North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1839-12-11
PENAL COLONIES or GREAT
BRITAIN.

lfusH hsE MnHs VITO hni4s government h|t-
usiioa at SYdney, and dated "a Februsry
last. contains sntne Interesting information
respecting the present treatment, &c, Of
male and female conylcis ~ that colony -
." We have Ho~ bern three months 10
New saslh Wales, and from what ! see
of lhis iowa have NO reason 10 complain.
ia this letter shail first give you des-
efiptiou Of the way ia which the consIcis
ere used, and how they live. Upon the
srfivai of a eonYici ship in this cnnniry,
the eonvieis (menl sfe brought 10 Hyde
Park barracks, and The carpenters, masons,
br,cklayrfs, &c. are se1eeted from them,
and given under the charge OF the oyeFseers
10 work al the different public buildings,
such a. the dock-yafd, military barracks,
new goals OF bridges Ia or near sydney,
and also ct The conylct buildings The la
hotrfS Gwho knew no traje) are employed
IN break stones in large yard uear The
sra-sislr, and also Ia repair roads but those
who shew an inclination 10 learn a trade are
allowed "a do So for instance. the noted
Sullivan, who robbed the London Custom
house. has learnt the business oi a mason,
and - nog very good hand. The works
are now divided into two branches-mllla-
nv and convict. Mr.. A---and | have
the charge OF the whole OF the convict
buildings in the colony, and Mr.. Brown
aad Mr. Recs those OF the military. We
have under US several free and prisoner
oyerseefs. After the mechanics have been
elk months in the colony, they receive
command, II they deserve il, g Tor lndul-
gcace.u This indulgence is tea, sugar, and
tobacco. Laborers get nothing ofthe kind
IA. tba,n. h,st nj n HI
ent road parties, or assigned out after the
six months. The food OF the convic,s is
very bad. They get only two meals a
day. They are called up every morning
al Jour o'clock, and breakfast at five
Their breakios, consists Of only boiled
maize (msize is Indian wheat and as this
is boiled only in water il is horrid food, but
very wholesome. Very few like il, and
although only about half pint 10 allowed
10 each man there is always great deal
left. The convicts leave the barrackssat
quarter 10 six for their respective places Of
work under the supeIintendence OF the over
seer, and at IL O'Clock they get their dim
ncr, Each man is allowed one pound Of
meat per dsy (belore cooked, and when
they have go. il dressed it amounts 10 lit
lie more than half lha, weight, deducting
bones. They also get one pound Of coarse
bread and little salt. This, | assure you,
il all these poor wretches get, and they
have 10 work hard. Up 40 this time they
have had hammocks 10 sleep on but now
have orders 10 fix wood beds, like guard
beds for them. They only get one blank
et. no other bedcIoihes. Their dress is
coarse wooIIen, specked or white can
vass JACKIE, and canvass trousers, checked
shirisand woollen cap; upon all OF which is
branded, in large letters the building to
which they belong.
They are well looked after and severely
punished when they do wrong. For insult
ing me, or refusing TO obey the orders
give my overseers, or refusing TO work,
man would get 80 ashes, and, II an old
offender, 10 monlhsfn irons. assure you
this ia quite necessary, FOR II they were not
severely punished we could DO nothing
with them. After a man gets recommend
ed by Us he soon gets assigned 7; that is, If
person holding land apply for man, he
10 allowed TO GO, and then The master takes
the whole charge Of him. lmen have the
luck 10 get assigned to good masters, they
mostly do well but the assigned convicts
dread 10 return 10 Hyde Park, to the stock
AIDES under government, and they put up
with a great deal before they viii return.
Besides, they have in view what ~ termed
ticket OF leave. A convict, II he be trans
ported for seven years, If he behave well,
and does not get punished for years, is
SLOWED ticket of freedom TO work in any
district he applies for ; but he is not allow
ed 10 leave the district, or keep public
house. He may 60 INTO any tfade if he
likes, but must come TO muster every three
months, or when called on by the magis-
trales. Prisoners for life have TO serve
eight years TO get the ticket Of leave J;
those for IL years have to serve six. Ma
ny OF the merchants, shipowners & trades
men Of Sydney are only ticket-oi-leave
men and there are also in every public
Office, clerks who were transported, but
who got places by good behaviour. ii is
very bad to see how the convicts 60 on.
generally speaking, although severely pun
ished when they act wrong, and encoura-
ged when they behave well. Very few
deserve any favor. They rob each other,
and were il not for the dread they have OF a
iogging many would do worse than they do.
I was never an advocate for the lash
until came here; and here would avoid