ills or dollars, received
again from the government for wheat and beef. Thus, you see, Mrs. ----
is indebted for two decided proofs of wealth to the prevalence of crime
in England. Even the coat of arms on her landau was found by your
Herald's College, in return for a part of the proceeds of that bill,
which was drawn _to pay for the food of the soldiers who drove the
convicts, who produced the food_. Our old friend Sir George Nayler would
no doubt start at being told of his obligation to the pickpockets of
London. And the rogues are little aware of their influence in political
economy; but I have stated a plain fact, which, if you have any doubts
about it, pray submit both to Sir George himself, and to Mr. M'Culloch.
That is, indeed, an ill-wind which blows no good. We owe every thing,
over and above mere subsistence, to the wickedness of the people of
England. Who built Sydney? Convicts. Who made the excellent roads from
Sydney to Parramatta, Windsor, and Liverpool? Convicts. By whom is the
land made to produce? By convicts. Why do not all our labourers exact
high wages, and, by taking a large share of the produce of labour,
prevent their employers from becoming rich? Because most of them are
convicts. What has enabled the landowner readily to dispose of his
surplus produce? The demand of the keepers of convicts. What has
brought so many ships to Port Jackson, and occasioned a further demand
for agricultural produce? The transportation of convicts. What has
tempted free emigrants to bring capital into the settlement? The true
stories that they heard of fortunes made by employing the cheap labour
of convicts. But here are questions and answers enough. The case is
plain. Nearly all that we possess has arisen from the happy influence
of penal emigration and discipline, on production, distribution, and
consumption. Thanks to the system of transportation, we have had cheap
labour and a ready market; production, consequently, has exceeded
consumption; and the degree of that excess is the measure of our
accumulation--that is, of our wealth.
The transportation of at least ten males for one female, maintains a
great disproportion between the sexes. This is the greatest evil of
all.
_A Rover_.
On the banks of the Illinois, I met with a labouring man, who was always
tipsy without ever being drunk. Enervated by dram-drinking, he had not
the courage to obtain a bit of forest and settle; but he could earn
seven shillings
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