OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 229 



for it is not the body alone that is to be kept captive, but the will 

 also ; and the more care that is taken to guard the former, the less 

 can the latter be attended to. 



The peculiar trait in the " Social System" is, that after punishment 

 every culprit's lot would be in his own hands. His companions 

 would be of his own choice, and the length of his detention and 

 comfort would depend upon the conduct of himself and his associates. 



In seeking the reformation of the culprit, the mutual action of 

 companions on each other would be resorted to, and this would be 

 productive of great advantages. No system could be more just ; and 

 its language to the criminal would be, — " Having made you pay the 

 penalty for your crime, I now retain you until you are qualified to 

 meet the requisitions of society on your return to it, that you may 

 not fail as you have before done." 



The results of this system could not but be far different from the 

 plans in present use, which have reference only to crime and 

 retribution, and may be considered useless in promoting reformation. 

 I understood that Sir George Gipps had already partially and suc- 

 cessfully adopted the Social System with the convicts in government 

 employ, by associating them in bands of ten to twenty, and letting 

 them work on the public roads. Some of them were pointed out to 

 me, and in point of appearance were as orderly and cheerful as any 

 free labourers. I was informed that they do more work than when 

 watched by overseers or soldiers. 



I saw, however, many iron-gangs, but was informed that they were 

 composed of individuals who had committed offences in the colony. 

 After the commission of several crimes in the colony, they are again 

 transported to Norfolk Island, where Captain Maconochie is stationed ; 

 and it may well excite surprise if he should succeed in reforming 

 these double-refined villains. 



Many circumstances have been told me, by those who are well 

 acquainted with the facts, that such is their detestation of Norfolk 

 Island, and their horror of remaining there, that convicts have drawn 

 lots to commit crimes, and even murder, in order to be sent back to 

 Sydney for trial.* 



Captain Maconochie's system is looked upon by many as Utopian, 



* It is the intention of the government to erect on Norfolk Island a penitentiary, on 

 the plan of that at Sing Sing, in the State of New York. The estimated cost was 

 £•200,000. 



vol. ir. 58 



