{"product_id":"1831-van-diemens-land-tasmania-laws-ordinances-1826-1830","title":"Original 1831 Van Diemen's Land Tasmania Laws \u0026 Ordinances 1826–1830 British Parliamentary Paper","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal \u003cb\u003e1831 British Parliamentary paper containing the laws and ordinances of the Colony of Van Diemen's Land, now Tasmania\u003c\/b\u003e, covering the years \u003cb\u003e1826–1830\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe title reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eVan Diemen's Land. Copies of the Laws and Ordinances Passed by the Governor and Council of the Colony of Van Diemen's Land. 1826–1830.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePresented to Parliament through the Colonial Department, Downing Street, on \u003cb\u003e3 March 1831\u003c\/b\u003e, and \u003cb\u003eordered by the House of Commons to be printed on 11 March 1831\u003c\/b\u003e. The document is numbered \u003cb\u003e242\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a particularly interesting primary source relating to the administration of Van Diemen's Land during its period as a British penal colony. Approximately 75,000 convicts were transported to Van Diemen's Land during the period of transportation, and these laws provide a detailed contemporary record of how the colony was governed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe document also dates from the period of the \u003cb\u003eBlack War\u003c\/b\u003e, when violent conflict was taking place between British colonists and Aboriginal Tasmanians. Although this volume is a compilation of colonial legislation rather than an account of that conflict, it provides important contemporary context for the legal and administrative system operating in the colony during this period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe laws were enacted under \u003cb\u003eLieutenant-Governor Colonel George Arthur\u003c\/b\u003e, whose name appears repeatedly throughout the document. Subjects represented include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003esummary punishment and regulation of male and female convicts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003etransportation of offenders\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003epowers of the Principal Superintendent of Convicts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003esale and licensing of ale, beer, wine and spirits\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ecirculation of British sterling and regulation of Spanish dollars\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eprinting and publication of newspapers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003enewspaper duties and licensing of printers and publishers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003epostal service and postage rates\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eregistration of deeds, wills, judgments and conveyances\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ecourts and administration of justice\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ehouses of correction\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003esheep and cattle slaughtering\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eregulation of dogs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003epublic houses, gambling and tippling\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoman Catholic subjects\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOf particular interest is the legislation concerning \u003cb\u003econvict discipline\u003c\/b\u003e. The first Act provides for the summary punishment of disorderly conduct by offenders, including female convicts, and defines powers exercised by the Principal Superintendent of Convicts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother Act imposes a \u003cb\u003estamp duty on newspapers\u003c\/b\u003e and licence fees on printers and publishers. The document also contains an early \u003cb\u003epostal rate table\u003c\/b\u003e, giving inland postage according to distance and the number or weight of sheets, together with rates for overseas mail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are several printed schedules and forms, including a remarkably detailed \u003cb\u003edog licence form\u003c\/b\u003e, providing spaces for the owner's name and residence and the dog's name, age, sex, colour, identifying marks and intended use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e92 pages.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMeasurements:\u003c\/b\u003e 8 1\/4\" × 13 1\/4\" (21 × 33.7 cm).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe document remains unbound as issued, with stitching visible along the spine. There is some age-related spotting and toning, light handling wear, together with period or early manuscript numbering in several upper margins. Sections of the document are separated along the spine.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThe interior pages are generally clean and the printing remains clear. Please refer to the photographs for condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVan Diemen's Land only began operating with its own Legislative Council in 1826, and its first Act was passed on 1 August 1826—which is actually the first Act reproduced in this document. The 1826–1830 compilation effectively records the first five years of legislation of the newly separate colony.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn uncommon original \u003cb\u003e1831 parliamentary document relating to colonial Tasmania\u003c\/b\u003e, with particularly strong interest for collectors and researchers of Australian history, convict transportation, colonial law, early postal history and the history of Van Diemen's Land.\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Poppy's Vintage Clothing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50416654745705,"sku":null,"price":350.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0273\/1559\/files\/Van-Diemens-Land-Laws.jpg?v=1790352701","url":"https:\/\/www.poppysvintageclothing.com\/fr\/products\/1831-van-diemens-land-tasmania-laws-ordinances-1826-1830","provider":"Poppy's Vintage Clothing","version":"1.0","type":"link"}