CO 194/75

CO 194/75 [Reel B-695]
Page	Date	From whom(where)	To whom(where)	Contents or nature of the document
Newfoundland 1827 Public Offices and Miscellaneous
Volume 2
Admiralty
4-5	3 March 1827	Barrow	Horton	Regarding Cochrane’s request that a ship should winter at Nfld, they reiterate their opinions of record (10 May and 7 June last), adding that while they consider it their duty to protect the Commerce of the colonies, it is not their duty to assist in the internal policing of them.
6-7	26 Dec 1827	Barrow	E. Stanley	William Carter was appointed judge of the vice admiralty court of Nfld 4o years ago (1787) and renewed in 1809; no further information. Discussion of how that office should be filled now
Agent
9	11 April 1827	Robert Gwilt	-	Certifying that Thomas Westcote, late Attorney General, received his salary from 1 May 1821 to 28 July 1823 inclusive, and no longer.
Foreign Department
Home Department
13-13v	1 March 1827	A. Hobhouse	Horton	Regarding the several documents on the cases of Armstrong and Lahey for highway robbery and murder, respectively, which were submitted to the Attorney & Solicitor General’s office for opinion; he transmits the accompanying pardons, which are conditional on being Transported for Life. They are to be sent to the Dromedary Convict Hulk at Bermuda, where they are to be taken forthwith.
Mr. Stephen
16-16v	16 Feb 1827	J. Stephen Junior	Horton	Regarding Mr. Browning’s "claims to be the proprietor of all the Lands and Buildings which are worth having in the Island of Newfoundland", suggesting that Mr. Browning must use his own discretion in deciding how to establish that claim. He himself is "very well persuaded that the claim is perfectly nonsensical". [this is the claim based on a connection to the original grant to George Calvert, Lord Baltimore in the seventeenth century]
18	4 July 1827	Stephen	- [Horton?]	Returning some papers respecting duties in Nfld which have been laid to rest by the New Custom House Bill.
Ordnance
21-21v	19 March 1827	R. Byham	Horton	Regarding Cochrane’s request for an erection of a new Infantry barracks at Fort William, saying that work cannot commence this year, as no money has been allotted for them in the current budget. Col. Nicolls, C.O. of Royal Engineers in Nova Scotia & New Brunswick, will visit Nfld to inspect and report on the works and barracks in Nfld
23-23v	26 March 1827	R. Byham	Horton	Regarding orders given to Colonel Nicolls, Commanding Royal Engineer at Nova Scotia, to proceed to Nfld to assess the state of the Fortifications and Public Buildings etc.
25-26	26 March 1827		Col. Nicolls	an extract of his instructions regarding the above.
Treasury
28	22 Jan 1827	W. Hile	Horton	Transmitting a copy of a letter from the Lords of the Treasury regarding the request for a new Gaol and Court House in Nfld.
30	22 Jan 1827	J.C. Herries	Secretary of Ordnance	Lords of Treasury approve temporary repairs to the current Government house, and building a new one, at Nfld. Request estimate of costs; also feel that Ordnance should be responsible for construction of new gaol and court house
32-33	14 Feb 1827	Morris	Horton	Regarding the auditing of the accounts of Nfld during Hamilton’s tenure as governor, transmitting papers thereto. Define fiscal procedures to be followed while the audit is underway
34-41	8 Dec 1826	Edmund Byng, John Conroy (Colonial Audit Office)	Lords of the Treasury	the aforementioned papers relating the audit of the accounts of the Government of Nfld under Hamilton (Governor’s accounts of Crown Rents; High Sheriff’s accounts of license duties & fees; Hamilton’s general accounts of bills drawn on the Treasury for public expenses (public works; dealing with disturbances); account of King’s Agents for the receipt and use of the annual grant. Each category is subsequently explained, and a discussion provided of how the accounts were handled during Hamilton’s tenure. In short, a comprehensive discussion of the public spending during Hamilton’s term in office
42	-	-	-	abstract of the accounts of Nfld under the administration of R.G. Keats, and Pickmore, from 21 Oct 1814 to 10 Jan 1818.
43	-	-	-	the same for Hamilton, 20 Oct 1818 to 8 Sept 1825.
44	-	-	-	ditto for High Sheriff Bland, 21 Oct 1823 to 20 Oct 1825.
45-45v	23 March 1827	Morris	Horton	Asking whether Westcote, recently dismissed from the service of the Customs in the Port of London for taking fees, resigned or was removed from his position as Attorney General of Nfld for any reason which should prevent him from receiving the allowance he has requested under 3.Geo. 4 c.116, which they are giving to others who were also displaced from their positions in the Custom house for taking fees.
47-47v	28 March 1827	Morris	Horton	Regarding Cochrane’s report on the "insufficiency" of the Church Establishment in Nfld, and recommending the appointment of six additional clergy to the Church Establishment of Nfld. They agree with the propriety of the suggestion, but cannot allocate funds to its implementation.
49-49v	11 July 1827	Hile	Horton	Finding Cochrane’s explanation for the expenditure of £2100 on Roads, Bridges etc at St. John’s satisfactory.
51-52v	7 Sept 1827	Hile	Horton	Regarding Cochrane’s transmittal of the General Account as Governor for 1826, and proposing to authorize him to requisition annually as much stationery as is absolutely necessary for the Public Service. Questioning, however, some of the Governor’s expenses, such as for office keeper, messenger, and the writing of the Fishery Returns. Also, regarding the request to hire two more vessels for carrying the Judges on their circuits, and whether a single vessel wouldn’t suffice for the whole service.
53-55	6 June 1825	Cochrane	Harrison	Navy Board claims that a vessel serving needs of the province can only be used five months out of twelve; all evidence points to ten month (merchants send vessels to Nfld ten months of the year). The uses to which such a vessel would be put. Navy Board recommends small cutter, but this shows "imperfect Information" of Nfld waters; larger vessel needed
56-56v	13 Nov 1827	Hile	E.G. Stanley	Before complying with the request of former surrogate Mr. Oliver St. John’s request for a pension, they ask how many other former surrogates there were in Nlfd, whose offices were also abolished by the Charter, who might also have a claim to such a consideration.
58-59	26 Dec 1827	T. Frankland Lewis, V Thomas Hutton [?]	Stanley	Regarding Cochrane’s request for new out buildings for the new Government House. They don’t feel inclined to acquiesce; they feel that if they had been truly necessary, they should have been included in the estimate and plan for the new Government House itself, so that they could approve the whole sum at once. There are no funds budgeted to meet this new demand.
Newfoundland School Society
61-62	13 Jan 1827	Samuel Codner	Bathurst	On their request for £2000 to erect nine new schools in the Outports, and £500 per annum for the masters and mistresses thereto. They haven’t the funds to meet the great need of the people in Nfld for education.
63	6 March 1827	Charles Hobhouse, Chairman	-	A resolution to apply for a grant of land to erect central school house in St. John’s.
64	6 March 1827	Hobhouse	-	A resolution responding to several petitions from outports in Nfld (Green’s Pond, Port de Grave, Island Cove, Western Bay, Bay of Bulls, Old Perlican, Twillingate). Green’s Pond in particular is an important station with over 1100 people, who sent a free contribution of £88..12..0, for the erection of new school house. Resolved, to build a new school house in Green’s Pond, conditional on receiving funding from Government, as their own funds are inadequate.
66	16 Nov 1827	Codner	Lord Liverpool	A note asking for a grant from Parliament for the building of eight schools in the outports of Nfld, and a per annum salary for the teachers.
68-69	1 Jan 1827	-	-	A pamphlet of the Newfoundland School society, listing its key members, and describing Newfoundland, and their operations there and goals there. With information on where to address subscriptions.
Miscellaneous Offices
Ecclesiastical Board
72-76v	12 March 1827	Anthony Hamilton	Horton	Regarding "the clerical establishment of that Island, and its manifest inadequacy to the Religious Instruction of a Population consisting of 70000 Souls". People turn to Roman Catholicism. Discussion of the consequences should the Established Church not be properly supported. Various ways in which Nfld differs from other colonies of British North America (e.g., no Clergy Reserves in Nfld as in Quebec, New Brunswick or Nova Scotia for the support of the Established Church)
B
79-79v	5 June 1827	Bastard	Goderich	Seeks an appointment for an interview.
81	25 Dec 1827	Robert Boyle & Comp.	Undersecretary Robert Hay	Enclosing a letter from Cochrane to be put in the Ambassador’s bag to Paris.
Mr. Busteed
84-85	2 Feb 1827	George Washington Busteed	Horton	Explains why his memorial did not pass through proper channels; assures him that he received much approval from people in the Nfld Government in private conversation, but not officially.
86-86v	11 March 1827	Busteed	Horton	Requesting payment of his quarterly salary.
88	14 March 1827	Busteed	Georges Bailie	A short summary of the salary owed him.
90	7 April 1827	Busteed	Horton	Regarding his memorial, his fees, his expenses, etc.
92	18 April 1827	Busteed	Horton	Regarding his salary while he is away on leave, and a "life certificate" from the governor which he wants to get.
94-94v	29 Oct 1827	Busteed	Mr. Sheppard	Regarding his right to his fees in his commission.
Mr. E.B. Brenton
96-97v	28 Feb 1827	Brenton	Horton	Regarding measures for the raising of revenues in Nfld for the assistance of the Government in its "increased and increasing wants".
98-99	-	-	-	an enclosed account of expenses and attempts to raise money, followed, by a discussion of it. The fiscal challenges of Nfld
101-103	-	-	-	"Estimate of the Charge of the Civil Establishment at Newfoundland to be voted by Parliament for the year 1827".
104-105v	-	-	-	Extensive remarks on revenues & expenditures in Nfld
107-107v	4 April 1827	Brenton	Horton	Regarding the audit of the Government, and concerning certain expenditures of Cochrane, which Brenton is called upon to explain.
108	-	-	-	an attached list of payments.
109-111v	9 June 1827	Brenton	- [Horton?]	Regarding the need to make some provision in the event that the Governor should die or be absent (not anticipated by Cochrane’s Instructions)
113-113v	18 June 1827	Brenton	Horton	Seeks an interview
115-116	18 June 1827	Brenton	Horton	Regarding Cochrane’s intention to leave Nfld at the end of the summer to return to England; arrangements to cover his absence.
117	5 July 1827	Brenton	Horton	Acknowledging instructions to return to Nfld.
119-119v	21 July 1827	Brenton	Horton	Regarding his recall from leave, after he had made arrangements to stay in England for the next six months.
D
122-125v	13 June 1827	R. Hart Davis	Horton	Supports Brenton’s request to fill the office of Deputy Governor in Cochrane’s absence.
126	7 Oct 1827	Charles Douglas	Hay, Colonial Office	Regarding the delivery of a letter related to Cochrane at "more than ordinary speed" on Cochrane’s arrival in England.
Mr. Dawe
129-130v	Aug 1827	Dawe	Earl Darnley	Regarding his frustration at failing to secure an appointment as Solicitor General of Nfld; states his case
131	Rec’d 20 Aug 1827	Dawe	Horton	Seeks an appointment for an interview.
133	12 Sept 1827	Dawe	Huskisson	Earl Darnley having referred his case to him, he now asks for an audience with either him or Horton.
135-135v	Rec’d 13 Sept 1827	Molloy	-	Extract of an address given to Judge Molloy by the Grand Jury of Conception Bay at the close of the first sitting of the Norther Circuit Court. Asking for a permanent judge in that region, and recommending Dawe to that position.
137	28 June 1827	Tucker	Dawe	Expressing his satisfaction at how Dawe has executed his role as Prosecuting Officer.
139	1 Oct 1827	Dawe	Horton	Saying that his late detention in England will prevent him from conducting the criminal hearings in the Northern Circuit Court that fall, and asking that he might remain, with permission, until the Spring. Also asking that £100 be paid to Mr. Simms, Attorney General, for the use of Dawe’s wife and family, who will be greatly inconvenienced by his absence.
141-142	15 Nov 1827	Dawe	John Huskisson	A detailed case to be appointed Solicitor General of Nfld.
143	15 Nov 1827	Dawe	John Huskisson	Another, shorter request for the appointment
145	15 Nov 1827	Dawe	Horton	Dawe makes his case to Horton
147-147v	11 Dec 1827	Dawe	Huskisson, Secretary of state for Colonies	reaffirms his request
149-149v	11 Dec 1827	Dawe	Edward Stanley, Under Secretary of State for Colonies	Same request
151	31 Dec 1827	Dawe	Horton	Regarding the rejection of his solicitations to become Solicitor General, which position he considered virtually his. He considers himself "thereby involved not only in a state of intense present distress, but also future inevitable ruin and disgrace". Begging for an audience.
153	30 July 1825	Horton	Dawe	The note upon which Dawe’s hopes were apparently laid, stating "that if the Governor shall deem it advisable to recommend you for the Office of Solicitor General of Newfoundland after having resided in the Colony for six months, his Lordship will have no objection to confirm your appointment".
Mr. Hunt & Co.
156-157	-	-	-	Hunt & Co’s claim to rights to fishery on three rivers on the Coast of Labrador, which were infringed upon by "Jennings & others", who proceeded to seize and steal Hunt & Co’s property related to the site. The surrogate court, supreme court, and King in Council successively confirmed Hunt & Co’s complaint against Jennings et al.
158	6 June 1827	Arthur Hunt(London)	Capt. J. Bastard	Conveying documents relevant to an appeal referred to in an enclosed letter from the Colonial Office. Documents confirm his ownership. Mentions his other establishments on the Labrador coast (Pinware, St. Modeste, Sand Hill Cove) but they were never interrupted
160	11 July 1820	Capt. Hercules Robinson, HMS Favourite, Surrogate & JP for Newfoundland and the Coasts of Labrador	-	The decision of the Surrogate judge against the appeal to the judgement in favour of Hunts.
162-162v	17 July 1822	James R. Booth, Surrogate	-	Booth’s judicial ruling in Hunt’s favour
164	-	-	-	In the Privy Council, appeal ruling in case of Hunt et al vs Jennings et al, an affirmation of the judgement, though for different reasons (not based upon Hunt’s claims to sole fishing rights for the three rivers).
L
167	20 March 1827	Thomas Lahiff(County Cork)	Bathurst	Regarding a previous memorial relating to the property mentioned in the will of Alice Scanlaw of St. John’s; has received no reply. Several other destitute widows and orphans are in a similar situation and rely on Bathurst’s "liberality and Condescending Interference"
167v	Rec’d 11 July 1827	Rev. Thomas Goare, William Atkins, Henry Matthew Smith, David Henessy, Richard Smith, Cornelius Currin, Rev John Gerly	-	A list of the names on the certificate sent with the memorial.
M
170-171	10 July 1827	P. Morris	Horton	Transmitting a pamphlet regarding the state of Newfoundland.
172-209	-	Patrick Morris	-	the pamphlet: "Remarks on the state of Society, Religion, Morals, and Education at Newfoundland", rebutting the derogatory image promulgated by such as the Newfoundland School Society and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, in furtherance of their efforts. A lengthy discussion of Newfoundland’s current state, the historical reasons for such, a description of the people, etc. Challenges the view that the people of Nfld are "in the savage, besotted state, ... without religious or moral character". Nfld was exploited by fish merchants of West Country; native Indians "were hunted down like wild beasts" (175); descendants of British settlers "treated almost with equal barbarity"Cites Reeve’s History; "the Admirals ... were the greatest Knaves". The flawed system of naval administration; praise for Gov. Hamilton in protecting interests of the people; the blessings of the new regime since 1825; low crime rate (personal or property); the service provided by Catholic & Dissenting clergy; praise for local schools, for Irish Benevolent Society and other organizations addressing needs of the poor; resistance to agricultural improvement in the past, and the potential for agriculture today. Several appendices (on Beothuk Indians; on era of the fishing admirals; on suppression of permanent inhabitancy; on naval surrogates’ good intentions but lack of training; on arbitrary nature of some naval justice; on the vigour of dissenting religions; more on agriculture; on treaties with French and Americans; on the Irish and Roman Catholicism; on the ability of resident fishery to support a nursery for seamen (197); out-migration (198); on the economic value of Nfld to the empire; more on French fishing rights (202), relative productivity of resident & migrant fishermen
P
211-211v	15 March	Ponsonby	Horton	Regarding new duties to be imposed on importations to Nfld.
213	25 Nov 1827	M. Ponsonby	- [Horton?]	Regarding the unease of some merchants of Poole over the Governor’s levying new duties on some importations to defray the costs of his "improvements".
R
216	July 16 [1827]	Robinson	Horton	Making an appointment.
218	9 April 1827	William Richardson	Horton	Regarding an application by the next of kin to a late Mr. Thomas Morgan for "Letters of Administration to his Effects", but as he needs a Death Certificate before he can comply, and not having or knowing where it might be, he asks if Horton might tell him where to procure it.
220-221	10 April 1827	Robinson	Horton	Recommending the memorial of Mrs. Bland, widow of the late High Sheriff of Nfld, for a pension.
222-222v	1 June 1827	Robinson	Horton	Regarding the memorial from Mr. Innott asking to be reimbursed for expenses incurred by Judge Molloy
224-225	17 July 1827	Hercules Robinson	Goderich	Asking that he vouch for him before His Royal Highness the Lord High Admiral on his exemplary service, for the sake of his advancement. Summarizes his service on the Labrador coast in 1820 when the Americans began exercising their fishing rights. More about his service on the Labrador coast
226-227	24 Oct 1820	Vice Adm Charles Hamilton (St. John’s)	Croker	a letter affirming the exemplary service of Capt. Hercules Robinson, HMS Favourite in Labrador
S
229-230	12 Jan 1827	William Stevens	"Lordship"	Regarding Charles Browning’s claim (as heir to the Calvert claim) to the Avalon. Browning was delayed in making his claim because his mother had been a "Lunatic for more than half a Century". Would like to know the state of Browning’s petition, as nothing has been heard from gov’t
231-232	29 April 1827	Thomas Shanks, Purser	Horton	Saying that he was Purser and Agent Victualler on the flagship during Pickmore and Hamilton’s Governance of Nfld (1817-1824). Soliciting appointment of Colonial Secretary at Nfld, giving his qualifications thereto.
233	1 Oct 1827	William Stevens	Huskisson	Asking permission to search the official archives for the patent or charter allegedly issued to Lord Baltimore for Avalon, to which Browning claims inheritance.
Memorials of the Chamber of Commerce
236-237v	29 Jan 1827	Brooking	Bathurst	A memorial seeking revival of the long-standing practice of having naval force over-winter at Nfld; why this is desirable for security of life and property. Need to protect and preserve public order in a colony where the civil authorities lack strength
238	24 July 1827	Brooking	Horton	Transmitting documents for Bathurst.
240-242	21 June 1827	John Black (V.P., Chamber of Commerce)	Secretary of State for Colonies	A memorial urging continuance of a Naval Force to winter at Nfld.
243	29 Nov 1826	Rear Adm Lake (Jupiter, Halifax)	Cochrane	declares his intention not to winter in Nfld. Owing to the reduced state of his squadron
244-244v	2 Dec 1826	Brooking	Cochrane	A memorial objecting to Lake’s decision
245-246	12 Jan 1827	Lake	Cochrane	Replying to Cochrane’s apprehension with a re-confirmation of his intention not to winter in Nfld.
247	8 Oct 1827	Newman W. Hoyles (Pres., Chamber of Commerce)	Huskisson	Enclosing a copy of a memorial from the Chamber of Commerce.
249-250	9 Oct 1827	Hoyles	Secretary of State for Colonies	A memorial against the imposition of new duties on importations to Nfld.
Poole Merchants
252	30 Jan 1827	-	-	objecting to Cochrane’s measures regulating the sale of spirits in Nfld
254	"Remarks on Particular Sections of the Act 5^th Geo 4^th Ch 51 for the better conduct of the Fisheries in Newfoundland which have been found objectionable when carried into practical operation in the said Island"
254v-259	-	-	-	Commentary on defects in the practicality of sections of the Fisheries Act.
Index
262-266v	-	-	-	The index to Correspondence for 1827
End of Volume