io8 A COLONIAL AUTOCRACY. 



must have been nearly 5 gallons per head, and the women prob- 

 ably drank as much as the men. This calculation, of course, 

 leaves out altogether the smuggled spirit and the beer and ale 

 brewed in the settlement. 



In England the consumption of spirit doubled between 

 1807 and 1827, and the spirit licenses increased by npoo. 1 

 Nevertheless, the average amount consumed in 1830 was 

 only y gallon per head. 2 



As the young Australians drank little, 3 the remarkably large 

 consumption of liquor in New South Wales must be attributed 

 to the convicts. But in spite of this the death-rate was low,* 

 and crimes of violence were not so frequent in proportion to 

 the population as in England. 5 The clear sunlight, the fine 

 spaciousness of the new country had given strength, vigour and 

 hope to the thieves and pickpockets, the drunkards and profli- 

 gates, the sinned against and the sinning, whose presence made 

 the very name of Botany Bay a by -word. 



1 Goulburn, Chancellor of Exchequer in 1830. Quoted in Webb's History 

 of Licensing Laws, 1902, p. 113. 



- Twenty-eighth Report of Commissioners of Inland Revenue, 1885. Quoted 

 in Webb, see above, p. 109. 



3 See Evidence, C. on T., 1812. Riley, C. on G., 1819. Bigge's Reports, 

 passim. Macquarie's Despatches, passim, etc. 



4 The death-rate from 1810 to 1820 was about 20 per 1,000. This is low for 

 the period and considering the number of old men sent out. The figures are, how- 

 ever, very rough. The birth-ratecalculating on somewhat incomplete returns 

 which include only the children baptised for the same period was nearly 30 per 

 1,000. Appendix, Bigge's Reports. R.O., MS. 



* Wylde's Evidence, Appendix, Bigge's Reports. R.O., MS. From 1816 to 

 1820 (the only years for which returns are available) there were 100 cases of 

 crimes of violence before the Criminal Court. See Appendix, Bigge's Reports. 

 R.O., MS. 



