JB/116/286/001

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7 N. S. Wales

VII Escapes

I come now to speak of the management here and at New
South Wales, in relation to escapes from thence: and here I find
myself stopped as it were, or rather introduced, by a few obvious
questions. Is it then in proof (says Your Lordship) somebody that the
difficulty of returning from this spot, was really the circumstance,
or even among the circumstances, that determined the choice of
the founders of the Colony in favour of it? The views and designs
so often imputed, can any overt acts be found that evidence
them? This advantage, or supposed advantage, being the object
in view, can you find any measures that were ever taken to
improve it? — Reasonable questions these my Lord, without doubt.
Satisfaction — the best in my power to give, shall be given to Your
Lordship on every one of these heads.

By these questions taken together the existence of a plan
is assumed, and the object of them is to ask — what that plan
was? The answer is a most simple one: My Lord, A plan? gentlemen
had no plan at all about the matter: no more of a plan about
this distant Colony of Convicts than they had ten years afterwards
about their home Colony of Paupers. A design in both instances
they had, most indubitably: no human being — not a lunatic —
scarce an idiot — acts without one. But a design is one thing: a
plan for giving effect to it is another. A design they had in
the choice made in this most distant of all spots, most indubitably:
it was to render the return of all those who were
sent there, and not sent for back again, morally or rather
physically impossible. But as to giving effect to this design —
Nature (it was thought) had already done it to their hands.
Human reason ha no need to trouble herself. Accordingly, for above
four years together (Your Lordship will soon see) It will soon be seen she was never once consulted
about it. —
The

Identifier: | JB/116/286/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 116.
Date_1		Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	116	Main Headings	panopticon versus new south wales
Folio number	286	Info in main headings field	n. s. wales
Image	001	Titles
Category	copy/fair copy sheet	Number of Pages	2
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	d1 f57 / d2 f58
Penner	john herbert koe	Watermarks
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections	jeremy bentham	Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number	37819
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