Hamilla Mitchell 1859 - Ship Tree

Date: [unknown] to 6 Apr 1859
Location: Western Australia
Surnames/tags: Ship_Tree Colony_of

Hamilla Mitchell, 1859 Arrivals to Western Australia

Hamilla Mitchell, 1859

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We are glad to perceive, by the despatches published in to-day's issue, that we are likely to have, shortly, a fresh importation of female emigrants. ^[1]
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The following despatches on the subject of Emigration, have been handed to us for public information: —
Downing-street, December 4, 1858.
SIR, — With reference to my despatch, No. 16, of the 16th October last, I transmit to you for your information copies of a subsequent correspondence with the Emigration Commissioners, and you will perceive that arrangements have been made for sending out a further number of emigrants to Western Australia.
I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient, humble servant, E. B. LYTTON.
To Governor Kennedy, &c., &c.
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Downing-street, October 13, 1858.
Gentlemen, I am directed by Secretary Sir E. Bulwer Lytton to acknowledge the receipt of your report of the 6th instant, upon the various subjects raised by the arrival of the emigrant ship Emma Eugenia in Western Australia. Sir E. B. Lytton concurs in the views submitted in this report, and he will transmit a copy of it accordingly to the Governor. It appears evidently undesirable to repeat the experiment of accepting female emigrants from English workhouses. You will be at liberty to procure as many as may be practicable from those sources in Ireland, which have hitherto afforded young women of fair character, and of a description suited to the wants of Western Australia.
Proceeding on this basis, I am desired to instruct you to take measures for sending out an emigrant ship to Western Australia in the course of December. The party may consist of about one hundred single young women, and of as many families as may appear to you expedient in order to contribute to the maintenance of good order, and to constitute a sufficient number of passengers to afford employment to the vessel without an increase in the price of passage.
I am, &c., (Signed) H. MERIVALE. To the Emigration Commissioners.
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Emigration Office, November 5, 1858.
SIR, — With reference to your letter of the 13th ultimo, instructing us to take measures for sending out an emigrant ship to Western Australia at the end of December with about 100 single females, and as many families as may be necessary to contribute to the maintenance of good order and to constitute a sufficient number of passengers to afford employment to the vessel without an increase in the price of passage, we have the honor to state that we have accordingly chartered the ship Hamilla Mitchell, (540 tons), for their service at the rate of £14 18s 6d per statute adult.
2. The vessel is appointed to be ready at Plymouth on the 29th of December, for the reception of her passengers, and the number she will carry will be about 220 statute adults. We could have obtained a large ship of 899 at a price lower by £1 per adult, but we thought that in engaging the Hamilla Mitchell we were acting in stricter accordance with the spirit of your instructions, and we trust that the course we have pursued will meet with Sir E. Bulwer Lytton's approval.
3. We have taken the necessary steps for procuring chiefly from Ireland, the requisite party of young women and families, but according to the circumstances of the colony, and also to the number of young women to proceed in the Hamilla Mitchell, we did not propose to take any unmarried men in the ship. We have, however, received applications direct from the Colonial Government, to send out about a dozen single men to join friends in the colony, and as this Emigration is paid from imperial funds, we should be glad to receive Sir E. Bulwer Lytton's instructions whether or not we are to comply with these applications.
We have &c., (Signed) T. W. C. MURDOCH, FREDERIC ROGERS.
To F. Elliot Esq., &c., &c.
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Downing-street, November 16, 1858.
Gentlemen, in reply to your letter of the 6th instant, I am directed by Secretary Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, to express his approval of the course which you have adopted in the selection of the Hamilla Mitchell for the conveyance of single female emigrants to Western Australia, and with reference to the concluding paragraph, I am to state that you are at liberty to send out to the colony the young men to whom you refer, but not in that vessel ; you are authorised to make arrangements, if practicable, for sending them by some of the private traders going out to the colony.
l am, &c., (Signed) CARNARVON. To the Emigration Commissioners.

Sources

1. ↑ Local and Domestic Intelligence. (1859, February 23). The Inquirer and Commercial News \ (Perth, WA : 1855 - 1901), p. 2. Retrieved March 13, 2021