Statistics of Van Diemens Land. 127 



year; there being 5 more oi Ji.fa. and 5 fewer oi ca. sa. 

 The warrants of attorney and cognovits, taken together, 

 have increased 15 per cent. One equity suit has been 

 decided, and 2 more commenced, within the year. 



Table 66 is a similar record of the business of the Court 

 of Eequests, showing an increase upon the year of 20 per 

 cent, in the summonses issued, and of actions brought, and 

 15 per cent, of actions tried. The writs ofji.fa. have also 

 increased 28 per cent., and those of ca. sa. are 1 more in 

 number than in 1847. The large total number of 1789 

 actions were brought, and 1089 tried, during the year. 



Table 57 details particulars of the Insolvencies that have 

 occurred during 1848. They are 94 in number; being an 

 increase of 28 per cent, as compared with 1847: but iu 

 another point of comparison presenting a favourable result. 

 The scheduled liabilities in 1847 were more than doubled 

 by those of 1848 ; but the scheduled assets are also aug- 

 mented iu a still greater proportion : for whereas in the 

 former year they would pay 10.9. in the pound, in 1848 they 

 were equivalent to 15^. in the pound. The loss sustained 

 by creditors in 1847 from 74 insolvencies would be nearly 

 d020,000, and in 1848, from 94 insolvencies, not quite 

 £23,000 ; that is, of course, supposing the respective values 

 to be realised as set down in the schedules. There were 

 5 insolvencies superseded in the course of the year. 



Tables 58 and 59 are returns of Criminal Trials before 

 the Supreme Court in 1848, the total number being 228. 

 Of these 80 were acquittals, and 148 convictions; and of 

 the persons tried, 28 came free to the Colony, and 200 were 

 transported hither. Of the 28 free to the Colony, 19 were 

 acquitted, and 9 convicted ; and of those who were, or had 

 been. Convicts, 61 were acquitted, and 139 convicted. The 

 crimes against the person comprise 28 per cent., and those 

 against property 72 per cent., of the whole. As compared 



