CO885(1-2) — Page 532

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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-

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2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO