33054-001903

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[top of left margin] 32/4190 - 30 May 1832

[on right] Comm't Office Sydney 29 May 1832

[underlined] (No. 274)

Sir,

In reply to the concluding paragraph of your letter No. 342 of the 23rd Instant, I beg to state, that in my endeavour to keep the Penal Settlements fully Supplied with every discription [sic] of article necessary for the maintenance of those Establishments, and to keep up a Supply of at least six months in advance at each, I have experienced repeated disappointment since the two Government Vessels (the "Governor Phillip" and "Isabella") are not adequate for that purpose, and at the same time to afford passages to all the Troops and Prisoners, besides all other descriptions of Public and Private Stores required to be sent to them. But for the Supply of Grain - produced at the Settlements and made available for the maintenance of those Establishments I should have been compelled,

[on right] Ere

[bottom of left margin]

The Hon'ble

The Colonial Secretary

&c ... &c ... &c.

[written in left margin]

Mr J

[underlined] (Information)

[in another marginal hand]

Supplies for Penal Settlements See Gov'r's Min. [Minute] enclosed

See notation also

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Ere this to Submit the necessity of hiring a vessel to take Supplies to Moreton Bay, and I now foresee that Such a measure will be indispensable immediately after the Salt Meat Contracted for the ensuing Year is in readiness for Shipment, and more particularly So if the number of Prisoners to be Sent to both Settlements should be numerous.

I have the honor to be

Sir

Your most ob't Servant,

[signed] James Laidley

[on right] D.[C.]G.

[written in right margin]

I [underlined] (hope not): but this is a strong Reason for keeping the Vessels in Harbour as short a time as possible.

[initials, on right] RB

[in another marginal hand]

... Mr Laidley

... " ... Nicholson } 6 June '32