I79I> ON BOTANY BAY. I37 



man. A poor fellow fteals a watch, or a horfe worth 

 five or ten pounds. The lofs is paltry, but mark the 

 confequences. His trial, in Scotland at lead, cofts 

 the public, between expence and perfonal trouble to 

 individuals, perhaps, four times that fum ; and then, 

 his tranfportation, the devil knows where, and the devil 

 knows why, perpetuates a burden upon his country to 

 the amount of ten tiines the lofs incurred by the rob- 

 bery and trial put together. In the modern ftate of 

 things, a criminal does not dcferve that title for break- 

 ing a Ihop, or a ftable •, but, bccaufe, if he efcapes the 

 gallows he plunders the public treafury of three, or 

 five, or fifteen hundred pounds. Tranfportation to 

 Noith America was, in comparifon, but a ride before 

 breakfall. Nev/ South Wales is at the diftance of 

 fix or eight thoufand leagues, if we include the 

 wimlings and turnings necelTary on the pallage. In 

 the former country, the price of a felon, when landed, 

 was fufficient to pay tlie expence of his voij^age. But 

 in the latter, a convift, the moment we fet htm on fliore, 

 is enrolled with many other right honourable gentlemen 

 in the refpeftable and ufeful band of nationul penjtotters. 

 There is not an old vfonian in the three kingdoms 

 who could not have fuggefted a better plan. A bride, 

 well in each counfiy, on the plaa of the Pampticc7i *, 

 and under z few obvious regulations, would effeilually 

 difpofe of convicls ; and inftead of coding the nation 

 an enormous annual expence, would produce. a large 

 ^annual revenue. Mr Pitt has, however, pJcdged his 

 chara<Sl:cr and abilities in fupport of this proje£l, and 

 he will, no doubt, adhere to it with his ulual^/f/OT/.v^yO, 

 till the period of his refignalion. If he fhall continue 

 in office for ten years longer, every fool in this country 

 will fee what every man of fcnfe fees already. By that 



• This isaprifon on a new and improved plan, by which prlfonern 

 can be kept entirely apart from each other, without a poffibility of cor- 

 rupting each other, or being maltreated thumfclvcs, i<;« vol. »• p. ??> 

 and vol. 3. p. 151. 



Vol .V. t ^ 



