§ EARL GREYbegged to ask the noble Lord (Lord Lyttelton) whether any measures had been taken for establishing a new Colony to be called North Australia, which, it appeared from the Papers before the House, was to be constituted almost exclusively 871 of persons who had undergone the sentence of transportation, and who were called emancipists.
§ LORD LYTTELTONsaid, the scheme had already been carried out to a great degree, and that all the necessary proceedings, so far as they depended upon Her Majesty's Government, had been taken. It would not be convenient to enter upon an irregular discussion of this measure; but he must be permitted to say he was surprised at his noble Friend (Earl Grey) having brought the subject forward at so late a period, because he must have seen from the Papers before the House what were the intentions of Her Majesty's Government. As to this new Colony, it was to be a new settlement within the boundary of New South Wales, in the north of Australia. It was not, necessarily, to be occupied entirely, or even at all, by emancipists. It was certainly intended to ameliorate the state of those convicts who had gone through their punishment in Van Diemen's Land, where there was no demand for them, in consequence of which many of this unfortunate class were there entirely destitute. These persons, by various methods, would have facilities afforded of proceeding to this new settlement; and it was also intended that facilities should be given to the poorer classes in this country to proceed there; also to prisoners from Pentonville and Parkhurst. This was the means held out for relieving Van Diemen's Land of the surplus convict population.
§ House adjourned.