33054-001934

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[top of left margin] 32/6398 - 27 Aug '32

[on right] Oldbury 25 Aug't 1832

Sir

I beg leave to inform you that the Constables of this District have represented to me, that they should be very thankful if their Salaries could be paid in Silver Coin; -- They assure me their pay would be far more valuable to them if they were not compelled as at present to resort to Innkeepers and Dealers to get their Checks changed, and who will not accomodate them unless they spend something with them, by which means they are frequently drawn on to spend more, or even to run in debt. ---

They have further represented to me that they are informed a Letter was

[on right] addressed

[bottom of left margin]

The Hon'ble

The Colonial Secretary

[written in left margin, in pencil]

Requesting

payments in

specie -

[in another hand]

Was not [an] alternative recently awarded as asked for from Bong Bong ?

[top left] 2

addressed to Mr Dunbar enquiring whether it would be desirable to pay the Police in Specie, which he answered in the negative without consulting them. ---

The want of Specie in circulation is a great check to Trade in the Interior; No good Mechanic or Tradesmen will settle himself where he can never see money in circulation; and no Towns or Inland Markets can ever exist till this want is supplied. - The few Chelsea Pensioners resident in the District were formerly paid in British Coin, as I believe by Law they ought to be; but of late this practice has been discontinued, and the Inn Keepers, Dealers and Tradesmen inform me, that they feel the loss of ^ [added above] (even) this small quantity of Silver in circulation

[on right] very

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very materially. -----

I have thought it my duty to submit the foregoing circumstances to you, for the consideration of His Excellency the Governor, in accordance with the request of the Constables, especially as a Commissariat Officer is about to be stationed at Bong Bong, instead of the Commissariat Clerk now employed there. ----- - And have the honor to [be]

Sir

Your Obd't Humble Servant

[signed] Jas. Atkinson

[on right] J.P.

[top left] 12

[diagonally, on left, in pencil]

£612. 22 [?]

.... Sep 1830

__________

[on right, diagonally, in pencil]

page 385

[underlined] (Margin)

[written in centre fold of page, turned lengthwise]

[underlined] (O.H.M.S.)

[on outer ring of oval franking stamp] GENERAL POST OFFICE SYDNEY

[inside stamp] 27 AU 27, [below] 1832

[written sideways, on left, below stamp] Free

[inside round franking stamp, on right] BONG BONG, [illegible date], 26 AU, 1831

[centred]

The Hon'ble

The Colonial Secretary

Sydney

[signed, on left] J Atkinson J.P.

[top right] 3

[centred] 32/6398

Mr Atkinson of Sutton Forest states that the Constables of that District have represented that they would be thankful if their Salaries could be paid in Silver Coin, and he suggests that it would be of much advantage to the District to increase the circulation of British Coin - remarking, as one ground for his submitting the subject, that a Commissariat Officer is about to be stationed at Bong Bong, instead of the Clerk now employed there.

It is also stated that the Constables have represented that a letter was addressed to Mr Dunbar enquiring whether it would be desirable

[on right] to

[written in right margin]

Let the D'y Comm'y Gen'l see Mr Atkinson's letter and this "precis", as I wish him to understand that I approve of these Salaries being paid in "Silver Coin" accord'g to Gen Darling's Order which has never been cancelled and sh'd therefore be punctually obeyed.

Oct'r 17 ...... [initials] RB.

[in another hand]

D'y Cmm'y Gen'l ... 19 Oct 1832

......... 32/8327