Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 1.djvu/320

 210 PHILLIP AND HIS STAFF. 1788-96 times robbed tie public stores of flour, meat, spirits, tobacco, and many other articles."* There was no recom- mendation to mercy in that case, although it was known owaaio that the men had been tempted to commit the oSence by furem. the scarcity of provisions, and the opportunity placed in their way. ' That the extreme penalty of the law should be rigo^ ously exacted for the conmussion of petty thefts which now- a-days would entail nothing more than a term of imprison- ment, while a criminal assault on a child should meet with inyereipn of so much mcrciful Consideration, seems an absurd inversion principles. of all recognised principles in the administration of justice. The only justification that can be found for it lies in the critical condition of the conununity at that time, which Result of created a feeling of alarm for the public safety rapidly developing into panic. Many analogies, however, might be found in the history of much older and wiser communi- ties than that of Sydney Cove in the last century ; for the influence of panic may be frequently traced in the legisla- tion of the present day as well as in the administration of justice. panic Digitized by Google
 * Tench, Ck)mplete Account, p. 17 ; CoUinB, p. 59.