1783 Sydney's indeed some epochs in a State when emigrations from it may be too numerous; but then, from some calamitous and urgent publick cause, it must be unworthy of inhabitants. August 23rd, 1783. JAMES M. MATRA. When I conversed with Lord Sydney on this subject, it was observation. observed that New South Wales would be a very proper region for the reception of criminals condemned to transportation. I believe that it will be found that in this idea good policy and humanity are united. Report on gaols. Colonisation recommended. Convicts should be sent out to form colonies. Transporta tion to Africa. Expense of settlement in Africa. Cost of convicts at home. Two plans for utilising convicts. It will here be very pertinent to my purpose to give an extract from the report of the committee appointed to consider the several returns relative to gaols. 1st Resolution: That the plan of establishing a colony or colonies in some distant part of the globe, and in newly discovered countries where the climate is healthy, and where the means of support are obtainable, is equally agreeable to the dictates of humanity and sound policy, and might prove in the result advantageous to navigation and commerce. 2nd Resolution: That it is the opinion of this committee that it might be of public utility if the laws which now direct and authorise the transportation of certain convicts to his Majesty's colonies and plantations in North America, were made to authorise the same to any part of the globe that may be found expedient. Seven hundred and forty-six convicts were sent to Africa from the year 1775 to 1776. The concise account of them given into the committee exhibits an alarming expenditure of human life: three hundred and thirty-four died, two hundred and seventy-one deserted to no one knows where, and of the remainder no account could be given. Governor O'Hara, who had resided in Africa many years, was of opinion that British convicts could not for any time exist in that climate. The estimate of the expense given in by Mr. Roberts, necessary to establish a settlement there to receive them, amounted to £9,865; afterwards the annual charge to the public for each convict would be about £15 4s. Government pays annually to the contractor, for each convict who is employed in the hulks, £26 15s. 10d. The annual work of each man is valued at a third of the expense. I am informed that in some years more than a thousand felons are convicted, many of whom are under eighteen years of age. The charge to the public for these convicts has been increasing for the last seven or eight years, and I believe now amounts to more than £20,000 per annum. When the convicts were sent to America, they were sold for a servitude of seven years. A proposal has been made for the alteration of this mode respecting those sent to Africa, by condemning them to some public work there. They were to be released from servitude, and some ground was to be given them to cultivate, in proportion as a reformation was observed in their conduct. Neither of those plans can I approve. 1783 plan-free Give them a few acres of ground as soon as they arrive in New Another South Wales, in absolute property, with what assistance they may grants of want to till them. Let it be here remarked that they cannot fly land. from the country; that they have no temptation to theft; and they must work or starve. I likewise suppose that they are not by any means to be reproached for their former conduct. If these premises be granted me, I may reasonably conclude that it is highly probable they will be useful; that it is very possible they will be moral subjects of society. of offenders. Do you wish either by private prudence or civil policy to re- Reformation claim offenders? Show by your treatment of them that you think their reformation extremely practicable, and do not hold out every moment before their eyes the hideous mortifying deformity of their own vices and crimes. A man's intimate and hourly acquaintance with his guilt, of the frowns and severity of the world, tend more Treat them powerfully, even than the immediate effects of his bad habits, to make him a determined and incorrigible villain. like men. and By the plan which I have now proposed, a necessity to continue Economy in the place of his destination, and to be industrious, is imposed on humanity. the criminal. The expense to the nation is absolutely imperceptible comparatively with what criminals have hitherto cost Government; and thus two objects of most desireable and beautiful union will be permanently blended; economy to the public, and humanity to the individual. JAMES M. MATRA. SIR GEORGE YOUNG'S PROPOSAL. The following is a rough outline of the many advantages that 1785 may result to this nation from a settlement made on the coast of New South Wales:- cal position. Irs great extent and relative situation with respect to the eastern Geographi and southern parts of the globe is a material consideration. Botany Bay, or its vicinity, the part that is proposed to be first settled, is not more than one thousand six hundred leagues from Lima or Baldivia, with a fair open navigation, and there is no doubt but that Trade with a lucrative trade would soon be opened with the Creole Spaniards America. for English manufactures. Or suppose we were again involved with a war with Spain; here are ports of shelter and refreshment for Naval our ships, should it be necessary to send any into the South Sea. station. South 1785 From the coast of China it lies not more than about one thousand leagues, and nearly the same distance from the East Indies, from Commercial the Spice Islands about seven hundred leagues, and near a month's position. run from the Cape of Good Hope. Variety of climate and Το The variety of climates included between the 44th and the 10th productions. degrees of latitude gives us an opportunity for uniting in one territory almost all the productions of the known world. explain this more fully, I will point out some of the countries which are situated within the same extent of latitude, on either side of the Equator: they are China, Japan, Siam, India, Persia, Arabia Felix, Egypt, Greece, all Turkey, the Mediterranean Sea, Italy, Spain, South of France and Portugal, with Mexico, Lima, Baldivia, and the greatest part of the Pacific Ocean, to which may be added the Cape of Good Hope, &c. Facilities for trade. Tropical products. Flax. Commercial centre. From this review it will, I think, be acknowledged that a territory so happily situated must be superior to all others for establishing a very extensive commerce, and of consequence greatly increase our shipping and number of seamen. Nor is it mere presumption to say the country is everywhere capable of producing all kinds of spice, likewise the fine Oriental cotton, indigo, coffee, tobacco, with every species of the sugar-cane; also tea, silk, and madder. That very remarkable plant known by the name of the New Zealand flax plant may be cultivated in every part, and in any quantity our demands may require. Its uses are more extensive than any vegetable hitherto known, for in its gross state it far exceeds anything of the kind for cordage and canvas, and may be obtained at a so much cheaper rate than those materials we at present get from Russia, who may, perhaps, at some future period, think it her interest to prohibit our trade for such articles, and the difficulties that must arise in such a case are too obvious to mention, but are everywhere provided against in this proposal. With but a trifling expense and a little industry we may, in the course of a few years, establish a commercial mart on one island comprehending all the articles of trade in itself, and every necessary for shipping, not to mention the great probability of finding every kind. in such an immense country metals of every kind. Metals of At a time when men are alarmed at every idea of emigration, I wish not to add to their fears by any attempt to depopulate the parent State; the settlers of New South Wales are principally to be collected from the Friendly Islands and China; all the people islands and required from England are only a few that are possessed of the useful arts, and those comprised among the crews of the ships sent out on that service. Settlers from the China. The Ameri can loyalists. The American loyalists would here find a fertile, healthy soil, far preferable to their own, and well worthy their industry, where, with a very small part of the expense the Crown must necessarily be at for their support, they may be established more comfortably, and with a greater prospect of success, than in any other place hitherto pointed out for them. 1785 The very heavy expense Government is annually put to for transporting and otherwise punishing the felons, together with the Felons. facility of their return, are evils long and much lamented. Here is an asylum open that will considerably reduce the first, and for ever prevent the latter. any Upon the most liberal calculation, the expense of this plan cannot exceed £3,000, for it must be allowed that ships-of-war are as Expense. cheaply fed and paid in the South Seas as in the British Channel. Had I the command of this expedition, I should require a shipof-war-s -say the old Rainbow, now at Woolwich, formerly a ship of forty guns-as the best constructed for the purpose of in the ships navy, with only half her lower-deck guns, and two hundred and required. fifty men, one hundred of which should be marines; a store-ship, likewise, of about six hundred tons burthen, with forty seamen and ten marines; and a small vessel of about one hundred tons, of the brig or schooner kind, with twenty men, both fitted as ships-of-war, and commanded by proper officers. ship. The large ship is necessary for receiving fifty of the felons, provisions, and stores, with a variety of live stock and plants from England and the Cape of Good Hope. She is more particularly wanted as a guard-ship to remain in the country at least two years Guard-ship. after her arrival, or longer, as may be found necessary, to protect the settlers, &c. The store-ship is required for taking an addi- Store-ship. tional quantity of provisions to serve until we are about to raise some for ourselves; the brig or schooner is principally wanted to explore the coast on our arrival: for, notwithstanding a convenient Exploring place is already mentioned for the purpose, nature and experience inform me a navigable river may be found on such an extensive coast, which, when discovered, she may be then despatched to England with an account of our proceedings. In the meantime the store-ship may be sent to the Friendly Islands for inhabitants and useful plants. The settlement being thus established, any difficulties that may arise from the great distance of New South Wales are obviated in the manner following:-The China ships belonging to the East Route for India Company, after leaving the Cape of Good Hope, and keeping ships. more to the southward than usual, may land the felons on the coast, and then proceed to the northward round New Ireland, &c. ; or through Saint George's Channel, and so on to the Island Formosa for Canton. With a little geographical and nautical investigation, this passage will be found more short, easy, and a safer navigation than the general route of the China ships from Madras through the Straits of Malacca. Perhaps the number of the felons after the present are disposed of may not require more than two ships in the course of a year. the China 1785 The expense, therefore, attending the transporting of them by this Cheap trans- method must certainly be much less than by any others whatever, without even the most distant probability of their return. Every ship may take any number of felons not exceeding seventy. portation. 1786 Proposal for a penal settlement. HEADS OF A PLAN For effectually disposing of convicts, and rendering their transportation reciprocally beneficial both to themselves and to the State, by the establishment of a colony in New South Wales, a country which, by the fertility and salubrity of the climate, connected with the remoteness of its situation (from whence it is hardly possible for persons to return without permission), seems peculiarly adapted to answer the views of Government with respect to the providing a remedy for the evils likely to result from the late alarming and numerous increase of felons in this country, and more particularly in the metropolis. It is proposed that a ship-of-war of a proper class, with a part of her guns mounted, and a sufficient number of men on board for |