The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-08 00:00:00

TRANSPORTATION AND DISCIPLINE OF
CONVICTS.

Viscount MAHON, in rising to call the attention of
the House to the instructions issued in the years 1846,
1147, and 1848, with respect to the transportation and
discipline of convicts, asked for the indulgence
of the House while he dealt with a matter which
necessarily involved a--considerable amount of detail.
He would deal with it as lightly as the magnitude of the
subject would allow; and indeed, I's om the papers which
had been laid on the table of the House, the question
between him and the Gentlemen opposite was very
much narrowed. The Noble Earl the Secretary for
the Colonies had again and again declared that he
ought to provide for our convicts by the use of hulks
e. by the construction of penetentiaries at home. Ile
certainly could not consider it a matter of blame against
the Noble Earl, to assert that he had, in dealing with a
most intricate and difficult subject, been led greatly
to modify his views. But what he complained of
was this—that Earl Grey had cast aside some
valuable recommendations of his predecessors, and had
issued instructions which seemed to be liable to the im-
putation that they had been decided upon with impru-
dence and precipitation. In the statement which he
should make he would show that Earl Grey had since
his accession to office changed his views on
this subject no less than five times.—(Loud
laughter.) But be would at onoe proceed to
what was of much greater importance, namely, to some
practical recommendations and suggestions as to wba,t
should be done for the future, and should endeavour to
elicit from her Majesty's Government some express
declarations of what their intentions really were as to
the system to be hereafter pursued. The main question
was, whether after the first time acriminal had been pun-
ished he was to return to the scene of his former haunts.
If they looked at the difficulties with which this ques •
tion was beset, they should finis, he thought, that they
proceeded in some measure from two orders issued by
the Noble Lord now the Prime Minister, but
at the time in question Secretary of State for the
of Colonial Department. He issued two orders for the
abolition of the assignment st stem in Australian Co-
lonies, and for the immediate abolition of transportation
so far as New South Wales was concerned. These
orders took effect in 1840, and had been attended
with ill consequences. He did not mean to impute
blame to the Noble Lord for the course he
had adopted since the Committee on transportation bad
just made its report, and the evidence, which had since
been contradicted, justified in many respects the
course he had adopted. The immediate effect of
the abolition of transportation to New South
Wales was the accumulation of convicts in the hulks
at home, from which the greatest possible evils resulted,
and of which the loudest complaints were made. Of
such a nature were these complaints, that be felt
it his duty in 1841 to bring the subject before
the House. He proposed a resolution condemning
the system of crowding prisoners in the hulks.
and asking the House to express its opinion that the
number ought not to be augmented. Though that mo-
tion was opposed by the Government of the country,
yet it was affirmed by a large majority of the Mem-
bers. A few months after the Government was dis-
solved and 'a new one formed, in which Lord
Stanley was the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and
his Hun. Friend the Member for Ripon (Sir J. Graham),
Secretary of State for the Home Department. In the
ensuing year, 1842, he asked the Hon. Gentleman how
far he would consent to be bound by the resolution
of the House in 1841. Wa bad, of course, but two
course to pursue, either to act in conformity with it,
or in opposition to it and he replied that he con-
curred in what the House had affirmed, and that
he should be prepared to abide by it. Under
their adminitration the number of convicts in the
hulks were not augmented ; consequently the
role of' the House was observed. But an expected evil
was the result—the number of convicts in Van Die-
men's Land was increased. As many as from 4,000 to
5,000 were divided between New South Wales
and Van Diemen's Land every year. By the
order of the Noble Lord (Lord John Russell)
the entire number were confined to Van Diemen's Land
alone. When the entire system was arranged, it was
right that it should be well understood whether the
blame attached to the Government at home or to the per-
sons employed to superintend its carrying out in the
Colonies, Major Childs was appointed Governor of
Norfolk Island by Lord Stanley, who, from the
character that that officer enjoyed, was doubt-
less justified in his selection. Notwithstanding
the period and purpose of his appointment, the
result had been most unfortunate. There could not be
a stronger case made against any governor that that
against Major Childs. When there was an outbreak, at-
tended with loss of life in the island, Mr. Stewart
was sent to inquire into the cause. We find 60 or 80 con-
victs sleeping in dormitories, where they were confined 16
hours out of the 24, in order that the officials might have
their earnings to themselves. Subsequently there
was another mission by Mr. Hampton, who reported
that no proper management was observed; that the pri-
soners were allowed to take their food; and
that the more timid did not get any,
unless they obtained the favour of the other
and more powerful prisoners. Then with respect to
Van Diemen's Land. He did not wish to speak
harshly of any one—far less of any one deceased—
yet the House was perfectly aware that most pain-
ful discussions had taken place in that House
with respect to his 'policy. Those who had read
the recent dispatches of Governor Dennison must have
been struck by his ability and aptitude fur business, and
the great contrast they presented to those of his imme-
diate predecessors; yet better things might have been ex-
pected from him, looking at the experience he had had
But besiies any fault in the administration the system
itself he thought it would appear was fraught with the
most serious objection, for by the rule laid down by the
present Prime Minister all the convicts now went to
New South Wales or to Norfolk Island. Now this
stream of convicts which was divided between the
two colonies, between New South Wales and Van
Diemens Land, would do no more, as it were, than cul-
tivate the soil, would, when confined to one colony,
prove a pestilence to it. Under these circumstances