Why seven years?

[tamnonlinear]

Why seven years?

Last night I was singing to the kittens (well, singing in the same room as the kittens. They were playing leap and pounce) before going to bed. I was singing the Kate Rusby version of "Botany Bay". I was struck by the line:

For seven long years I'm transported
seven long years and a day.
Of course, the Faerie Queen's

Comments

[petersheil]

It is mentioned here that the sentences for deportation were between 7 and 14 years so I guess you are seeing minimum and maximum penalties.

I'd google you more but I ran out of time :)

FYI I searched on deportation +Australia +"English Law"

Peace
peter

[tamnonlinear]

Not only does that provide more of the information I was looking for, but it had the following great quote:

The stage which transportation was now reaching and the actual condition of affairs in the Australian colonies about this period do not appear to have been much understood in England. Earnest and thoughtful men. might busy themselves with prison discipline at home, and the legislature might watch with peculiar interest the results obtained from the special treatment of a limited number of selected offenders in Millbank penitentiary. But for the great mass of criminality deported to a distant shore no very active concern was shown. The country for a long time seemed satisfied with transportation. Portions of the system might be open to criticism. Thus the Commons committee of 1832 freely condemned the hulks at Woolwich and other arsenals in which a large number of convicts were kept while waiting embarkation. It was reported that the indiscriminate association of prisoners in them produced more vice, profaneness and

[petersheil]

I left my google list up and when I got a free moment ...

Try here for a whole load of legal / historic fact bumf - you just need an idea of the year you are aiming at to start the process off :) It is possible to waste spend many happy hours researching on the Internet :)

Peace
peter

Sadly, although I am Australian
Oh, I missed that - is it in your bio? And you sounded so nice ;)))))))) G'day

[tamnonlinear]

more links! Cool!

Yes, born but not raised. I've been in the US since I was three, and oneofthesedays will get duel citizenship.

I AM nice, damn it. Anyone says different is looking for a fight.

Thank you again.

[mtgat]

Orgies! Yay!

Ahem.

Not exactly helpful, but I'm also reminded of the tradition of the Sacred King, who was (according to my hazy memory) allowed to rule for seven years before being sacrificed. As long as the sacrifice schedule was kept, the land would prosper and be renewed.

[tamnonlinear]

See, I think on way of reading Tam Lin is as a Sacred King story. He's taken by the queen and then sacrificed at the end of the year. But my knowledge base is so poor I can't do more with it.

I thought it was a Year King though, I didn't know about a seven year term.

[petersheil]

... but doesn't that sound like a good idea for our modern leaders :) How much do you want to rule Mr Blair, Mr Bush? Enough to give up your lives??

I see possibilities here :))

[tamnonlinear]

Dear Mr. Bush,

Our country is still in poor economic shape. We think you need to take some more traditional steps to ensure our favour with the gods and help us prosper.

Re: It's the law

[tamnonlinear]

Actually I'm more interested in the concept of terms and contracts than why seven years in particular, since the number itself may be somewhat arbitrary. I was wondering (and I'm afraid I wasn't very clear about this, although you've answered the question anyway) if the number seven was tied to a particular type of contract or term of service, if there was some particular type of meaning tied to a seven-year cycle.

Much to think about. I'm glad that there are so many brilliant people posting here (like yourself) who can give me information on these questions, but it's also wonderfully humbling to see how very little I know.

Good luck on the dissertation. You have my best wishes and my envy as well.