This Article is taken from the New Holland Morning Post of the 18th October 1791 reports a press conference given by the first governor of New South Wales, Arthur Phillip, informing the Colony that the English government had converted all seven and fourteen year convict sentences to Death in Exile.
Convicts Must Remain With Us
"His Majesty's Government has made it plain it does not want the convicts back on England's shores and has instructed Governor Phillip not to encourage them to return once they are emancipated.
It has also instructed His Excellency that two consignments of convicts will be sent to New South Wales each year in the future. We can but wonder what sort of country we will be with a population mostly of convicts.
The convicts it must be admitted, are better behaved than expected, and their crimes within the Colony have with a few exceptions, been confined to procuring for themselves the common necessaries of life.
These crimes will probably not be committed when plentiful rations render these little robberies unnecessary. But while there is little impropriety at present, trouble could arise as our numbers increase. Convicts still serving their time can be forced to work. Those who are emancipated cannot be so forced. There will probably be some who will rob as soon as they become their own masters.
We are desirous of having honest settlers; yet we feel that there are now many convicts who, by virtue of their industrious behaviour, merit praise. These numbers will increase, for they set an example to other villains and wantonesses.
We have indeed much to be thankful for in having Governor Phillip as our governor. He has attended his duties with exceptional devotion. We are now organised into a working community which will thrive. The governor anticipates that we should be able to establish a whale fishery soon. In two years we will no longer need flour from England.
Our prospects under our Governor are uncommonly good. But we must look also to the future. His Excellency has suffered a great pain in his side for many months. He sleeps little through pain. He still desires to return to England.
It is to be hoped that when such a time arrives as he may be permitted to depart his Government's service, our future will look as assured as it does now."
COMMENT: We must also conclude from this that from 1791 to 1868 English judges routinely handed out 7 and 14 year sentences in full prior knowledge of the English Government's policy that Transportation equalled death in exile.
"Thank God for British Justice." Arthurian Chivalry at its finest.
John Hibberd