Thank you Pam for you concise, and interesting outline, for understanding the reasons of transportation to NSW with English criminals, rather then throwing them into their over crowded jails. Regards Jill J -----Original Message----- From: aus-convicts-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:aus-convicts- To understand the reasons for transportation to Australia, and for commutation of sentences to transportation isn't difficult. You only need to read some of the history and social history of the times - what was happening in England and why. Times, mores and values were different then and you need to come at this subject from a "then" mentality, not a "now" mentality. England had been happily dumping its felons off to America, but after the war when they were no longer able to do this, things got bad in England.