Colonial Secretary's Correspondence

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obtained Certificates of Freedom Nos 32/674 &. 905 dated 18th July & 9th Oct last, and whose description on the back of their cer-tificates correspond with those taken on arrivalThe description of Owen Flanagan (now at Moreton Bay under sentence of the Quarter Sessions Sydney 28 May 1828 of seven years) as taken on his arrival is, Height 5 feet 3/2 inches without shoes-complexion Dark Ruddy-Hair light Brown- Eyes. Hazel has PFMFAW on right arm.

I have the honor to be Sir Your obedient servant H Cabuar[?] In the absence of Mr Hely

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[diagonally from bottom LH corner] Obtain the Atty. Genl's Report, as directed in on 32/8877 - But lest a Vessel should sail in this mean time to Moreton Bay, take a Copy of this, as the formal [?] marks recorded ought to be sufficient to identify the [?]

[different hand] Capt Clunie 26 Dec 32 Mr Kinchela 29 __ ditto

[different hand] 33/103

[top LH corner] 33/103_5th January 1833 Moreton Bay

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Attorney General's Office 4th January 1833.

Sir,

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Letter of the 29th Ultimo by the direction of the Governor transmitting to me an Extract of a Letter from the Commandant at Moreton Bay respecting the Two Prisoners named in the Margin, the first of whom has obtained a Certi-ficate of Freedom, but which instrument is now, claimed by Owen Flanaghan who states that he is the real Patrick Flanaghan, and requesting my opinion and advice in the amtter.

In reply I have the honor to state for the Information of His Excellency, that enquiry should be made at the Office of the Superinten-dent of Convicts as to the identity of the Parties, and that when it will be ascertained which of the parties is Patrick Flanagan, such person will be entitled to his Certificate of Freedom, as to the person who shall appear to be Owen Flanaghan, he should be retained or returned to Moreton Bay until the termination of his Colonial Sen-

The Honorable The Colonial Secretary

[LH margin] [different hand] [??]

[different hand] Patrick Flanaghan Owen Flanaghan [underlined] Mangles

[different hand] Report on the cases of two men so [?] that they can surely [?] be [?] one of whom has obtained his freedom. Later with time [?] claims it as being the same person -

For the information of Capt Clunie at Moreton Bay

33/356 [crossed out] Schedule 125/33 20 March 33 33/2085

33/1356 "/1924 "/1964 " 2085

[LH margin] The opinion of the Inspector of Hospitals that Woollen " Clothing would be more " suitable for the Prisoners at Moreton Bay having been communicated to the Deputy Commissary General that officer requests authority to purchase further supplies of woollen frocks[?] and trousers by Private Contract - referring to a letter of the 8th Instant 33/1924 enclosed detailing the difficulties in obtaining Clothing on the grounds of his purchasing by Private Contract which he states to have been approved by His Excellency.

In 33/2085 enclosed Mr Laidley recommends for acceptance a Tender of Mr. Montefiori to supply Corduroy Trousers at 9/3 each and also requests

[RH margin] [different hand] See also letter to Mr Hely, Major Mitchell, Mr Busby Mr Murray 25 April 1833

[different hand] Scheduled today [underlined]

[different hand] Govrs decision [underlined] The Inspector having report-ed that it is necessary to supply the men at Moreton Bay with Woollen Clothing for the winter, they must be supplied accordingly.

The necessary purchases may be made by private Contract for the reasons stated by the D.y Commy. General, and Serge Shirts & Corduroy Trousers furnished to the Convicts.

Mr Laidley 23 March 1833 [Signatures??]

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are submitted for approval.

A vessel sails shortly for Moreton Bay & it is desirable the clothing should be sent by it.

Mr Lord's letter/annexed to Mr Laidley's/complaining of the work at the Factory should perhaps be referred to the Committee. __

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1356 1924 33/1964 2085

Schedule 125/33 20 March 33

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Copy

Commandants Office Moreton Bay 14 Jany 1833

Sir

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your Letter of the 14th Ultimo, and in reply beg leave to state that in general, [underlined] (Linen) Clothing is preferred here; and I am not aware that in this Climate, any bad efects result from the use of it.

I have the honor to be Sir Your most obedt Servt J. Clunie Capt 17 Rt Convt

The Deputy Commissary Genl &c &c &c

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[centre of page] 33/916 Schedule 57/33 1 February 33

[diagonally from bottom LH corner of page, different hand] Governor's decision [underlined]

I presume the Deputy Comy General proposed to issue at Moreton Bay for the winter half year, the same clothing that he issues for the Summer, to which I have no objection if the Medical Officer unites with the Comman-dant in recommending it but I think under any circumstances some Woollen Clothing ought to be forwarded for Invalids __

[underlined] [different pen] Mr Bowman 12 Feby 1833

[top LH corner] 38/2427 _ 1 April 1833

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To His Excelleney, Major General Richard Bourke, Governor in Chief of New South Wales. - &c___&c___&c___

The Petition of John Bushell, per Ship Phoenix 1828; Life, now at [underlined] (Moreton Bay) in the Ordinary Service of the Crown.

Most humbly sheweth;

That your Petitioner is the Eldest Son of Benjamin Bushell, formerly at the Head of an eminent Mercantile House, one branch of which (in Limerick) during the first Peninsular War, was probably, not unknown to Your Excellency.

That on the death of Your Petitioner's Father, the care of his education devolved on his Uncle, and Guardian, John Bushell, whose Establishments in London, and in the Peninsula, under the firms of MacDonnell, and Bushell of London; MacDonnell, and Bushell of Lisbon; John Bushell, and Coy. of Allicante &c, held, not long since, a distinguished rank in the Mercantile World. That Your Petitioner's Uncle, having no Children, gave him a most expensive education, and brought him up in the expectation of inheriting a Fortune, which, until the failure of the London House, was generally considered immense. That by the failure, and subsequent demise of his Uncle, Your Petitioner found himself, at the Age of Twenty, without the means of gratifying those expensive habits, contracted thro' the well meant, tho' illjudged indulgence of a fond Parent; and rendered more dangerous by the total absence of Application, and Economy, by which, alone, the deficiencies of Fortune can honorably be supplied. That Your Petitioner, consequently, became his own Master when the Passions are in full force; while the youthful mind is rarely able to resist the allurements of dissipation. He was left, not destitute, it is true; but with the wreck of his Family's fortune at his own disposal, which was soon absorbed by the pleasures of the Continent, where your Petitioner had passed the greater part of his life. That your Petitioner cannot describe, in the narrow limits of a Memorial, the almost imperceptible degrees, by which he, unfortunately, lost sight of those honorable principles that had heretofore characterised every other Member of his Family. It will be sufficient to say, that in an evil hour, he became connected with the Individual, for whose crimes he was rendered responsible; although a Memorial, presented alter your Petitioner's conviction, by Mr Spring Rice, and a Deputation of London Bankers, ^(?) established, beyond all question, “that your Petitioner was the Dupe of the Frenchman's artifices", and not a "Particeps Criminis". That the strong terms of the Memorial, and the high respectability of the Memoralists (it being signed by Two Hundred London Merchants,) had deservedly made a powerful impression on the mind of the Marquis of Lansdowne, and influenced him greatly in Your Petitioner's favor; [crossed out] (when a) but change of Administration, and Mr Peel's return to Office, rendered abortive all the exertions of Your Petitioner's Friends.

That Your Petitioner was sent out to this Colony in 1828, and was forwarded on his arrival, to the Settlement of "Wellington Valley", where he remained until the dissolution of that Establishment in 1830; when he returned to Sydney, and was immediately removed to Moreton Bay, [underlined] (in the Ordinary Service of the Crown); a distinction, from the nature of the Settlement, purely nominal: Your Petitioner being rendered subject to the same rigid restrictions, and penal visitations, as a Secondly convicted Offender.

That your Petitioner is totally unconscious of having, in any way, deserved the displeasure of the Authorities; and can therefore, only impute his being consigned to a Penal Settlement, to the secret, and malignant misrepresentation of some evil-disposed Persons, whom he may have, unwittingly, offended.

That

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That Your Petitioner having acquired, by his former habits, a capability to give instruction in the Classics, Continental languages, and Music, ventured to hope, that, if assigned as Tutor to a respectable Family, in compliance with the many Applications made for his Services, he might, by the assiduous exercise of those qualifications, and by a continued course of good conduct, eventually recommend himself to the favorable notice of Your Excellency, and thereby ultimately obtain a partial remission of his awful Sentence; but by being kept at a Penal Settlement, where his Acquirements cannot possibly be called into action, Your Petitioner must entirely forego the hope of raising himself to favor by individual merit.

That Your Petitioner is authorised by James Kinshorne, Esq: J.P. his late Superintendent, to refer to him, as to Your Petitioner's exemplary conduct at “Wellington Valley["] and He flatters himself, that his behaviour while at Moreton Bay, will be considered equally deserving of praise, and that his Superiors will continue this Statement.

That your Petitioner humbly implores Your Excellency to take his Case into your humane consideration, and should any unfavorable representations have been made, to afford him an opportunity of vindicating himself against his secret Accusers or grant him such relief from his present Sufferings, as Your Excellency may deem expedie[nt].

And your Petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray: &c_ J Bushell Moreton Bay, 20th June, 1832.

[different hand] Certified that during the time Memorialist has been at this Settlement, I am not aware of his having been guilty of any irregularity or misconduct, and that his general conduct has been correct. [signature] J. Clunie Capt. 17th Regt. Comdt.

[different habd] John Bushell has acted as my clerk for the last Six Months, which has afforded me an opportunity of accurately estimating his disposition conduct and acquirements. I have found them, in the strictest sense of the word, unexceptionable; and I conscientionsly believe that his future behaviour will justify any indulgence that may be extended to him. --

John [signature] [?] [Parks?] Supt of [underlined] (Agriculture)