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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :--
C.O-885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
|ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
Jusigllavens
91v X X Vi
CONFIDENTIAL.
MEMORANDUM ON TRANSPORTATION.
THE subject of transportation is becoming one of very serious embarrassment. The late Government prohibited the system of assign- ment for the future, and gave a pledge to New South Wales that it should no longer be dealt with as a convict colony. The same pledge was given to South Australia by an Act of Parliament. The present Government have thought it right to extend, further than had been the practice previously, the actual execution of the senterfèes of transporta- tion. The average numbers now sent to Norfolk Island and Van Die- men's Land, amount to 36-48 males, and 612 females in each year. these the numbers to Van Diemen's Land alone are 3558.
Of
MALES.
FEMALES.
TOTAL.
Norfolk Island.
From Great Britain
1842 From Ireland
Van Diemen's Land.
3,615 730
551
5,184
288
1843 From Ireland
From Great Britain
199
2,420
274
3.701
- 575
133
1844 From Ireland
From Great Britain 684
2.233
489
362❘ 128
3.896
PUBLIC
RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O.
• 885
Thus, at the same time the number of convict-receiving colonies has been reduced, the number of convicts actually transported has been greatly increased, and the system which enabled colonists to obtain labour at a cheap rate, and relieve the Government of a large expense for maintenance, has been suddenly put an end to.
Nor is this all a system was commenced by Lord John Russell in 1840, and brought into operation by detailed instructions given by the present Government in November 1842, by which it was intended to graduate the punishment of all convicts by instituting different classes, varying in the severity of their discipline and restrictions, through which all should pass within periods varying according to their original sen-
(41.)
B
2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO