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Title Entry-Books of Correspondence: Letters from the South Australian Commission, 1838
Author Hutt, John; Bezant, J
Date 7 Feb-3 Jul 1838
Document Type Correspondence
Reference CO 386/14
Library / Archive The National Archives
Collection Name Colonial Office: Land and Emigration Commission, etc.
Description Copies of out-letters sent by John Hutt, Superintendent of Emigration of the South Australia Commission, and his successor Mr Bezant. The correspondence largely consists of replies to enquiries made by members of the public and covers available shipping, eligibility, departure dates, emigration certificates, regulations, the price of berths, conditions in South Australia, and availability of land. Includes an index of correspondents at the end of the volume.
Series Description This series contains original correspondence, entry books and registers of the Agent General for Emigration, the South Australian Commissioners and the Land and Emigration Commission. Amongst the miscellaneous contents are registers of births and deaths of emigrants at sea 1854-1869, lists of ships chartered 1847-1875, registers of surgeons appointed 1854-1894, and volumes of The Colonial Gazette 1838-1842.
Biographical Note / History A Colonial Land and Emigration Commission was created in 1840 to undertake the duties of two earlier and overlapping authorities which were both under the supervision of the Secretary of State. These were the Colonisation Commissioners for South Australia, established under an Act of 1834, and the Agent General for Emigration, appointed in 1837. The new commission dealt with grants of land, the outward movement of settlers, the administration of the Passengers' Acts of 1855 and 1863 and, from 1846 to 1859, the scrutiny of colonial legislation. In 1855 it became the Emigration Commission. In 1873 the administration of the Passengers' Acts was transferred to the Board of Trade. The commission's powers were gradually given up to the larger colonies as they obtained self-government, and after 1873 its only duties were the control of the importation of Indian indentured labour into sugar-producing colonies and it was abolished in 1878.
Theme(s) Politics, Legislation and Governance; Ships and Shipping Lines; Motives for Emigration
Country (from) Great Britain; Ireland
Country (to) Australia
Places South Australia, Australia; England; Scotland
Ports Falmouth, Portsmouth, Gravesend, Deptford, Blackwall, London, England
Nationality English; European; Scottish; Irish
Ships Henry Porcher; Duke of Roxburghe; Winchester; Eden; Lloyds; North Briton
Keywords emigration, administration, agriculture, labour, labourer, fare, female emigration, child migration, agriculture, shipping, artisan, assisted emigration, money, marriage, land price, religion, clergy, agent
Language English
Copyright Crown Copyright documents © are reproduced by permission of The National Archives London, UK