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39
is' necessary to this purpose, and 'with as little as possible
detriment to the energies of his immortal nature. Its purpose
is to turn the crimi'nal into a good member of society not an
obedient submissive slave ...:
With the arrival of the Colonial Secretary 1 s despatch of July 6, 1838,
bearing its instructions to place all newly arrived convicts in gangs , the
Probation System of Convict Discipline came into bei_ng , although very few
people in Van Diemen 1s Land understood its principles, felt it to be
necessary, or wanted it introduced .
As far back as November 18, 1837 , Franklin had warned the
colonists in the Gazette of the Home Government 's intention to discontinue
at the earliest possible period assignment to private service, and advised
them to look to imigration for the requisite supply of labour . Now ,
on January 18, 1839 , there appeared the fopowing notice in the
Hobart Town Gazette:
Government Notice No . 16
Colonial Secretary 's Office,
Hobart Town,
17th January, 1839 .
The Secretary of State has directed that the following modifications
shall be introduced into the system of convict discipline, in force
at present in the colony.
1. All convicts without exception, are, on their arrival from
Great Britain, to be worked in parties totally separated from
those gangs which are composed of convicts under colonial sentence
to hard ·labour.
2. The assignment of convicts to be emp loyed for purposes of
luxury or as domestic servants to be discontinued.
3. All convicts are to wear a disti_nguishing b":dge .
. 4. There are to be two classes of ticket-of- leave holder s.
In consequence of recent emigration of free labourers to
South Australia and Port Philip & etc . considerab le inconvenience
might be felt by the public .
No . 1 not to be put into force until after 1st July next - after
this, all convicts to be worked in parties of 4-8-12 months .
Assignment of convicts to be domestic servants and for purposes
of luxury to cease after July 1st .
After 1st July 1840 all assignment of convicts in Hobart and
Launceston to cease.
No bdge proscribed at present .