es of transported offenders. And,
whereas, divers and repeated attempts have been made to depart from
the letter and spirit of these promises. And, whereas, the avowed
object of her Majesty's Secretary of State is to transfuse the
convicts disembarked in Van Diemen's Land through the Australasian
Colonies, and thus to evade the spirit of the promises and Act of
Parliament so made. And, whereas, large tracts of land have been
purchased by the colonists from the crown; many millions of capital
invested in improvements; and many thousands of her Majesty's
subjects have settled in Australasia on the pledged faith of the
Crown not to disturb their social welfare by the importation of
crime. And, whereas, the native Australasians are entitled to all
the rights and privileges of British subjects, and to the sympathy
and protection of the British nation. And, whereas, many and varied
efforts have been made to induce her Majesty's ministers and the
British Parliament to terminate the practice of transportation to
these colonies, but without success. Now, THEREFORE, the Delegates
of these Colonies, in conference assembled, do declare their League
and Solemn Engagement, to the effect following:--

1st. That they engage not to employ any person hereafter arriving
under sentence of transportation for crime committed in Europe.

2d. That they will use all the powers they possess--official,
electoral, and legislative, to prevent the establishment of English
prisons, or penal settlements, within their bounds; that they will
refuse assent to any projects to facilitate the administration of
such penal systems, and that they will seek the repeal of all
regulations, and the removal of all establishments for such
purposes.

And lastly, That they solemnly engage with each other to support by
their advice, their money, and their countenance, all who may
suffer in the lawful promotion of this cause.]

[Footnote 263: William Westgarth, William Kerr, William Nicholson,
Dalmahoy Campbell, William Stawell, George Annand, William Bell, J.
Stewart Johnstone, and John Hood, Esqrs.]

[Footnote 264: The _Raven_, Capt. Bell, was the first vessel that
carried the league flag, now floating over every sea.]

[Footnote 265: "My anxiety now is, to reiterate and give permanency to
the assurance, that my de