6
satisfactory settlement of which will be, of course, essential. My intention now is only to suggest the outlines of a change by which, without serious expense-with improved treatment of persons under punishment—and with great amendment of the sentences awarded by our existing criminal laws-the most serious of the difficulties in which this inter- esting and important subject is now involved, may
be greatly mitigated, if not entirely removed.
JOHN S. PAKINGTON.
7
TABLE NO. 1.
Number of persons in the United Kingdom sentenced to transportation (includ- ing commuted sentences) in the five years from 1847 to 1851.
Scotland.
Above
10 years
Ireland.
Above
10 years
United Kingdom.
Above 10 years
Colonial Office,
October 19, 1852.
>
England.
Year.
Abova
10 years
10 years. and under.
10 years. and under. 10 years. and under. 10 years. and under.
1847
342 2,502
32
425
175 2,033
549 4,960
1848
426 2,870
17
333
178 2,551
621 5,754
1849
385 2,506
40
334
116 2,957
541
5,797
1850
432 2,179
54
544
94 1,764
580
4,487
1851
433 2,423
50
452
Total 5 years
Average
403
..
2,018 12,480
2,496
193 2,088
38
(4 years) (4 years) (4 years) (4 years) 563 9,305 2,291 20,998
417
140 2,326
573 5,249
The Returns for Ireland, 1851, have not yet been printed. They are furnished by the Irish Government.
Table No. 2.
Return of the number of Convicts transported in the five years from 1847 to
1851.
TO AUSTRALIA.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O.
Reference -
885
2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
From Great Britain.
From Ireland,
Total United Kingdom.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
Male.
Female.
1847
637
334
Nil.
Nil.
837
334
1848
1,103
400
600
271
1,703
761
1849
943
377
642
606
1,585
983
1850
2,105
360
573
200
2,680
560
1851
1,568
432
310
432
1,878
864
Total 5 years ..
6,556
1,993
2,127
1,509
8,683
3,502
Average
1,311
399
425
302
1,737
700
D
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
8
By the foregoing tables it appears that the average number of convicts sentenced per annum to ten years or less has been, in round numbers, 2,900 in Great Britain, and 2,300 in Ireland. But a large proportion of these has always hitherto been detained in the United Kingdom undergoing portions of their punishment. The average number actually trans- ported for the last five years to Australia has been only 1800 from Great Britain, and 700 from Ireland.
Other deductions for invalids, &c. must be made, and on the whole it may be assumed that the entire number to be provided for would not exceed 2,500 in Great Britain, and 1800 in Ireland.
Colonel Jebb estimates that the average detention in prison of persons sentenced to various periods up to ten years, would be four years. At this rate the following table will exhibit the total accommodation required, and the existing means of supplying it:
Great Britain,
Accommodation required Existing accommodation, males
10,000
8,000
11
females
300
11
Gibraltar (annual vacancies)
200
8,400
1,500
Colonel Jebb estimates that prison room could be provided at a cost of not more than 401. per head. Even, therefore, if in order to make ample allow- ance for error in the foregoing statement, the esti- mate be taken for 2000 additional persons, the cost would be 80,000l. On the other hand, there would be a diminution of at least 1500 in the number of persons transported from Great Britain, and as these cost not less than 241, per head for convey- ance, there would be a saving of 36,000l. per
annum.
For Ireland it is impossible to supply an equally clear estimate. The accommodation there has for several years fallen far short of the demand, and the prisoners are probably much overcrowded. But it will be seen from the foregoing statement, that only an average of about 700 persons have been transported from that kingdom, and a part of these
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