Volume 92: Macarthur family papers relating to public affairs, 1824-1866

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[Typed page: Public Questions. List of contents.]

Pencil note:] N.B. Nos 7-10 form a file which is preserved in original order.

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23. Conference of Municipal Delegates, Sydney, 1866 — Report of Proceedings.

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[Seal] [Pencil note:] 1. [Pencil note:] No 49. No. 135

May it please your Lordship,

We His Majesty's most loyal and dutiful Subjects the undersigned Landed Proprietors, inhabitants and Merchants of New South Wales, beg leave to express our grateful sense of the benefits this Colony has derived from Your Lordships exertions to cherish its rising interests, — to establish due reverence and obedience to His laws; and to create domestic union, by obtaining for us the germ of a legislature, which will we trust, in due time, Secure to us a full participaton in [those?] blessings, which have made our Venerated Native Land, the admiration and the wonder of the World —

We have received with respectful and unfeigned thankfulness, the Law, enacted by His Majesty in Parliament, "for the better administration of Justice in New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, and for the more effectual govenment thereof" As promising when wisely administered, a great improvement of our Condition; and as the Precursor of still greater benefits intended for us, whenever His Majesty's Government may Consider it expedient, from the increased number of Respectable Inhabitants to Confer upon us a Legislative Assembly, and the inestimable privilege of Trial by Jury, In our present state, we are sensible that the possession of this sacred Institution of our Ancestors, might be productive of great evil; and we consider the Steady opposition of His Majestys Government to its hasty introduction, as the dearest proof of the Correct and enlightened views, they have taken of our peculiar population,

Relying

The Right Honble The Earl Bathurst K.G. &c &c &c

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Relying, with unceasing Confidence upon Your Lordships benevolence and wisdom, we forbear on this occasion to obtrude upon Your Lordship any details relative to the difficulties against which we are now struggling as we rest assured, that the representations, will receive all due attention, which have been transmitted through various channels to Edward Barnard Esqre our Colonial Agent by which appointment we consider ourselves most essentially served — From Mr Barnards intimate Knowledge of our local affairs, the established Colonists, may expect their interests will be vigilantly protectecd; and the Stranger, who meditates a Settlement amongst us, may be assured of the best information.

We thankfully accept him, therefore, for our Representative, — as another instance of Your Lordship's solicitude for the welfare of the Colony, and we respectfully assure Your Lordship, that it will be our Study to evince our gratitude for every favor we may receive, by unremitting endeavours to provide employment and support for the unfortunate Men, who are sent hither under the Sentence of the Law, — to reform the dissolute. — to cherish a zealous and dutiful attachment to His Majesty's Government; — and to elevate this Colony, into one of the most valuable, and loyal Dependencies of the Crown. —

New South Wales 29th January 1824