G'day all,

Curtis & Loretta: If you check most versions of Black Velvet Band you will find that the lady is not apprehended. She sets him up ... 'frames him' for her theft.

I have heard some contend that this records a practice, at one point, of authorities trying to get a few tradesmen (the singer, in whatever town is mentioned on that particular broadside, says "... Apprenticed to trade I was bound ...") out to colonies full of the unskilled poor who fell foul of the law.

Since many magistrates and other influential people would have had connections, investments or even proprties in The Colonies, it was to their advantage to provided a pool of skilled artisans. I had a friend in "Rouseabouts" Bush Band, during the 1970s (Ray Grieve, author of the definitive history of the mouthorgan in Australia A Band in a Waistcoat Pocket), who has always maintained his family's claim that their convict anscestor was the victim of just such a subterfuge.

One aspect, stonemasonry and building, had been dealt with when the English transferred the prisoners of the 1798 Irish uprising from Belfast, where they had been set to work building then world's biggest drydock, out to Australia, rather than releasing them as (now) skilled tradsman. This probably explains why the Stonemasons' Union, later in the 19th century, was one of the most progressive and effective, pushing through the 8 hour working day with their campaign sloganned 8 Hours Work - 8 Hours Play - 8 Hours Sleep - 8 Bob a Day. These men carved the old part of Sydney from "The Rocks" that still give their name to that district.

McGrath of Harlow: Your explanation pretty well agrees with my suspicions. Such a confection could only be constructed deliberately by someone with a broad knowledge of the different texts ... and a warped sense of humour. I'm not sure it would be a good thing for me to know who it was!

Regards,

Bob Bolton