1 70 A COLONIAL AUTOCRACY. 



part of the dominions of the Crown under the Act "- 1 But the 

 scope of the Act was restricted and no Commission issued for 

 the trial of such offences nearer than Ceylon. Bigge reported 

 that it might be efficacious if extended so as to cover all offences 

 committed by British subjects on the high seas, and if a Com- 

 mission were issued for their trial in New South Wales. 2 

 But up to 1822, at any rate, the Act had never been enforced. 



There was, however, in the transportation of the convicts, a 

 whole chapter of events taking place on the high seas which 

 had a peculiarly strong interest for New South Wales. It was 

 practically impossible between the Colonial Government, with 

 its limited jurisdiction, and the Home Government, so remote 

 from the point of disembarkation, to enforce efficient safeguards 

 for the good treatment of the convicts. The statistics in them- 

 selves suggest that, due consideration being had to the senti- 

 ments and appliances of the period, the service was not badly 

 carried out. From 1810 to the end of 1819, 18,761 convicts 

 were despatched to Sydney, and only 236 died on the voyage. 3 

 But now and again this favourable picture was obliterated, and 

 in the light of judicial inquiry horrors such as those on board the 

 Chapman, or hideous depravity such as that on the Friendship, 

 took its place. 4 These inquiries made only too clear the help- 

 lessness of the Government adequately to punish or prevent 



Between 1810 and 1820 many improvements were made in 

 the organisation of the transport service. In 1812 it was 

 carried out by a Transport Board under the orders of the 

 Treasury and Home Office. 5 The Treasury sent an order to 

 the Board to take up vessels which were engaged through the 

 underwriters at so much a ton for the voyage. Provisions were 

 supplied for the convicts for the voyage and for nine months 

 after their arrival by the Victualling Board. 6 The convicts and 

 their services were assigned to the master of the ship, who had 



1 See Jenkyns, English Rule Beyond the Seas, 1902, p. 143. 

 8 Bigge' s Report, II. 



3 See Appendix, Bigge's Reports. R.O., MS. Figures of number of convicts 

 landed only given up to end of 1820. 



4 See later in this Chapter. 



5 See Evidence of McLeay, Secretary to the Transport Board, before the 

 Committee on Transportation, 1812. 



* This provision for use in the Colony was discontinued before 1819. See 

 Chapter V. Hospital comforts, clothes and bedding, were also put on board. 



