North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1839-12-18

- iiac WOsl C&gctA4 WEtCh sci over tAc prs
noets, but Gse severity II discipline las
t'ecu 50 great, that they have frequently
used de m0si desperate means 10 escapr.
! be nambrr % caueicis al the Brfmudss
IS 10 he Increased o. COO, sud The number
- prisoners Ia the pengcnuafg u 10 he 10
creased hy $50 Norfolk Island, however,
has been Gxcd upon as iic destination OF
prisoners ul the most culrshle character,
4 Whcfe, under careful suVcFlnieudruce and
-. discipline, their eglife SEPARATION from eni-
gfants wd he secured. Norio.k island
which, we bPlieve, IS NOT more than mllts
I 10 circumference, stands a Thousand miles
( from sli other land, and is only appfoach-
able at one point, and this often with dlili~
Guilty, 40 that ali chance oi escape is PIE
( vented. Heretofore, the most desperate
lie hafEcle only were sent lhi,hef from SyG
nry after repeated convictions, all women
I were excluded from the Island, and such
was The horrible state TO which the prison
cfs were reduced, that instances have oc-
ca I'd Of their having actually committed
( murders f9f the sake 81 being SEM downio
( Sydney 10 terminate lhrit su.icriBgs aud
lives. Here la-pe prison is to he, or hay
/ been erected for the reception OF the new
corners, and extra soldiers have been their
IofdcWdto the spot 10 secure due control.
txcd imprisonment is TO be allotted TO
each convict on his arrival, 10 be modeTa-
ted according 10 good behavior. No per-
son il ~ tie detained in The Island longer
than fifteen years, period at the termina
ton of which, alter such long exercise and
hard fare, reformation may be expected
4 superintendent as severe, add at The
same time as just as possible neither too in
dnlgcnt nor too harsh, is IT, be appointed.
I rom this il will be seen that those crimi-
nails who calculate upon the liberty and The
indulgence heretofore enjoyed by the as
sig ned convicts in New South Wars, will
be preynusly disappointed aud that i. |
their lives be spared, it viii be only TO in
eur succession oil dreadful privatons aud |
inceSsant abour. Some few conyicls may
still be seut to New South Waes, but only |
those persons the nature of whose offences |
may deserve a nIerciul consideration, and |
even these will be coniined TO the constraiut |
Of strict surveillance while engaged on
public works for the benefit Of the colony. |
The certainty of actual punishment thus
secured will, we have no doubt, have
beneficial effect on tie habitual criminals Of
this country aud when they find they can
not by any subieriuge escape these evils,
they aiil in all probability discover the val,
ue Of The old adage, honesty is the best
policy The Cnieut treatment OF many OF
the cnuvicts heretofore sent To Van Die
meas Land ard New South Wales has OPP
Grated rather as premium upon bad con
Duct, than as an ehcctual discouragement
II offenders. The colonis.s complain much
Of the injuries which they will sustain hv
being deprived Of convict labour heretofore
so easily obtained, but every pains is now
taken by the encouragement ol emigration
gradually to Substitute the honest and in
dustrions tor worthless, and but too FREE
qnently misohievous class. l.
The details OF the foregoing plans are
contained in letter from Mr.. Fox Maule, /
10 Sir Gerge Grey, and in another from a
Lore Normandy to Sir c. Gipps, Cover d
nor ol New South Wales and the neces- 4
saEy Instructions have been given for car =,
-yi1g them into immediate execution. >
The Superintendent OF Norfolk Island b
5 10 receive a salary OF $500 a year, with $
! suitable residence. The selection of this v
1thcer IS 10 The first instance left TO Sir G. a
ipps, subject to the appreciation of the >
Government at bOUF. 1tTSNnS convicted
n New South Wales are to be sent to dis
ant parts Of the colony. or to be employed
N the roads, Norfolk Island being appro-
,riated solely TO convicts from the United
Kingdom and II would seem that it is an
icipaied the expense of this new establish a
Deht is expected TO be borne by the profit a
bic application Of the labours of the con- a
'lcts themselves, which are to be incessant, =.
with the exception Of the usual Sabbath !,
Indulgence. The probable number of con, 81
lets TO he transported this year will be c.
bout 1000. The system OF punishment II
nd instruction on board the Huks is 10 be u
ard new prison, with a sepa- !,
ate system. IS TO be erected for 500 prison. W
rs. Wrong doers' are now duly fore II
warned Of the consequences which vii! at W
end the commission Of crime, and All we e.
an sayis, lea them look TO it.'-TBelPs II
lie in London.
RieHr.-A Miss Bachelor, Of Salem =
Mass, recently recovered 81 800 in an ac-