Extracts.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 46, 20 June 1844, Page 4

Extracts.

CONFESSION OF THE WELSH CONVICTS. (From the Merthar Guardian.)

With feelings of sincere satisfaction we hasten to submit to the public the following interesting document, as the first fiuitsof the Special Commission held in this town last week. Throughout the Principality of Wales it will be hailed as a pledge of returning order and tranqnility, and not the less welcome because subscribed within tfe preciots of that prison to which, as a preliminary to a terrible exile, their outrages had doomed them. The majesty of the laws once vindicated by a conviction, the Government can afford to be merciful, and nothing can sooner facilitate the exercises of the godlike attribute towards these poor men than the following confession:

To the public generally, aud to onr neighbours in particular,— “ We, John Hughes, David Jones, and John Hugh, now lying in' Cardiff Jail, convicted of an attack on Pontradilis turnpike gate aud | the police stationed there to protect it, beiDg now sentenced for transportation, beg earnestly to call on others to take warning by our fate, and to stop in their mad career before they fall into onr condemnation.

“ We ate guilty, and doomed to suffer, while hundreds? have escaped $ let them and every one take cafe not to be deluded again to attack public or private property, and resist the power of the law ; for it will oveitake them with vengeance, and bring them down to destruction. ' “ We are only in prison now, but in a week or two shall be banished as rogues, to be slaves to strangers in a strange land. We must go in the prime of life, from our dear homes to live and labour with the worst of villians, looked upon as thieves;

" Friends, neighbours, all, but especially young men, keep from night meetings, fear to do wrong, aud dread the terrors of the judge. Think of what we must, and you may suffer, before you dare to do as we have done. «* If you will be peaceable, and live again like honest men, by the blessing of God you may expect to prosper, and we—poor outcast wretches—may have to thank yen for the mercy of the Crown—for on no other terms than your good conduct, will any pity be shown to us, or others, who may fall into our almost hopeless situation.

“ Johi* Hughes. “ David Jones. “ The mark of John Hugh. a Cardiff Jail, Nov. 1. ~, “ Witness, John B. Woods, Governor.”

ThIT MacartHuß Famil y;—As the possessions of this family have been often alluded to in Parliament, and are amongst the largest, if they are not the very largest, in the colony, I shall give a short account of the Messrs. M. and their extensive acquisitions. Mr. M.’s father, Mr. J. M., was originally from Argylesbire, but Mr. M. jun., was boro, I believe, in Parramatta. When the New South Wales corps (afterwards the 102nd regiment) was raised for the colonial service,Mr. J. M. held a commission in the regiment, and came to this colony with it in 1751. - He was successively Capt. and Paymaster of the regiment; but in 1806 left the service, and became a store-keeper in Sydney, in the governorship of Captain afterwaids Admiral Bligh. This gentleman’s history is much mixed up with public acts, aud the different parties view his conduct according to their particular opinions, I Bhall not enter into that subject; but shall merely state that, after prosecutions and trials, and many exlarordinary scenes, Mr. M. was appointed Colonial Secretary, under the assumed government of Major J., of this same New South Wales regiment who was soon afterwards tried aud cashiered. In 1791', Mr. J. M. got bis first grant of land, 100 acres; his next was also TOO acre* next from Lord Cambden, 5,000 ; next was 700 acres to his excellent wife, from Governor Macquarie. From Earl Bathurst, the sons got 5,000 acres ; and from Governor Macquarie 2,300 acres, —in all, their grants bad amounted to 18,000 acres; and they have acquired by purchase 32,000 acres more, at an average cost of 7s. 6d. ; the highest price paid being, 18 s. In all, the landed property obtained by grant and purchase by Mr. J. M. and bis sons now df C .amounts to 50 000 acres!! Mr. M, never keeps above 25'000 sheep, in consequence of the great expense and difficulty of managing a larger number. He has 700 acres under the plough, Mr. J. ,M, purchased in 1800 sixty acres of laud in the township of Sydney for £25, which, in 1836 were valued, according tc the Government land price, at e£l,ooo an acre ! Everything has now fallen in price, and it is difficult to estimate the present value of this immense property ; but in the golden times I have not a doubt most of the land in the Cow-pastures would have averaged about 20s. an acre aud I am greatly below the truth when I ,]say that the whole including town lands, would have amounted with 25,000 sheep, to from ,£150,000 to 200,000. Far-sighted speculation and industry in the father, added to their own great energy and talents, have placed his sons in an enviable position in the country of their adoption, and laid the foundati on of the chief source of revenue of this great and important colony. —Hoods Aaslralia,