[Footnote 138: By the Acts 4 George I. c. 11, and 6 George I. c. 23, the persons contracting for the transportation of convicts to the Colonies, or their assigns, had an interest in the service of each, for seven or fourteen years, according to the term of transportation.] [Footnote 139: For some years previous to the commencement of the American War, the adjudged services of convicts became so valuable in Maryland, that contracts were made to convey them without any expence whatsoever to Government, who had formerly allowed 5_l._ a head; for the reasons already assigned, they generally were more adroit, and had better abilities than those who voluntarily engaged themselves to go to America.] The Convicts having accumulated greatly in the year 1776, and the intercourse with America being shut up, it became indispensably necessary to resort to some other expedient; and in the choice of difficulties the System of the _Hulks_ was suggested, and first adopted under the authority of an Act of the 16th of his present Majesty. The Legislature, uncertain with regard to the success of this new species of punishment, and wishing to make other experiments, by an Act of the same Session,[140] empowered the Justices of every county in England to prepare Houses of Correction for the reception of Convicts under sentence of death, to whom his Majesty should extend his Royal Mercy, to be kept at hard labour for a term not exceeding ten years. [Footnote 140: 16 George III. cap. 43, sect. 1st, 3d, and 11th.] The same Act, among many other excellent regulations, ordered the Convicts to be kept separate, and not allowed to mix with any offenders convicted of crimes less than Larceny--and that they should be fed with coarse inferior food, water, and small beer, without permission to have any other food, drink, or cloathing, than that allowed by the Act, under certain penalties:--they were to be clothed at the public expence. And as an encouragement to these delinquents, while such as refused to work were to receive corporal punishment, those who behaved well had not only the prospect held out of shortening the period of their confinement, but also were to receive decent clothes, and a sum of money not less than _forty shillings_, nor more than _five pounds_, when discharged. This well-intentioned Act[141] (which certainly admits of many improvements), was followed up, three years afterwards, by another Statute, (19 Geo. III. cap. 74,) which had two very important objects in view.