Prison (arv on board. .\ r ;\v Si HTM WALES. EvlU of the lyntcm. (27 



is barricadoed near the main mast, abaft of which 

 all the arm-B and accoutrements of the guard and 

 vessel are kept. The master and officers are 

 usually lodged in the poop-cabin. The prisoners 

 are habituated to the, discipline of the ship, on 

 hoard the hulks, before leaving England. The 

 usual, and most effectual, punishment for misbe- 

 haviour is to place the culprit in a narrow box on 

 deck, hi which be is compelled to stand erect. 

 Thb punishment is said to be effectual in reducing 

 ib<> nir.*t refractory male convicts to order, but It 

 was not found so efficacious in Uie female convict- 

 ship ; for, when put in the box, they would bawl 

 so loudly, mid use their tongues so freely, that it 

 was found necessary to increase the punishment 

 by placing a cistern of water on the top of the 

 li>ix. This was turned over upon those who per- 

 sist in using their tongues, and acted on the occu- 

 pant as a shower-bath, the cooling effect of which 

 was always and quickly efficacious in quieting 

 them. I was informed that more than two such 

 showers were never required to subdue the most 

 turbulent 



J wan struck wtth tho ruddy, healthy, nnd ath- 

 letic lo <]m of the young convicts thai were ar- 

 riving, and from their deportment and counte- 

 nances I should hardly have 1 n inclined to 



believe that they had been the perpetrators of 

 heinous crimes. 



f am not at all surprised that many of the set- 

 tlers of the colony should be opposed to the change 

 in the assignment system ; for when such a fine 

 body of men is seen, the reason is easily under- 

 stood, as the possession of such strong and hate 

 persons to all intents and purposes as slaves, and 

 at the expense of their uiainte nance alone, must bo 

 very lucrative to those requiring labourers. I am, 

 on the other hand, at a loss to conceive bow the 

 assignment system can be looked upon in any other 

 light than as a great evil, which muni be abolished 

 if it be designed to make the inhabitants of New 

 Smith Wales a mom I community, and to reform 

 the convicts. It acts most unequally on the par- 

 tit-s, and is a barrier to tho reformation that 

 the punishment of transportation is intended lo 

 effect. 



The convicts on arriving are sent tn the barracks 

 at Sidney. The government selects from them 

 such mechanics as are required fur the public ser- 

 vice, ami then the numerous applicants for Labourers 

 arc supplied. Those assigned lo private employers 

 are sent to the interior under the cliarge of a eon- 

 stable or overseer. 



They build their own huts, ami tho climate 

 being very fine, require but little shelter. The 

 hours of labour are from six to six, and the quan- 

 tity of labour exacted from them is about two- 

 thirds of what would be required in England. 

 They are treated in all respects as if they wrrc 

 free, and no restraint is imposed, except tliat they 

 cannot leave their masters, who, nhcu they hav e 

 no further use for them, return them to the 

 government to be reassigned. 



When on ticket of leave,, they may reside in any 

 place they choose to select. 



Tho convicts time of probation depends upon 

 the original term of bis sentence ; but on a com- 

 mission of crime within the colony, it liegins from 

 his last conviction. For refractory conduct, tin y 

 may be taken to the nearest magistrate, who orders 



punishment on tho oath of the muster. The magis- 

 trate has also power to send them to tho nearest 

 chain-gang employed on public works. Here- they 

 are worked in irons, nnd kept on scanty food for a 

 limited period, after which they may bo returned 

 to their masters. If badly treated, the convict 

 may have the affair investigated, but redress comes 

 slowly. 



One of the great evils of tho system is, that 

 many of the convicts on arriving are assigned 

 to persons in Sydney ami other towns, tho conse- 

 quence of which is that they are exposed to the 

 contaminations and temptations that nre likely 

 to l.os.'i ibetu in those thickly-peopled places, mid 

 this too only a few months after their conviction in 

 the mother country. This influence removes all 

 hopes of reform, and they are usually soon found 

 among the criminals of New South Wales. 



All persons who are landholders may receive 

 convicts as assigned servants, in tho proportion 

 of one to every three hundred and twenty acres, 

 but no one proprietor can have in his employ m »iv 

 than seventy-five convicts. 



Written application for labourers is made to the 

 Hoard of Assignment, and the applicants must 

 bind themselves to keep tho assigned convict for 

 at least one month, and to furnish him ftilh food 

 and clothing agreeably to the government regu- 

 lations, whicli are as follows, viz. 



Tho weekly rations consists of twelve pounds of 

 wheat, or nine pounds of seconds Hour; or, in liou 

 thereof, at the discretion of the master, three 

 pounds of maize meal, and nine pounds of wheat, 

 or seven pounds of seconds flour j with seven 

 pounds of beef or mutton, and four pounds of 

 corned pork, two ounces of salt, and two ounces of 

 soup. 



The clothing for a year is as follows, viz. two 

 frocks or jackets, three shirts, of strong linen or 

 cotton, two pairs of trousers, three pairs of shoes, 

 of stout durable leather, one hat or cap, and 

 the use of n good blanket and mattress belonging 

 to tho master. 



Custom, however, has extended the above allow- 

 ances, and the quantity of luxuries added in to- 

 bacco, sugar, tea, and grog, makes the amount 

 nearly double. These additions have become abso- 

 lutely necessary in order to procure work from tho 

 convicts, and the free supply of them iH the only 

 way in which they can be made to work in the 

 harvest season. I MM informed that a settler con- 

 sidered it nil -important to have a targe stock of 

 these luxuries on hand at the season of pressure ; 

 for although the assigned sen-ants do not actually 

 refuse to work, they do so little, that, in order to 

 save his crop, the master must yield them the extra 

 indulgences. 



Another evil attendant on tho assignment system 

 is the difference in the treatment they receive from 

 those to whom they are assigned. On the arrival 

 of a convict-ship, a large number of persons who 

 liave made applications to the Board, are in wait- 

 ing ; they of course know nothing of the character 

 of the convicts, and, as I learned from a good 

 source, no record is kept, or sent with the convicts 

 themselves. Tho Hoard is entirely ignorant of their 

 character or crimes, and thus can exercise no dis- 

 crimination in assigning the convict to the hands of 

 a good or of a hard master. The greatest villains 

 may, therefore, full into kind hands, while one who 



