lony together.

AUSTRALIA.--DISCONTENTS CREATED BY THE TRANSPORTATION QUESTION.

The Australian colonies were generally prosperous in 1849; few new
incidents of any kind occurred, and none to make the year peculiar
in history. The convict question, however, caused uneasiness. In Van
Diemen's Land horrible outrages were committed by "ticket-of-leave men,"
and some parts of the island resembled pandemonium.

At New South Wales, much discontent was created by the English
Colonial-office violating an existing compact with that colony, to
send them no more convicts, and the Assembly passed the following
resolutions--"1. That, considering the arbitrary and faithless manner
in which this colony has been treated by the Right Honourable Earl Grey,
this meeting most humbly prays her majesty to remove that nobleman from
her majesty's councils.--2. That it is indispensable to the well-being
of this colony, and to the satisfactory conduct of its affairs, that its
government should no longer be administered by the remote, ill-informed,
and irresponsible Colonial-office, but by ministers chosen from,
and responsible to, the colonists themselves, in accordance with the
principles of the British constitution.--3. That this meeting, having
unanimously agreed to the preceding two resolutions, the following
humble address to her most excellent majesty the queen, embodying them,
be adopted, and that such address be signed by the chairman on behalf of
the meeting. [The address was a mere transcription of the resolutions,
placed in the ordinary form.]--4. That, considering the discourtesy
shown by his excellency the governor to the former meeting, and to its
deputation, this meeting abstains from appointing a deputation to wait
upon his excellency with the preceding resolutions and address; but
requests the chairman to transmit them to him, with a written request
that his excellency will be pleased to forward it to her majesty the
queen for her gracious consideration."

With reference to the arrival of convicts which had just taken place,
the _Sydney Morning Herald_ had the following:--"All the convicts will
be removed from the ship this morning. They have all been engaged.
In addition to those previously mentioned, a large draft was sent to
Paramatta on Saturday. The forty-five sent to Moreton Bay were forwarded
at the expense of the government, not being under any engagement, but
merely sent to the district in order that the settle