MISCELLANEOUS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 191, 29 May 1847, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Convict System. — It is understood that the Government has determined upon sjme important changes in reference to the transportation of convicts. In the first place, the transportation of male convicts is to cease for a 'period of two yvars. Female convict* are still to be sent to Van Diemen's Land, in order to correct, in some degree, the disproportion of the sexes, which has been attended with such frightful evils in that island. With respect to the convicts already in the colony, a change, of which the precise details have not been n.ade known, will be introduced as to the method of employing them. The establishment on Norfolk Island is to be removed to Tasman's Peninsula, and in conjunction with these measures a penitentiary system is to be adopted, in which the principles of the separate and silent systems are to be combined with that advocated so ably arid zealously by Captain Machonochie, of measuring portions of puni&hment by labour, instead of time. We are not now about to offer any remarks upon this important subject, 1 ut'simply to make the fact known to our readers, and to express our gratification at finding the Government turning its serious attention to the matter of secondary punishments — Lloyd's, Dec. 30.

A Scotch Country Inn on Sunday. — Even in this age of rapid locomotion there must be few of my readers who have no., been, at least once in their lives, the habitant of a Scottish country inn on a Sabbath evening. It is necessary, however, that they should have been in the same situation on some other evening of the week, that they may properly appreciate that sober quiet, that softened still— n'-ss, that more than partial cessation from labour, and din, and discord, of things animate and inanimate, that pervad.s the precincts of a country inn on the evening in question. The lighting of a bed-room candle, or the ringing for a pair of slippers, at such a time, seems to be done under protest. The chambermaid, who the evening before looked so made up of "becks and nods, and wreathed'smiles" — that you wondered whether she smiled through her sleep, or even if she ever shut her eyes at all, they glnced so brilliant and cheerful, and happy — now looks demure and grave, while .every dimple seems to say, " Nae daffin the nicht : ye ken it's Sunday." Go down stairs, ami you find the ostler seated at the kitchen fire, listless, inactive, with a face ten times more demure ti.an the maid's, his finger and thumb inserted in a well-worn edition of the " Scots Worthies," or " The Confession of Faith." PasNing the bar, you observe the landlady seated, similarly occupied ; her snow-white cap and collar, and sober silk gown, proclaiming that maid and matron are at peace. Scolding is banished for a day. Mine host is stretched, pipe in hand, now eyeing his portly helpmate, anon watching the clouds that curl in regular succession from his almost motionless lips. The clock at the top of the staircase is the only object, within or without, that seems to court your observation:'its constant, well-marked march sounding, amid the stillness, louder than you ever heard it before, till you attach an importance to it that amply makes up for your neglect of it in times past, because you have nothing else to listen to. — Taits Magazine.