![]() ![]() ![]() These English views of the United States in the colonial period as penal settlements and convict establishments move incredulity and indignation in Americans, with whom Plymouth stands for a colony of conscience, Massachusetts for an asylum of martyrs, and Virginia for the old dominion of high-bred cavaliers. The super-abundance of public women, who are always rather good-looking, were sent over to America in early times.' " The Doctor answered, 'Oh, that is easily accounted for. "I remarked how curious a fact it was that all American women look so genteel and refined, even the lowest small heads, fine silky hair, delicate and marked eyebrows. The scene was a breakfast in 1844 at Dr. Ferguson's in London. Dr. Lang, after comparing various estimates, concludes that the number sent might be about 50,000 altogether." 1 Again, in the Encyclopaedia Britannica, under the article "Botany Bay," we read: "On the revolt of the New England colonies, the convict establishments in America were no longer available, and so the attention of the British government was turned to Botany Bay, and in 1787 a penal settlement was formed there." In keeping with these statements is a conversation related in the autobiography of Dr. Francis Lieber (p180). According to one estimate, about 2000 had been sent for many years annually. In 1769 Dr. Johnson, speaking of Americans, said to a friend, "Sir, they are a race of convicts and ought to be content with anything we may allow them short of hanging." In the latest edition of Boswell, who chronicled this saying, it is explained by the following footnote: "Convicts were sent to nine of the American settlements. This webpage reproduces an article in the ![]()
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