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From: "Lesley Uebel" <>
Subject: Arrival of convicts - Macquarie's era
Date: Thu, 7 Apr 2005 16:02:47 +1000
In-Reply-To: <BAY106-F16AFE1E9D8C10F7FFEEF71A23E0@phx.gbl>
On the arrival of a transport ship in the harbour, the convicts were mustered on
board in the presence of the Governors Secretary, and inquiries were made as to
their treatment on the voyage, their former trades or occupations, and other
particulars. On this information, based on the irresponsible statements of the
convicts themselves, the superintendent of convicts decided on the destination
of each prisoner. After their debarkation the convicts were inspected and
addressed by Governor Macquarie. In the course of his address, he stated that no
reference would be made to their past, and that their future conduct would
alone entitle them to reward or indulgence." This speech had a bad effect, as
the convicts on their first arrival realised that all classifications or
punishments by hard labour, according to the degrees of their crimes, were
abolished.
There were two channels for the employment of convicts, assignment to settlers
and other individuals and employment in the government gangs; but the
distribution was made entirely without reference to the crimes for which they
were transported.
Free labour was scarce in the colony, and applications for the assignment of
convicts as labourers and servants were made by settlers and other inhabitants.
Applications at first were addressed to the Governors Secretary, but later to
the Principal Superintendent of convicts. The assignment was at first made by
lottery, but, when this practise fell into disuse, the whole duty was left in
the hands of the Principal Superintendent, William Hutchinson. He was free to
act at his discretion, as the Governor seldom interfered with a selection.
Convicts were also assigned to oversees and clerks in lieu of salaries. Such
convict was victualled by government, and was allowed his freedom by his master
on payment of a weekly sum of ten shillings, which was reduced to five if he
gave up his government ration to his master.
The assignment system led to many abuses, wives of convicts frequently followed
their husbands to the colony, and obtained their assignment; husbands followed
the same practice when their wives were convicts. Convicts with money obtained
their assignment to one of the poorer settlers, and then, usually by payment of
a weekly sum, obtained exemption from all labour. By these means many of the
terrors of transportation were removed. The rigours of assignment at other times
depended on the temperament of the masters; one settler was inclined to treat
his assigned servants with leniency and indulgence, another with harshness and
severity. Assignment of female convicts was also the cause of much immorality.
Employment in the government gangs were dreaded by the convicts in the first
years of this period. Macquaries passion for the erection of large public
buildings created a demand for mechanics, and these were in consequence absorbed
in the government gangs, and it was a difficult matter and esteemed a great
favour for a settler to obtain the assignment of a skilled labourer. To avoid
employment in a government gang, convicts frequently concealed their true
trades.
In the year 1811, Governor Macquarie abolished the employment of convicts in
agriculture on government account, and did not renew it until he established the
penal agricultural settlement at Emu Plains at the end of the year 1819. The
consequence of this was that all convicts in the employ of government were
congregated in large gangs in the towns, with the exception of those engaged in
the construction and maintenance of public roads. For many years no suitable
building was provided for the accommodation of these gangs at Sydney, and the
convicts were allowed to billet themselves in various parts of the town. Such a
system caused an almost total lack of control and supervision, and it was not
until the opening of the convict barracks near Hyde Park on the 4th of June
1819, that discipline was possible. The effects of a system which allowed
hardened criminals their freedom at night time can be readily imagined, and many
crimes were caused by the want of discipline.
Source; HRA
Lesley Uebel
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http://users.bigpond.net.au/convicts/index.html
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