1813. 6 Aug. Claims of Memorial of during the Administration of Gov. King, Lord Bathurst has not given him any Expectation of further Grants, but has merely acquainted Mr. Harris that his Memorial would be transmitted for your Consideration. His Lordship forbears to express any opinion as to the Propriety of giving him any further Grant of Land or any other usual Encouragement as a Settler, since he has some doubts whether the Share, which Mr. Harris took in the transactions of the year 1808, may not have been such as entirely to preclude him from any further participation in the favours of Government to which his long Services would seem in other respects to give him some Claim. Of this as well as of other Circumstances stated by Mr. Harris in his Memorial you will be enabled from your residence on the Spot to form a correct Judgement, and to act accordingly upon the Prayer of his Memorial. I have, &c., [Enclosure.] HENRY GOULBURN. THE MEMORIAL OF JOHN HARRIS, LATE SURGEON OF THE 102D FOOT. To the Right Honorable Earl Bathurst His Majesty's Secretary of State for the War and Colonies &c. &c. Most respectfully sheweth, That your Lordship's Memorialist, after a Service of Twenty Two Years, as Assistant Surgeon and Surgeon of the 102d Foot, is permitted in consideration thereof to retire from His Majesty's service on the Military Allowance by law established. And that he has a respectable, if not an affluent property, in New South Wales, consisting of different parcels of Land which he purchased from time to time (except a Farm of Seven Hundred and Fifty Acres given him by Governor King); large Herds of Cattle of different discriptions, But particularly one of Spotted Deer (the only one in the Colony) the number of which Memorialist believes to be about Four Hundred; and which your Lordship's Memorialist procured at a great expence and risque from India. The whole of which, however, have been let loose on the Colony, by the breaking down of Memorialist's Fences since his absence from New South Wales, an event which cannot fail, Ultimately, to benefit the settlement as much as it will, in the first instance, injure and disappoint your Lordship's Memorialist. That during your Memorialist's residence in the said Colony, He successively fill'd the situations of Naval Officer and Harbour Master of Port Jackson much to the satisfaction (he flatters himself) of the different Governors, Merchants, and others. Your Lordship's Memorialist executed that very Arduous and Unpleasant situation of Magistrate of Police for upwards of Ten years prior to his return to this Country. That in consequence of Memorialist's advanced period of life, after a service of Thirty Two Years in His Majesty's service, having been Ten Years in the Royal Navy in India, previous to his being placed in the 102d Foot, and a residence during the whole of that period in a Tropical Climate, He finds his health endangered even by a Sojourn in England. And having procured your Lordship's, The Commander in Chief's, and Secretary at War's permission to return to New South Wales (where he will probably end his days) He most humbly Prays that your Lordship will be pleased to enquire his Character, as an Officer-a Gentleman, and a deserving Citizenof any or all of those Gentlemen who have acted as Governors of the Colony, or of any other persons of respectability who have resided therein, And should it appear from that information that Memorialist's conduct has been such as your Lordship approves, He then solicits your Lordship's permission to proceed to New South Wales in the Character of a Free Settler and to be indulged by such Grants of Land, as your Lordship, in your protecting Wisdom and liberality, may deem him worthy of. JOHN HARRIS. No. 26 King Street, Covent Garden, July 9th, 1813. UNDER SECRETARY GOULBURN TO GOVERNOR MACQUARIE. (Despatch per transport Wanstead; acknowledged by Governor Macquarie to Earl Bathurst, 28th April, 1814.) Sir, Downing Street, 7th Aug., 1813. 1813. 6 Aug. Memorial of 7 Aug. for wives to I am directed by Lord Bathurst to acquaint you that the Permission following Persons, Wives of Convicts, have been permitted to follow convict follow their Husbands to New South Wales, and that they will husbands. embark in the Ship Genl. Hewitt, viz. Mrs. Gardiner, Mrs. Rogers, Mrs. Wheeler. I have, &c., HENRY GOULBURN. My Lord, GOVERNOR MACQUARIE TO EARL BATHURST. (Despatch* marked "No. 7 of 1813," per whaler Phoenix.) Sydney, New South Wales, 7th August, 1813. 1. Since My Dispatch per Ship Minstrel, under date the 28th June last (a Duplicate of which I have the Honor to transmit Your Lordship herewith) No Occurrence of a public Nature * Note 1. 1813. 7 Aug. Problem of the grain supply. Reports to be made by district magistrates. Precautionary measures against famine. Reduction in the price of wheat. Want of a ready market. Trading carried on by officials. has taken place here, of sufficient Importance to render it the Subject of a Communication to Your Lordship; and I am happy to add that the Colony Continues in a perfect State of Peace and Tranquility. 2. Altho' our last Harvest produced a Redundance of Grain, more than sufficient for a Year's Subsistence of double the present Population, if well husbanded, Yet owing to the lazy Negligence of the lower orders of the Settlers, and their Inexcusable and profuse Waste of Grain, in their feeding not only their Horses and Cows with it but also their Pigs and Dogs; there is now a great Scarcity Induced, and I am Concerned to add that the Quantity in the Country will with great Difficulty subsist the Inhabitants until the next Harvest. 3. In Consequence of the Apprehensions entertained of an actual Famine being the Result of this Profusion and Waste, I have lately Called on the District Magistrates to make me accurate Reports (from personal Survey) of the Quantity of Grain now to be reckoned on in the Country at large; and on these Reports I have adopted Such Measures as will effectually Secure a Sufficiency for the Victualling of those Persons who are dependent on the Crown for their Subsistence. I further mean to adopt and publish such Regulations and Orders as I trust will guard against the Calamity of a Famine in the Colony, which Can only be effected by restraining a further Waste, and at the same time reducing the Standard of the Bread both in Weight and Quality. 4. It is here worthy of Your Lordship's Notice to observe that whilst at this time apprehensions are entertained of a Famine. the last Harvest was so remarkably bountiful that I found myself enabled to reduce the Price of Wheat, taken into the King's Stores, from ten to Eight Shillings Sterling per Bushel. The Government Stores Not being, however, Equal to the Reception of the Quantities tendered by the Settlers at that price and there being no Other Market for it to be disposed of at, have Induced them to become Indifferent about it and even to Waste it in the most shameful Manner. 5. This Want of a ready Market is Certainly a very serious Check to the Industry of the Farmers, and is in My Consideration one of the Strongest Inducements to the immediate Establishment of a Distillery on a large Scale, which I have already Recommended to Your Lordship's Consideration. 6. Several Officers in the Civil Departments of the Service of this Colony and particularly those at the subordinate Settlements being still in the habit of trafficking in various Articles of Merchandize, like Ordinary Traders, Notwithstanding every 1813. 7 Aug. required by Injunction to the Contrary, I have to request that Your Lordship will Honor me with particular Instructions how I shall Act towards Such Officers as may be detected in these Practices so evi- Instructions dently Clashing with their public Duty. And I beg Leave to Macquarie. Solicit Your Lordship to transmit Me an Absolute Order, prohibiting Civil Officers from being Concerned in Trade directly or indirectly or from Acting as Agents or Attornies for Persons either in, or absent from the Colony. 7. I do myself the Honor to transmit herewith for Your Lord- Accounts ship's Notice and Information the following Accounts and transmitted. Returns Vizt. First. The Account Current of the Expences of the Colony for the Quarter ending 24th June, 1813. Second. The Account Current of the Military Expences from the 25th December 1812 to the 24th July 1813. Third. The Reports of Duties Collected by the Naval Officer And Fourth. The Account of the Police Fund for the [Copies of these accounts will be found in a volume in series II.] UNDER SECRETARY GOULBURN TO GOVERNOR MACQUARIE. (Despatch per transport Windham; acknowledged by Governor Macquarie to Earl Bathurst, 28th April, 1814.) Downing Street, 8th August, 1813. 8 Aug. the transport Sir, I have the directions of Earl Bathurst to transmit to you Assignment herewith the Copy of a Letter from Mr. Beckett the Under of convicts on Secretary of State for the Home Department, dated the 6th Wanstead. Instant, together with the List and Assignment therein inclosed in original of One hundred and Nineteen (119) Female Convicts embarked on board the Ship "Wanstead" now under Dispatch for New South Wales. I have, &c., [Enclosure.] HENRY GOULBURN. UNDER SECRETARY BECKETT TO UNDER SECRETARY GOULBURN. Sir, I am directed by Lord Sidmouth to transmit to you the within Assignment of 119 Female Convicts, which have embarked on the Ship Wanstead in order to their being conveyed to 1813. 8 Aug. 9 Aug. Frauds committed in registration of prize vessels. New South Wales pursuant to their respective Sentences, and I [Sub-enclosure.] J. BECKETT, [A copy of the assignment of convicts is not available.] EARL BATHURST TO GOVERNOR MACQUARIE. (A circular despatch per transport Windham; acknowledged by Governor Macquarie, 28th April, 1814.) Sir, I transmit to you herewith the Copy of a Letter from the Secretary of the Treasury upon the subject of Frauds, which are stated to have been practised by the Substitution of Vessels, not condemned in lieu of such as have been regularly Condemned in the Vice Admiralty Courts abroad, whereby such first mentioned Vessels obtain British Registers. And I am to desire that you will, as far as may depend on you, take the necessary Steps for establishing the additional Checks mentioned in Mr. Harrison's Letter. I have, &c., Downing Street, 9th August, 1813. BATHURST. [Enclosure.] Precautions to be taken against fraudulent registration of ships. SECRETARY HARRISON TO UNDER SECRETARY GOULBURN. Sir, Treasury Chambers, 2d August, 1813. I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of His. Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you for the information of Lord Bathurst, that many Frauds have been practised by the substitution of Vessels, not condemned, in lieu of such as have been regularly condemned in the Vice Admiralty Courts abroad, whereby such first mentioned Vessels obtain British Registers. to which they have no right. My Lords are desirous that additional Checks should be obtained in the said Courts with a view to secure the identity of the Vessels applying for British Registers on the Ground of their being condemned Prizes; and under that impression, I am to acquaint you that My Lords desire you will move Lord Bathurst to give special Injunctions to the Judges in the several Places abroad, where Vice Admiralty Courts are established, that the Surveying Officers do not fill up Certificates without resorting to the Evidence in the Registry or to other satisfactory means of ascertaining the Identity of the |