
Still good faith might substantially be preserved towards
them by a diminution of the duration of punishment
under certain regulations. Although this might not be
as welcome to the convicts as sending them to the colo-
nies, yet under the circumstances it appeared to be all
that was practicAble. This system of the diminution of
the duration of punishments was under the consickra-
tion of his noble friend the Secretary of State for the
Home Department, and he hoped would speedily be
adopted. He was not about to give an opinion with
regard to the principle of adherence to the punishment
of transportation. That subject required full considera-
tion, and also the means they should possess of carrying
it out. In answer to the noble earl as to the number,
he might say that the number of persons to whom ho
had referred as entitled to tickets of leave amounted to
1,052. Those persons undoubtedly would not be sent to
the colonies, but they would receive such an equivalent
in the way of diminution of punishment as should be
thought equitable and just. The noble lord had not
referred to the system which might be pursued hereafter
with regard to the treatment of those persons, and
therefore he did not feel called upon to go further into
the subject, but he thought that a discussion in which
the subject might be fully inquired into and thoroughly
examined would be essentially useful.
Earl GREY—Do I understand the arrangement is to
discharge in this country the convicts now in these
establishments who, under 'the existing rules, would
have been sent abroad ?

The Earl of ABERDEEN--Conditionally, with cer-
tain gradations. It is a subject, as I have already
informed the noble earl, now under the consideration of
my noble friend the Home Secretary.
After some further discussion the subject dropped, and
their lordships adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(YESTERDAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at a few minutes to four
o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The Oldham Corporation and Oldham Gas and Water.
works Bill was read a third time and passed.

PETITIONS.
Sir J. MTAGGART presented a petition from Wil-
ton, against the opening of the Crystal Palace on ;Sun-
days.
Colonel HARCOURT presented a petition from the
Isle of Wight, against the increase of the cost of licences
for selling tea.
Mr. M'CANN presented a petition from a place in
Ireland, against the extension of the income tax to that
country.
Mr. MOODY presented a petition from medical men
at Crawherne, praying for a distinction between per-
manent and uncertain incomes in levying the income

tax.
Mr. T. PARKER presented a petition from Lanca-
shire, against any increase in the cost of licences for
selling tea.
Mr. MACAULAY presented a petition from the
provost and town council of Edinburgh in favour of the
financial scheme of the Government.
Sir R. H. INGLIS presented a petition from the So-
ciety for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts
against the renewal of transpOrtation to Van Diemen's
Land.
Sir F. BARING presented petitions from Portsmouth
against the propositions of the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer with regard to licences for the sale of tea and to-
bacco.
Mr. EWA RT presented similar petitions from Dum-
fries.
Sir J. TROLLOPE presented a petition from Boston
against the extension of the income tax to incomes of
1001. a-year.
Mr. COWAN presented two petitions from Edinburgh
against the amalgamation of the English and Scotch
Gazettes.
Mr. CROWDER presented a petition from Bristol in
favour of legalising marriage with a deceased wife's

sister.
Mr. PIGOTT presented a petition from Reading,
against all grants of public money for Roman Catholic
institutions, and praying that the Ecclesiastical Titles
Act may be enforced, and that the law for the suppres-
sion of the Jesuits, and all other orders bound by illegal
oaths, may be rendered effectual.
Sir E. B. LYTTON presented a petition from Hert-
fordshire against the opening of the Crystal Palace on
Sundays.

INDIAN TERRITORIES.
On the motion of Sir Cais. WOOD, it was ordered
that the evidence taken before the Committee on Indian
Territories should be printed from time to time as the
committee should think fit.
COUNTY OF DUBLIN ELECTION.
The SPEAKER said he had received an intimation
that it was not intended by the parties to proceed with
the petition against the return for the county of Dublin.
'
COUNTY OF LONDONDERRY ELECTION.
The SPEAKER also stated that he had receive
roceed
d a
letter, intimating that it was not intended to p
with the petition against the return for the county of
Londonderry.
CLONMEL ELECTION.
On the motion of Sir J. TROLLOPE, it was ordered
that the Clonmel Election Committee be discharged.
MAYO ELECTION.
On the motion of an Hog. MEMBER, it was ordered
that the evidence taken before the Mayo election com-
mittee be printed.
ORDNANCE SURVEY IN SCOTLAND.
In reply to Mr. SMOLLETT,
Mr. WILSON said it was not true that the Govern.
meat had in the slightest degree departed from the order