^4 Voyage of the Novara. 



not willingly exchange his sojourn at home for one in even 

 the insalubrious islands of the Indian Ocean, if the prospect 

 were held out to him after a series of years of steady labour 

 and honest activity, that he might make his new-found activity 

 available to secure his liberty. What may be made, however, 

 of a valueless wilderness by means of compulsory labour, we 

 have at this day an example of in the case of the first penal 

 colony of New South Wales. Even the objectionable manner 

 in which the system was administered during more than fifty 

 years in Australia and Van Diemen's land could not entirely 

 destroy its beneficial effects upon the criminal, or blind an 

 unprejudiced observer to the advantages and general utility 

 of transportation as a means of punishment. 



In 1787 the eastern coast of Australia, chiefly in conse- 

 quence of the too glowing accounts of the suitability of the 

 harbours, and the fertility of the soil of Botany Bay, was 

 selected by the British Government as the site of a penal 

 colony, and on the 26th January, 1788, the first batch of con- 

 victs was landed there. These consisted of 600 males and 250 

 women, and were accompanied by an escort of 200 men. 

 Forty of the latter were married men, who were accompanied 

 by their wives and children. The whole expedition was 

 under the command of Captain Phillip, the first Governor of 

 the new settlement.* 



- * The colony of New South Wales consisted at that period of the entire land com- 

 prised between Cape York in 11° 37' S. to South Cape, 43° 30' S., and as far as 135* 

 E. in the interior to the westward, including all islands adjoining, comprised within 

 those degrees of latitude. 



