CO885-(1-2) — Page 592

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TRANSPORTATION.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

LLC.O.

885.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

For early history of Transpor-

January 24, 1850.

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THE object of this paper is two-fold: first, to give a brief history of the principal measures adopted respecting Transportation so far as concerns the colonies, rendering the narrative gradually fuller as it approaches the present time; and secondly, to present some of the criminal statistics connected with the question-such as, the number of persons annually sentenced to transportation; the proportion of them for whom there is accom. modation in the gaols and on the public works; and the proportion removed of late years to the colo- nies, so as to afford some idea of the extent of the subject, and of the number of offenders for whom, under existing arrangements, there is no other

pro- vision than that of their removal to the colonies.

1. Colonial part of the Subject.

1. From very early times England had recourse

tation, vide the Committee's to the removal to places abroad of criminals whose Report of 1838, and a very offences were not sufficiently grave to deserve the useful Paper by Mr. Heath, as Appendix of 1837 Report.

punishment of death. The practice existed in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and was at that period censured by Lord Bacon. In 1788, not long after the discoveries of Captain Cook had laid open Botany Bay, the transportation of offenders became systematic and extensive; and at the end of fifty years, when the system came under the latest inves tigation it has undergone before a Committee of the House of Commons, an annual average of about 5000 offenders had for some years been sent to the settlements of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land.

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