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Title Emigration (and Coolie Immigration), 1878. Volume 4. Offices: Agents and India
Date 1 Mar 1878 - 4 Jan 1879
Document Type Correspondence; Manuscript
Reference CO 384/120
Library / Archive The National Archives
Collection Name War and Colonial Department and Colonial Office: Emigration Original Correspondence
Description Despatches from British Guiana, Trinidad, Jamaica, Natal and Fiji regarding the arrival of shipping and the condition of indentured labourers. Includes reports of Emigration Agents, lists of approved and nominated emigrants, details of numbers arriving per ship and discussion regarding the use of Thiers' 'Automatic Ship Ventilator'.
Series Description This series contains correspondence relating to British settlement in North America and Australasia, and to Indian indentured labour in the West Indies. Until 1857 it consists of domestic letters alone. The series then ceases and is not resumed until 1872.
Biographical Note / History A Colonial Land and Emigration Commission was created in 1840 to undertake the duties of two earlier and overlapping authorities under the supervision of the secretary of state: the Colonisation Commissioners for South Australia and the Agent General for Emigration. In 1855 it became the Emigration Commission. The commission's powers were gradually given up to the larger colonies as they obtained self-government, and after 1873 it was responsible only for controlling the importation of Indian labour into sugar-producing colonies. It was abolished in 1878 and an Emigration Department was then set up in the Colonial Office. This department was merged with the General Department in 1894, and abolished altogether in 1896.
Theme(s) Politics, Legislation and Governance
Country (from) China; India; Great Britain
Country (to) British Guiana; Trinidad; Jamaica; Grenada; Falkland Islands; South Africa; Fiji
Ports Calcutta, Madras, India; Georgetown, Demerara, British Guiana; Natal, South Africa
Nationality Indian; Chinese
Ships Sheila; Lightning; Edinburgh Castle; Lassa; Pandora; Cheetah; Piako; Dunblin Castle; St Roman; Warwick Castle; Walmer Castle; Africa; Dunrobin Castle
People Walcott, S; Mitchell, R; Earl St Aldwyn (Hicks Beach, Sir Michael); Bramston, Sir John; Meade, Sir Robert Henry; Herbert, Sir Robert George Wyndham; Lord Cadogan (Cadogan, George Henry)
Keywords emigration, government, finance, assisted migration, supplies, ships, employment, agent, women, labour, port, religion, medicine, employment, free passage, health and sickness, children, living conditions
Language English
Document(s) linked to Emigration (and Coolie Immigration), 1878. Volume 1. Despatches: Eastern, Australian and Miscellaneous
Emigration (and Coolie Immigration), 1878. Volume 2. Despatches: West Indies
Emigration (and Coolie Immigration), 1878. Volume 3. Despatches: West Indies
Emigration (and Coolie Immigration), 1878. Volume 5. Correspondence, Original, Secretary of State
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