The punishment of transportation for life, undoubtedly severe, yet less so, one gladly allows, than that absolute forfeiture of life which the existing laws demand, affords a melancholy picture of human depravity, and the lamentable prevalence of crime, which makes its frequent recurrence necessary, the convicts transported for life being actually one half, it will be seen, of the entire number in this instance sent out of the country. The major part of that number most probably were respited from capital punishment by the royal clemency, or owe their lives to the compassion of the Juries that tried them. _List of the Crimes of the Male Convicts per the Neptune, 1817._ Convicts. Forgery 8 Housebreaking 6 Robbery in a dwelling house 3 Stealing in a dwelling house 10 Burglary 28 Highway robbery 7 Horse stealing 8 Felony 44 Sheep stealing 7 Cow stealing 1 Frame breaking 1 Desertion 2 Assault and robbery 1 Having forged notes 6 Stealing from a person 1 Stealing—various small thefts 17 Grand larceny 10 Larceny 1 Capital respite (one of these an infidel) 6 Obtaining goods by false pretences 1 Breaking out of prison 1 Aiding in ditto 1 ——— Total 170 ——— The enormity of the offences, of which these men had been found guilty, may be estimated by a glance to the punishments annexed to their names. Convicts. Transported for life 85 Transported for fourteen years 33 Transported for seven years 52 ——— Total 170 ———