Convict Discipline and Transportation. 1848. Correspondence on the subject of Convict Discipline and Transportation. 1849. Further correspondence on the subject of Convict Discipline and Transportation

Two very rare government reports relating to convicts, date 1848 and July 1849 with superb large coloured lithographs. One of the reports includes a description of the notorious penal treadmill invented by the British engineer Sir William Cubitt (1785–1861) in 1818. Cubitt intended it as a means of usefully occupying convicts in the prisons at Bury St Edmunds and Brixton but was soon used as a form of punishment. Prisoners sentenced to hard labour walked the treadmill for at least six hours daily with 12 minutes rest for every 60 minutes of climbing.

1848 Report.  On convict discipline and transportation.

London: Houses of Parliament, 144pp. Folio. Blue paper wrappers. British Parliamentary Paper. Seven folding coloured lithographed plans by Arrowsmith:

1. Ground Plan of Prisoners Barracks and Trinity Chapel, Hobart Town – 270mm x 405mm.
2. Plan of dormitories – 280mm x 400mm.
3. Elevation of the Tread Wheel – 280mm x 420mm.
4. Elevation of the Wheel as Proposed to be Divided into Separate Boxes – 280mm x 420mm.
5. Plan of Mill Room and Wheel Shewing the Proposed Improvements – 280mm x 410mm
6. Section of Stone Cells. Plan of Stone Cells. – 270mm x 470mm
7. Plan of the Chapel. – 290mm x 403mm

1849 Report. 

London: House of Commons, 262pp. Folio. Blue paper wrappers. British Parliamentary Paper. July 1849. 

Report on the removal of convicts from New South Wales. Reports of passage of convicts to Moreton Bay and Port Phillip. Report on discipline at Port Arthur. Introduction of convicts to Western Australia. Dr Gaunt reports existence of unnatural crime in VDL. 

Coloured lithograph: 

1. Arrowsmith, Moveable station for the accommodation of detached working parties. Van Diemen’s Land.       350mm x 530mm
(Horse drawn waggon with sectional building, together with all bedding etc for 32 prisoners & their overseer.)

References: Ferguson no. 4777 & 5050

Collections:
National Library of Australia:  Bib ID2270420 (Rex Nan Kivell Collection NK722)
State Library of NSW:
Reference code (AuSN)b33529036-61slnsw_inst (1848 report)
Reference code (AuSN)b2010019x-61slnsw_inst (1849 report)