CO885(1-2) — Page 540

THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

My Lord,

No. 1.

Sir William Denison to Earl Grey.

Colonial Office, September 12, 1846. I HAVE read over with attention the various despatches and other papers which contain information upon points connected with the admi- nistration of the Government of Van Diemen's Land, and I beg to submit to your Lordship, the following remarks upon those points which appear to me of the greatest importance, and upon which it would be desirable that I should receive definite instructions previous to my departure.

I submit these remarks with great diffidence, as I am aware that the amount of information to be procured by a mere cursory inspection of written documents, however voluminous and detached they may be, can hardly justify me in forming an opinion at variance with that of others who have studied the subjects in question for a greater length of time, and with more attention than it has been in my power to bestow, or who have been cognizant of their practical working in the colony itself.

I propose to consider the question of the Convict System first, not only as it has a more direct effect upon the prosperity of the colony than any of the other subjects mentioned, but also as being to a greater or less extent connected with many of them. And in order to make my remarks more clear, I shall give a brief abstract of the system at present in operation, and of the consequences which have resulted from it, as far as I can trace them in the reports of the Comptroller, the despatches of the Governor, and the letters from persons qualified to give evidence as to facts, for from facts alone will it be fair to draw a conclusion, either in favour of, or adverse to, the system.

1st. Convict System.

The system of convict discipline as detailed in Lord Stanley's des- patches may be said to consist ol,—

1. A period of constraint and compulsory labour, varying in duration according to the length of sentence, but defined and certain.

2. A period during which the convict is subject to less restraint, is allowed to hire himself out to any person who is willing to employ him; but is still subject to control and liable on any serious offence, to have this indulgence withdrawn; the length of time passed in this stage will depend upon the behaviour of the convict; if this be exemplary, he will be recommended for the next stage.

B

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O.885

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

2PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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