History of New South Wales From the Records
VOLUME 1 - GOVERNOR PHILLIP 1783-1789

G. B. Barton - 1889

PART III

Portuguese Convicts

 

THESE were not the only colonists. Portugal had taken possession of Brazil, and meant to maintain it. It was the system of the Portuguese Government to make its criminals of some use to the State, a wise system if wisely  regulated: in that kingdom it obviously arose from the smallness of its territory and lack of population to support its extensive plans of ambition. Hitherto they had been degraded to the African frontier, and more recently to India also. In these situations they certainly served the State, yet the service was not without heavy disadvantages. The usual offences which were thus punished were those of blood and violence, and the ferocious propensities which led to the commission of those crimes were not likely to be corrected by placing the offenders in situations where they might  indulge  them with impunity, and consider the indulgence as meritorious. This system was immediately extended to Brazil; the first Europeans who were left ashore there were two convicts. In Africa, as in India, the exile was sent to bear arms with his countrymen, who would not regard him as disgraced, because they were obliged to associate with him. To be degraded to Brazil was a heavier punishment; the chance of war would not enrich him there, and there was no possibility of returning home with honour for any signal service. They were in  one point of  view better disposed of, inasmuch  as in new colonies ordinary men are of greater value than they can be elsewhere, but they became worse subjects. 'Always has this plague The persecuted Brazil and the other conquests of this kingdom,' says Balthazar Tellez. Their numbers bore a greater proportion to the better settlers, and they were therefore more likely to be encouraged in iniquity than reformed by example - to communicate evil than to learn good." - Southey, History of Brazil, vol i, p. 31.

 

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13/08/2005

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