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III. Vancouver's Island.

Vancouver's Island is free from most of the objections to the two preceding places. It is a fine island, with a fertile soil and a good climate, and might, doubtless, in time become the seat of a flourishing population. But there are warlike natives who, though they may not have been in frequent conflict with the few existing settlers, would be far more likely to be provoked into hostility by the dealings of pardoned or escaped convicts with them and their females. There is also the vicinity of American, and even of Russian Settlements which might tend to embroil us with States now at peace with us; and further, there is the circumstance of the chance of access to California, which must not be overlooked as impairing the deterring effect of banishment to this spot. Moreover the passage round Cape Horn is one of the longest which is now made in sailing ships. It is much under-stated in the evidence before the Lords of Dr. Rae, who mentioned that he was not familiar with the subject. It cannot be reckoned at less than from four to five months, and this of course would affect the transport both of men and stores. No accurate estimate can be obtained, but it is computed by those of most experience in such matters that the price of passage for emigrants would range from 201. to 257., and the conveyance of convicts, for whom a prison on board must be built, and, under due superin- tendence, could not cost less than an additional 21. or 31. The great distance would also diminish the means of efficient control from home. Looking to all these circumstances. but more especially to the possible influence on our relations with foreign Powers, and to the accessibility of California, Vancouver's Island will probably not be thonght a desirable place for the reception of convicts.

IV. Gulf of Carpentaria.

When Captain Stokes, who has probably seen more than any other person now in England of the coasts of the unexplored parts of Australia, was examined before the Committee of the House of Lords, he gave his opinion in favour of the Albert River, at the head of the Gulf of Carpentaria, as the most eligible portion of unoccupied territory for a convict settlement. He described the climate as, although hot, less oppressive than in other parts of that coast within the tropic, and he spoke of the country as promising. The Victoria River, he thought, would be too hot.

Now it is to be observed, in the first place, that the Albert River is much nearer in a direct line to the gold fields of New South Wales than Western Australia is to the gold fields of Victoria. But, in the next place, it is also much nearer, practically, for a man in the condition of a convict. To a free person, a distant place in a new country is more easily reached by sea than by land, but exactly the reverse is the case for a runaway, or even a man who has motives to conceal his true description. He cannot embark in a ship, nor land from her, without being liable to observation and question. A thinly peopled country with one sheep-station after another at moderate distances apart, is exactly the most convenient for a traveller who wishes to make a secret journey. The flock-owners of Moreton Bay have already spread to within 600 miles of the mouth of the Albert River and with the marvellous rapidity of their progress, they may be expected within a few years to reach the river itself if the country continue good.

This introduces the next consideration, the feelings of the colonists of Eastern Australia. They would infallibly look with more jealousy on any new convict settlement than on the extension of the one already existing, and tacitly acquiesced in, upon the Western Coast of Australia. This they would probably do, at a events, merely because it was new'; but the foregoing remarks shew that the would have real ground to consider themselves more affected by the

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And as to this chance of escape to the gold fields, it is material not to overlook the necessity of endeavouring to make the place of exile deterring, or, at all events, of not making it actually very attractive. Otherwise, in the passionate desire which prevails in England to be quit of old offentlers, we may only raise a more plentiful crop of new offenders, and our last condition will be worse than our first.

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But the most conclusive objection to the Gulf of Carpentaria remains to be told. Lieutenant Chimmo, who commanded Her Majesty's ship "Torch" in a recent visit to the spot, in order to meet an overland exploring expedition, has just returned, and gives a deplorable account of the country. It may have seemed tolerable to Captain Stokes on a passing visit; but the evidence furnished by the observations of the officers of the "Torch"

The most which a previous observer could do was to hope that the country appears conclusive. would not be liable to certain evils; but as soon as a later observer has actually experienced those evils, the question is settled.

Appended to this paper are extracts of an account published by one of the officers of the "Torch." Lieutenant Chinno has seen them, and confirmed their accuracy. Both the Albert river and the Victoria river, it will be seen, have been found equally burning in climate, and equally destitute of every requisite for a successful Settlement.

Cape York is a place which has often been thought of for occupation. It might be a good spot for a post to succour shipwrecked mariners, and afford assistance to passing vessels; for wrecks are frequent, and all the trade from Sydney through Torres Straits has to go close to the Cape. But the country is far too contracted for an extensive Settlement; it is surrounded by fierce and treacherous natives, with whom the convicts would probably create bloody contests; and the very circumstance which makes it eligible as a site for those who would befriend distressed mariners and ships, makes it the less desirable location for men of desperate character, or detained against their will. It is also close to the Equator, and, of course, hot in proportion.

For these reasons, after the recent intelligence, it may, perhaps, be assumed that the scheme of a Settlement on the North Coast of Australia will not be persevered in.

V-Western Australia.

But then comes the question, what aid Western Australia can afford to the solution of the difficulty. For six years the inhabitants have steadily adhered to the wish to receive the convicts of Great Britain. The climate is temperate; the roads and landing-places are made; a spacious and excellent prison has just been built; the anchorage has been improved, and is well known to seamen, and provided with buoys and a light-house. None of the first difficulties of a Settle- ment are to be encountered, and none of the risks of a new experiment in an untried country. It seems to have been tacitly taken for granted that the territory is unequal to afford subsistence or employment to any considerable number of convicts. This is certainly not the opinion of any one of the officers examined by the House of Lords, nor of any of the numerous and experienced settlers who have communicated on the subject with the Colonial Office. The late Governor (Captain Fitzgerald), the Comptroller of Convicts (Captain Henderson, of the Royal Engineers-a most competent judge), Mr. Yule, a settler and magistrate, and some other witnesses from Western Australia, were examined, and all agreed in opinion that the Colony could well receive at least from 800 to 1,000 convicts annually. This is on the supposition of looking to an absorption of labour by private employment. But when new convict settle- ments have been contemplated in all parts of the globe, it must be presumed that Great Britain is prepared to go further than the mere transport, and to make some effort for establishing the convicts, even though they cannot all get into private service. Now a deputation of Western Australians called at the the Colonial Office this very week, and expressed their anxiety that the resources of their Colony should not be overlooked or underrated. They pointed to the district on the Hutt river, communicating with Champion Bay, as containing excellent country and abounding in minerals. Both lead and copper are worked there, and only want capital and labour for a far greater development. They adverted to the vast quantities of hard timber, valuable for ship-building, which only require labour to open an access to the sea-coast; and they designated many parts of the country as fitted to be fine corn-growing tracts, including one such district only very recently found on the River Blackwood to the south- ward.

The number of convicts hitherto has not been large, and those on the hands

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