CONVICTS. 91 



mark I have heard in the colony, that some of 

 the lower orders contrive to get government 

 servants assigned to them, ostensibly for the pur- 

 pose of cultivating the soil, but in reality to 

 assist in plundering. This may also be inferred 

 from the very limited means they can otherwise 

 have for procuring a livelihood. As a veil to 

 such practices, and to lull any suspicion that 

 might be created, they dig, and plant a few 

 potatoes and other vegetables, in a small spot of 

 ground, laid out near their bark residence, as 

 a garden ; and the crown prisoners are procured 

 ostensibly to assist in cultivating this " bit of 

 earth ;" and thus the vegetable garden affords a 

 cloak to many crimes. 



Convicts ought (if by transportation any pu- 

 nishment is intended) to be sent, according to 

 the nature of their crimes, to the whole of our 

 colonies, whether in the East and West Indies, 

 coast of Africa, &c. &c. solely for the purpose of 

 being employed upon the public works, and free 

 emigration to be encouraged to Australia, Cape, 

 &c. on a very extended scale. The influence of 

 the emancipist class of the New South Wales 

 population is great, and they are also possessed 

 of great wealth. As wealth is one degree of 

 power, they must be regarded both as an in- 

 fluencial and powerful body. There is also that 



