NRS-4518 | Despatches to the Secretary of State and the Under Secretary

Despatches to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the Under Secretary and occasionally other officials in England. The enclosures sometimes accompany the despatch or are located separately. Included are ordinary numbered despatches, "separate" and confidential despatches. The volumes for 1790-97 (4/1634-35) are the actual duplicate despatches bound; the remainder are letter books containing copies of the originals. The despatches are concerned with general reports on the colony and its legislative bodies, matters relating to land, aborigines, convicts, foreign intrusions, exploration, criminal cases concerning government officials or where the death penalty was imposed, the leasing of guano islands, disputes between the colonials and the Governor and many miscellaneous matters. A brief subject summary of each volume is noted in the item list.13 Feb 1790-6 Jul 1797, 20 Feb 1816-30 Nov 1821, 4 Feb 1822-18 Nov 1825, 1 Mar 1827-7 Oct 1836, 21 Dec 1878-24 Jun 1887, 4 Jun 1894-30 Sep 1897 (4/1634-42, 4/10583-84, 4/1645-50, 7/1748). 18 vols. Copies of despatches to the Secretary of State c.1906-69, 1971 are filed with the despatches received (NRS 4512).Note:This description is extracted from Concise Guide to the State Archives of New South Wales, 3rd Edition 2000.