Letter from Jane Franklin in Van Diemen's Land 1841 to Elizabeth Fry in England, and her reply, 1842

Abstract

Letter from Jane Franklin to Elizabeth Fry and her reply. Jane Franklin has not written before because she has nothing positive to say about the women prisoners and has done little to improve the situation. The circumstances do not assist with rehabilitation. Jane Franklin does not approve of the assignment system because it means that female convicts are in the towns where there is temptation. They look after colonial children and are a probable bad influence. There are also problems with the factory because of the bad influences of the women on each other and because they have plenty of food and no work to do. Regarding the orphan school, Jane Franklin thinks it harmful that convict children and those of free but destitute parents are housed together.