imagine this, and you, my friend, reduced to such straits
by it that you might wish she would never waken more. Be content,
then, and rather put up with the little ills you have than fly to
others that you know not of.'

THE NEW CONVICT ESTABLISHMENT IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

The subject of convict discipline has for several years past excited
the attention both of legislators and philanthropists; but the
knowledge of the public concerning its details has hitherto been
exceedingly meagre. It is not intended in this article to discuss the
abstract question of the policy of transportation to the colonies, or
of convict discipline there pursued; but merely to give some account
of the system adopted at a new settlement in Australia. We will state
at once, that our official authority is a Blue Book--one of those huge
volumes printed from time to time, by order of parliament, for the
edification--or as some facetious folks say, for the mystification--of
M.Ps. Having carefully waded through its voluminous pages, we have
jotted down the passages that especially struck us, and propose to
present the pith and substance of our labour--for it is nothing
less--in a condensed and popular form.

Little more than a couple of years ago, it was resolved by government
to establish a convict settlement at Fremantle--a small town, as we
learn, of some 5000 inhabitants--in Western Australia. The first ship
arrived in Swan River on 1st June 1850, with 75 convicts; and in
October following, a second came with 100 more. Soldiers, and proper
officers to control and conduct the convicts, were on the spot; and a
tolerably suitable prison was forthwith extemporised out of a
wool-shed or warehouse. It is this kind of temporary and experimental
establishment that forms the subject of the published returns to
government, which are dated up to February 1851, and include an
exceedingly minute and clearly-stated detail of the operations and
plans adopted during the six months ending December 31, 1850. Three
hundred more convicts--principally from the Portland prison in
England--were expected in February 1851, and a grand permanent prison
was to be erected, to contain 500 cells.

The convicts at Fremantle are employed in both in-door and out-of-door
work, but principally the latter. The artisans--_tradesmen_ they are
styled in the Reports--such as blacksmiths, masons, carpenters,
tailors, bricklayers, &c., labour at their respective trades; and