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possibility that the Commissioners' emigration may before long be very much reduced, if not altogether stopped, from want of funds, the Commissioners would feel great reluctance in admitting into their ships, emigrants over whose selection they had no control, and who, not being indebted for the passage to them, would be less inclined to yield a cheerful obedience to their regulations. Considering how many are the risks by which the emigration of single women is now sur- rounded, as the Association will perceive from what has been before said, the Commissioners would not feel justified towards the colonies in introducing a new Whatever assistance the practice which might possibly add to those risks. Commissioners can give, short of this, will be cheerfully given.
Assuming then, that the emigrants are to be sent out by the Association the Commissioners would offer, as the result of their experience, the following sug- gestions for consideration :—
I. It would be very desirable, if possible, that the proposed emigrants should be assembled for some short period, before their final acceptance, in a depôt. under the control of the Association. in order that facilities may be obtained for watching their conduct and characters, and that such as have no knowledge of domestic duties, might obtain some general instruction in them.
II. Whether sent out in large or small numbers, the unmarried females should on no account be sent out without some respectable married couples in the same ship. The restraint of the presence of married people of their own class is more effective than any other on the female emigrants, and a small body of respectable male emigrants forms a valuable check to disorder on the part of the crew.
III. Matrous, being widows or unmarried women of a certain age, should be appointed to maintain discipline, and should be berthed in the same compart- ment with the single women.
IV. Great care is required in the selection of the surgeon, and this will be one of the principal difficulties which the Association will have to encounter. In the Commissioners' ships the cnforcement of discipline is committed to the sur- geon; and the instructions issued to him by the Commissioners, together with the Order in Council on this subject, are annexed. If, however, the Association should be able to obtain the services of a clergyman as religious instructor of the emigrants, the supreme authority over the emigrants might probably, under the peculiar circumstances of the case, be most safely confided to him. Such an arrangement would naturally require that the emigrants should be sent out in a considerable body, to save expense; but the additional protection would be well worth this inconvenience. It cannot escape notice that decision and firm- ness would be quite as indispensable for the performance of this duty, as kindness and propriety of demeanour.
In regard to the fittings of the ships and the providing mess utensils, &c., the Commissioners and their officers will furnish the Association with every informa- tion in their power, or, if the Association should desire it, will enable them to obtain bedding and mess utensils at the same price at which they are supplied to the Government ships. They also enclose, for the information of the Asso- ciation, copies of the Charter Parties, on which ships are taken up for the Government emigration, and of the Forms used in the selection of emigrants. Though in some respects inapplicable to the proposed emigration, these papers may possibly suggest some points for the assistance of the Association.
Fifth. The last matter to be considered is the arrangement for the protection of the emigrants on their arrival in the Colony. The existing arrangements at Sydney and Port Phillip for single females sent out by the Commissioners, which, no doubt, would be extended to emigrants sent out by the Association, should their selection prove satisfactory, are thus described in Mr. Merewether's Report for the year 1848:---
"At Sydney the guardianship of the orphans, and the duty of placing them in service, is "confided to a Committee, composed of the undermentioned gentlemen :--
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George Allen, Esq. [and 11 others.]
"To residents in the United Kingdom and others personally unacquainted with them, it will be evident from the offices filled by the lay members of this Committee, that they must possess large experience respecting the characters of employers in the colony, and that they "can, therefore, materially aid the efforts of the clerical members to secure for the orphans belonging to their respective churches, situations in which their moral and religious welfare will be duly regarded.
The building known as Hyde Park Barracks, having survived the system of supplying this colony with labour, to which it so long ministered, has been appropriated as the place in which
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the orphan immigrants will be lodged until provided with places. Situated at the corner of Hyde Park, in an open place, which, though in immediate proximity to the business thorough- "fares of Sydney, is not one itself; with the Government domain behind it stretching to the "waters of the harbour, and an uninterrupted view to the heads of Port Jackson, surrounded by a spacious yard enclosed by high walls, and close to the principal Church of England and Roman "Catholic churches, and to the residences of the clergymen who officiate there, this building appears to possess every advantage which could be desired with reference to the health, the seclusion, and the moral and religious instrnction of the inmates, and the convenience of the persons coming to hire them. It consists of three stories, divided into large airy wards, and "affords convenient accommodation for about 300 persons. The females are under the imme- "diate superintendence of an experienced resident matron, who was appointed by the Colonial "Land and Emigration Commissioners to the charge of the children who arrived last year in "the Sir Edward Parry,' and whose efficiency in that situation caused her appointment to the "office which she now fills.
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**At Melbourne, in the district of Port Phillip, a building has been erected for the orphans' reception, and a similar committee to that formed at Sydney, has been appointed there, consisting of the undermentioned members:—
The Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Melbourne [and 11 others.]
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"All applications for servants must be made to the Surgeon-Superintendent on board, and the immigrants will be cautioned against hiring themselves to any person without his sanction, and without a formal agreement, to be signed by the two contracting parties, and witnessed by an officer of the Immigration Department, who will attend on board of the ship for the purpose. Before sanctioning any engagement, the Surgeon-Superintendent will be required to satisfy himself of the respectability of the hiring party, either by reference to the officer of the Immi **gration Department, who will be in attendance, or by such other means of enquiry as may be available. This rule will be observed in every instance, but it will be acted upon with especial strictness in the case of the unmarried females; and these latter will be recommended not to
· accept situations in inns, or other houses of public entertainment, as it is considered that such places are better suited to servants who have been for some time in the colony, than to immi. grant girls on their arrival. "No stranger will be allowed to visit the "tween-decks of the vessel, unless accompanied by **the Surgeon-Superintendent. Any person infringing this rule will be ordered to quit the ship
forthwith."
In South Australia a portion of a building has been set apart for the female orphans, and a Committee has been also appointed similar to those formed at Sydney and Port Phillip. A Committee of ladies was also formed with the same object, but it is believed that this Committee has been dissolved.
In Western Australia and Van Diemen's Land no arrangements at present exist, but the local authorities would, no doubt, make such arrangements, should the Association undertake to send any of their emigrants to those colonies. To New Zealand the emigration is entirely under the management of the New Zealand Company, and the Commissioners have no means of knowing what arrangements might be possible for any female emigrants sent there.
Colonial Land a, d Emigration Office,
January, 1850.
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference —
C.O.885
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
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