.18
The great complaint at present as regards the discipline of the con- victs is the absence of efficient superintendence. In Mr. Hampton's state- ment, forwarded before his departure, he proposed the following establish- ment for a station of 300 convicts:-
1 Superintendent
1 Senior Assistant
3 Assistants
3 Overseers
19643
20000
d.
at
10
at
at each
4 0
at
6
2 6
3 Sub-Overseers or Constables, wages
not stated, but probably
total 11, or one to every twenty-seven convicts.
This number does not appear exorbitant when it is considered that in the jails of this country, where there is every convenience for carrying out a strict supervision at the least possible expenditure of labour, the pro- portion varies from 1 to 7 to 1 to 17. The proportion at present in Van Diemen's Land I believe to be 1 to 70, or thereabouts.
As the number of convicts decreases and stations are consequently discontinued, the officers employed at those stations may be appointed to others with the view of carrying out eventually the proportion to 1 to 25 or to 1 to 30, as the minimum to be allowed, looking to a proper super- vision.
As there is reason to believe that you will not find a sufficient number of properly-qualified overseers already employed, or that you could satis- factorily supply the deficiency in the colony, I am of opinion that it will be advisable to employ non-commissioned officers of the corps of Sappers and Miners and of the Royal Artillery to fill these subordinate stations. These non-commissioned officers, have been accustomed to discipline; they are men of good character as their position intimates; they are well educated; will generally be found more capable than any other procured at a like expense of superintending the work upon which the convicts will be employed; and lastly, there is a guarantee for their good behaviour in their right to a pension which may be forfeited by mis-
conduct.
persons
who could be
I have therefore to authorize you to engage the services of ten or twelve men of this description, to whom you are at liberty to promise such a scale remuneration as you may conceive to be proper.
I have not yet touched on the subject of the Female Convicts. This, however, becomes a subject of much importance when it is considered that the tendency to unnatural crime, fostered as it must be when numbers of one sex are congregated together, though checked by material obstacles, will in all probability break out when the convict is released from controul and seeks its indulgence, unless some opportunity be afforded for legitimate
sexual intercourse.
I therefore propose to move the Secretary of State for the Home Department to direct that all female convicts should be sent to Van Diemen's Land. Proper buildings must be erected there for their recep- tion, and a strict system of Separation should be adopted with them at first, as with the male convicts. But that strictness should gradually be relaxed, passing from the Separate to the Silent System, and from that to a more unrestricted intercourse. The most assiduous attention must be given to their moral and religious instruction, and also to their educa- tion in such matters as may be of use to them in an industrial point of view; so that at the end of the term of their sentences, they may be in some measure fitted to become wives and mothers of families; and every inducement should be held out to them to form legitimate connections with unmarried convicts. It will also be desirable in all cases, that the wives and families of pardoned convicts should be sent out to join them. Inducement may, I hope, be effectually held out to parishes, to pay for the passage of such persons; and assistance may, I trust, be given by th Government, by finding passages for them, charging only for their sub- sistence. The men themselves ought also to contribute to this object, and,
19
as I have already observed, may be assisted to do so by having a part of the money required advanced by the public, to be subsequently repaid by instalments from their wages.
I turn to a distinct but kindred subject, that, namely, of the proposed Colony of North Australia. That scheme was founded on two supposi- tions: the first, that the influx of convicts into Van Diemen's Land would be maintained at its recent rate; the second, that a female population might be established in North Australia, by sending thither female con- From the preceding victs, or the wives and families of pardoned convicts. statements you will gather that neither of these suppositions is any longer well founded. Her Majesty will therefore be advised to revoke the commission by which the proposed colony was established, and the plan will, for the present at least, be abandoned.
Sir,
No. 3.
I have, &c.,
(Signed)
GREY.
Earl Grey to Sir William Denison.
Downing Street, September 30, 1846. THE accompanying letter from Captain Maconochie, and the paper it incloses from the Rev. T. B. Naylor, have reached me on the eve of your departure for Van Diemen's Land. Mr. Naylor's letter depicts a state of things as existing in Norfolk Island, which, if the picture be not over- charged, would justify the most lively indignation as well as the deepest concern. I earnestly trust that under the natural excitement of feelings provoked by the contemplation of the actual condition of the society in the island, Mr. Naylor may have unconsciously viewed and described it in darker colours than the simple facts would altogether require or admit, It is impossible for me, however, to read a detail of so much guilt, wretched- ness and mismanagement-to the accuracy of which a clergyman has pledged his name and character-and at the same time to observe that this statement has all the character and appearance of truth; that it is in itself, but too probable a result of the existence of a convict estab- lishment of such a kind in such a situation-without at once coming to the conclusion, that Her Majesty's Government would not be justified in incurring even the chance of the possible prolongation of evils so fearful in their nature. I have therefore to instruct you, with the least possible delay to take measures at once to break up the establishment at Nor- folk Island, and withdraw the whole population of that settlement to Tasman's Peninsula, where you will without loss of time make the neces- sary preparations for their reception.
It is a subject on which I must necessarily devolve a large discretion and consequent responsibility on you. I do so in the full assurance that it is a discretion which will be wisely exercised, and a responsibility which will be firmly borne, in the conviction which you are so well entitled to entertain, that every reasonable allowance will be made for the diffi- culties of your position, and the most favourable_construction put on whatever may be imperfectly understood with regard to your motives and your conduct.
I have, &c.. (Signed) GREY.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference -
LLC.O..
885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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