Bahamas, Jan-Jun 1836, Despatches sent by Governor Lieutenant Colonel William MacBean George Colebrooke : Index; Financial document; Newspaper clipping; Returns; Order; Report; Correspondence Jan-Jun 1836.

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Correspondence, Original-Secretary of State: Despatches sent by Governor Lieutenant Colonel William MacBean George Colebrooke. Described at item level. CO 23/97/1. Acknowledges the receipt of various despatches. Bahamas, unnumbered, Folios 2-3. 01/07/1836. CO 23/97/2. Reports that the recruiting for the Second West India Regiment had been ordered to take place. States reasons for objecting to recruiting in the Bahamas. Encloses the military returns for June [not included in volume]. Bahamas, No. 64, Folios 4-6. 01/07/1836. CO 23/97/3. Forwards and comments on the acts passed by the Legislature during the last two sessions [not included in volume]. The Acts include: Revenue Act; Court of Admiralty Special Sessions Act; Tonnage Duties Act; Marriage Act; Roads Act; Vagrancy Act; Prevention of Fires Act; Marine Corps Act; Cattle Trespasses Act; Salt Ponds Act; Labourers Engagements Act; Prison Discipline Act; Corporation Act; Schools Act; Bank Act; Cultivation of Cotton Act; Presbyterian Church Act; Appropriation Act. Bahamas, No. 65, Folios 7-30. 05/07/1836. CO 23/97/4. Comments on the strength of the garrison. Explains that Nassau Harbour should be strengthened. Notes that it should be discovered if the harbour could be used as a naval depot. Also notes the importance of the Bahamas to American trade. Encloses a report by a Committee of the United States Senate concerning the establishment of a naval station at the southern tip of Florida. Bahamas, No. 66, Folios 31-35. 08/07/1836. CO 23/97/5. Forwards a report by Attorney General Birrell on the Act for the Punishment of Larceny. Suggests various amendments. Bahamas, No. 67, Folios 36-51. 08/07/1836. CO 23/97/6. Forwards a report by the captain of HMS Thunder concerning the governor's suggestions for changing the mail ship route. Also encloses the prospectus of the soon to be formed Bahama Steam Navigation Company. Bahamas, No. 68, Folios 52-60. 08/07/1836. CO 23/97/7. Reports the completion of the lighthouses at Gun Cay and the Hole in the Rock. Bahamas, No. 69, Folios 61-64. 08/07/1836. CO 23/97/8. Reports drawing £600 for the construction of a 'normal' school room and to pay the salary of the schoolmaster. Bahamas, No. 70, Folios 65-66. 08/07/1836. CO 23/97/9. Forwards an a Act for the Commutation of Quit Rents [not included in volume] and an address from the Assembly containing a plan for their renewal. Bahamas, No. 71, Folios 67-72. 08/07/1836. CO 23/97/10. Forwards a report by the Principal Light Keeper at Gun Cay, William B Cooke, concerning the damage done to the lighthouse by lightening. Also encloses a note from Commanding Royal Engineer Captain Walpole suggesting ways to prevent such accidents in the future. Bahamas, No. 72, Folios 73-78. 16/07/1836. CO 23/97/11. Reports the arrival of Stipendiary Magistrate Major Donald Macgregor. Encloses a report of the magistrates on circuit to the out islands. Bahamas, No. 73, Folios 79-85. 18/07/1836. CO 23/97/12. Reports the 'advantageous' employment of a number of liberated Africans in cutting canals in the salt ponds of Great Harbour on Long Island under the superintendence of Stipendiary Magistrate H W Whitfield. Gives information concerning wages. Encloses reports by Magistrate Whitfield and local Justice Thomas Rahmings Bahamas, No. 74, Folios 86-90. 18/07/1836. CO 23/97/13. Reports an opposition to his measures by the clergy who were members of the Committee of Education. Encloses: an estimate for building a school house; John McSwiney's report on the schools already in operation; printed copies of reports by the Managing Committee of the Board of Public Instruction; the printed copy of 'the fourth report of the Committee appointed by the Commissioners for taking into consideration the state of education in the Bahamas, with an appendix'. Bahamas, No. 75, Folios 91-150. 18/07/1836. CO 23/97/14. Reports that the Bahama Steam Navigation Company plans to offer a contract for the conveyance for the Mexican mail. Encloses a copy of the company's prospectus [not included in volume, see CO 23/97/6] Bahamas, No. 76, Folios 151-155. 18/07/1836. CO 23/97/15. Forwards a return of distribution of the liberated Africans. The return shows the main kinds of employment they were engaged in and where they had been sent according to age and gender. Bahamas, No. 77, Folios 156-158. 18/07/1836. CO 23/97/16. Reports overcoming the opposition to his measures for the establishment of a 'normal' school. Bahamas, No. 78, Folios 159-160. 23/07/1836. CO 23/97/17. Forwards a copy of the preceding despatch with reports of the proceedings of the Board of Public Instruction concerning education in the Bahamas and the establishment of a 'normal' school as printed in The Bahama Argus. Bahamas, unnumbered, Folios 161-165. 29/07/1836. CO 23/97/18. Forwards a report on the activities of the Spanish on Key Sal Bank. Notes that they had hoisted the Spanish flag and established a governor on the bank. Urges the necessity of setting the question at rest. Bahamas, No. 79, Folios 166-169. 23/07/1836. CO 23/97/19. Reports that British government's intervention in the case of William Forster had a good effect on the attitude of the inhabitants of Florida towards the Bahamian 'coloured' population. Bahamas, No. 80, Folios 170-174. 28/07/1836. CO 23/97/20. Forwards a report by J R Winder and John Stiles on the inhabitants of Eleuthera who are described as 'indigent white fishermen and wreckers'. Reports that Mr Millar had 'recently liberated his apprentices and settled them on his estate in Eleuthera'. Explains that the settlement was prosperous, and that other settlements formed by former enslaved persons, were 'equally satisfactory'. Also encloses a report from the schoolmaster at Spanish Wells, 'an old settlement' on the coast of Eleuthera, concerning the decline in the number of children attending the public and infant schools due to colour prejudice. Bahamas, No. 81, Folios 175-181. 29/07/1836. CO 23/97/21. Forwards a report on the state of former Collector of Customs Colonel Murray's apprentices. Bahamas, No. 82, Folios 182-185. 30/07/1836. CO 23/97/22. Acknowledges the receipt of a despatch and two circulars Bahamas, unnumbered, Folios 186-187. 01/08/1836. CO 23/97/23. Forwards the military returns for July [not included in volume]. Bahamas, No. 83, Folios 188-189. 03/08/1836. CO 23/97/24. Reports on the state of the colony emphasizing the 'good and orderly conduct of the apprentices'. Encloses an excerpt from The Bahama Argus concerning an address made by the Friendly Societies on the anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery. Bahamas, No. 84, Folios 190-197. 04/08/1836. CO 23/97/25. Reports the arrival of a Spanish ship of war to claim the Spanish convicts who were shipwrecked in January. Encloses correspondence had with the Captain General of Cuba and the judges opinions on the matter. Bahamas, No. 85, Folios 198-216. 04/08/1836. CO 23/97/26. Forwards a private letter from the British Consul at Havana complaining of the Cuban Captain General's actions and recommending that the naval force should be increased to suppress the slave trade and transfer liberated Africans to the Bahamas. Bahamas, unnumbered, Folios 217-220. 04/08/1836. CO 23/97/27. Reports the death of William Munnings by shipwreck and the appointment of John Lees to the vacant Chief Justiceship. Reports on the judicial arrangements which he feels need to be established. Bahamas, No. 86, Folios 221-232. 09/08/1836. CO 23/97/28. Forwards three letters sent to the Board of Superintendence concerning prison regulations and discipline. Bahamas, No. 87, Folios 233-250. 09/08/1836. CO 23/97/29. Forwards reports by the stipendiary magistrates, on circuit in the out islands, concerning the 'favourable' working of the apprenticeship system. Copied for Parliament, April 1837. Bahamas, No. 88, Folios 251-252. 09/08/1836. CO 23/97/30. Forwards a letter of thanks from the Captain General of Cuba for the assistance given to the crew and passengers of a Spanish ship which was wrecked in January near Abaco. Bahamas, No. 89, Folios 253-258. 09/08/1836. CO 23/97/31. Refers to his despatch No 86 of 9 August, CO 23/96/27. Explains that in recommending the appointment of English barristers, he did not intend to 'cast reflections on any of the gentlemen having situations in the courts'. Bahamas, unnumbered, Folios 259-260. 19/08/1836. CO 23/97/32.

Acknowledges the receipt of various despatches and circulars.Bahamas, unnumbered, Folio 261. 25/08/1836. CO 23/97/33. Forwards an article from the John Bull newspaper relative to Colonel Murray's apprentices with a report on the subject in reply by Special Justice Winder. Also encloses cases tried before the special magistrate in New Providence against the apprentices as well as a 'Return of the slaves the property of the Honorable Alexander Murray of England, on the thirty first day of July 1834'. Bahamas, No. 90, Folios 263-280. 27/08/1836. CO 23/97/34. Proposes alterations

to the Mutiny Act. Encloses a letter to the Secretary of War raising strong objections to the enlistment of liberated Africans in the West Indies Regiment for unlimited service and under the existing restrictions on marriage and settlement that applied to the corps. Refers to his despatch No 64. Encloses the details of a controversy between Lieutenant Colonel Nicolls and Police Magistrate Nesbitt concerning the enlistment and attesting of liberated Africans unacquainted with the obligation of an oath or the nature and extent of their engagements as soldiers. Also comments on an inquest into the murder of Mary Thomson the 'reputed wife' of John Foss, a private in the West India Regiment who then committed suicide. Bahamas, secret and confidential, Folios 281-317. 30/08/1836. CO 23/97/35. Forwards an address from the Friendly Societies. Bahamas, unnumbered, Folios 318-320. 01/09/1836. CO 23/97/36. Forwards a copy of the will of the late Captain Kitson [not included in volume]. Bahamas, unnumbered, Folio 321. 01/09/1836. CO 23/97/37. Forwards a copy of a letter addressed to the Secretary of War concerning the recruitment of liberated Africans and his suggested revisions to the Mutiny Act. Also sends the military return for August [not included in volume]. Bahamas, No. 91, Folios 323-331. 01/09/1836. CO 23/97/38. Forwards the liberated African expense account for the quarter ending 25 June. Reports an increase in expenses due to the arrival of 538 Africans on Portuguese slave ships. Encloses instructions to the African Board to ensure 'the protection of the children in the engagements made for them., and in the confirmation of engagements for the adults, to secure for them a due return for their labour'. Bahamas, No. 92, Folios 332-349. 09/09/1836. CO 23/97/39. Offers no objection to the proposed Austrian convention. In response to a circular despatch of 18 March. Bahamas, No. 93, Folios 350-353. 09/09/1836. CO 23/97/40. Forwards a copy of his circular instructions to the stipendiary magistrates. Bahamas, unnumbered, Folios 354-360. 10/09/1836. CO 23/97/41. Acknowledges the receipt of despatch No 112 of 13 July concerning Mr Malcolm's letter on the right of certain members to seats in the Assembly. Bahamas, No. 94 duplicate, Folios 361-362. 17/09/1836. CO 23/97/42. Acknowledges the receipt of despatches Nos 116-120. Bahamas, unnumbered, Folio 363. 21/09/1836. CO 23/97/43. Forwards reports from the magistrates on circuit concerning the state of the colony. Bahamas, No. 95, Folios 365-367. 17/09/1836. CO 23/97/44. Forwards the rules and regulations established for prison discipline. Bahamas, No. 96, Folios 368-385. 17/09/1836. CO 23/97/45. Forwards correspondence concerning Advocate and Procurator General Wood's claim to a portion of Attorney General Birrell's salary. Bahamas, No. 97, Folios 386-391. 17/09/1836. CO 23/97/46. Reports pardoning the prisoners sentenced to death for the murder of Walter Sims. Bahamas, No. 98, Folios 392-393. 24/09/1836. CO 23/97/47. Acknowledges despatch No 118 of 1 August granting him the requested leave of absence. Bahamas, No. 99, Folios 394-395. 24/09/1836. CO 23/97/48. Reports further on the supposed innocence of the prisoners sentenced for the murder of Walter Sims. Bahamas, No. 100, Folios 396-403. 24/09/1836. CO 23/97/49. Acknowledges the receipt of a despatch of 13 August offering him the government of Antigua. Bahamas, unnumbered, Folios 404-406. 24/09/1836. CO 23/97/50. Forwards the military returns for September [not included in volume]. Complains of the delay in discharging the men returned as unfit for service. Bahamas, No. 101, Folios 408-409. 01/10/1836. CO 23/97/51. Recommends Robert Sandilands and George Birrell for judicial appointments in other British colonies. Bahamas, No. 102, Folios 410-411. 27/10/1836. CO 23/97/52. Gives an opinion concerning the best means for providing for the military defence of the colony. Bahamas, No. 103, Folios 412-419. 31/10/1836. CO 23/97/53. Forwards the military returns for October [not included in volume]. Bahamas, No. 104, Folios 420-421. 01/11/1836. CO 23/97/54. Forwards the liberated Africans expense account for the quarter ending 25 September. Gives further information concerning the extra expenditure during the previous quarter. Discusses issues connected with the liberated Africans including the demand for their labour, the origin and progress of Carmichael settlement, admission to the convalescent station of Roslin, the appointment of William Dalzell as superintendent and his wife as schoolmistress for the infant school at Carmichael, the school proposed for Grants Town. Also encloses a report from New Providence Special Justice Winder concerning a circuit in the out islands. Bahamas, No. 105, Folios 422-428. 01/11/1836. CO 23/97/55. Forwards a copy of the stipendiary magistrates' circuit reports and his instructions to them [not included in volume]. Notes that he has compiled this as a manual for their guidance for future circuits and to maintain regularity. Copied for Parliament November 1837. Bahamas, No. 106, Folios 429-430. 01/11/1836. CO 23/97/56. Reports arrangements made concerning schools and school houses. Encloses: a letter from the Bishop of Jamaica concerning funds approved by Parliament and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel for the construction of school houses in the colonies; the regulations of the Nassau Ladies School Society, which was instituted on 5 September 1836. Bahamas, No. 107, Folios 431-442. 01/11/1836. CO 23/97/57. Reports the shipwreck of stipendiary magistrates Winder and Macgregor while on circuit. Comments on the rights of the apprentices to receive 'an equivalent for land in [the salt] districts which cannot be assigned to them'. Also notes his intention to revise their engagements. Bahamas, No. 108, Folios 443-446. 01/11/1836. CO 23/97/58. Reports on the Crown lands and recommends selling those areas allocated for the formation of townships in allotments and using the funds to improve wells, tanks and boat wharves. Explains that the townships should be held in trust by the Land Board, with a surveyor being hired when necessary. Bahamas, No. 109, Folios 447-452. 01/11/1836. CO 23/97/59. Reports his intended departure by the trading ship Rolla. Bahamas, No. 110, Folios 453-454. 01/11/1836. CO 23/97/60. Acknowledges the receipt of ten despatches and two circulars. Bahamas, unnumbered, Folios 455-456. 23/10/1836. CO 23/97/61. Reports his intended departure for Greenock. Bahamas, unnumbered, Folio 457. 01/11/1836. CO 23/97/62. Acknowledges the receipt of a circular concerning correspondence. Bahamas, unnumbered, Folios 459-460. 01/11/1836. CO 23/97/63. Reports his arrival at Greenock having left Nassau on 20 November. Encloses address given to him before his departure by the inhabitants of Long Island, the Bahama, Grant's Town and Eastern District Friendly Societies, the Mechanics' and Cottagers' Society, H N Chipman on behalf of his constituency of Turks Islands, and by American Consul George Huyler along with Governor Colebrooke's replies. Bahamas, unnumbered, Folios 461-463. 20/12/1836. CO 23/97/64. Reports on the new lighthouse at Gun Cay and Abaco. Encloses the tenders for the completion of the work. Bahamas, No. 111, Folios 464-471. 11/11/1836. CO 23/97/65. Reports appointing John Storr to a Council seat. Encloses the address given by the Council on the occasion of the governor's departure with his reply. Bahamas, No. 112, Folios 472-477. 10/11/1836. CO 23/97/66. Forwards a printed copy of a grant of Crown lands, entrusted to the Land Board, for the formation of townships. Recommends that a scientific officer be sent to superintend Crown property. Bahamas, No. 113, Folios 478-480. 15/11/1836. CO 23/97/67. Reports ordering the Spanish to be sent out of the Bahamas. Encloses a letter from the Chief Justice and an address to the Captain General of Cuba concerning the matter. Bahamas, No. 114, Folios 481-493. 15/11/1836. CO 23/97/68. Forwards reports by the magistrates on circuit concerning the working of the apprenticeships. Bahamas, No. 115, Folios 494-498. 15/11/1836. CO 23/97/69. Forwards the replies of the Stipendiary Magistrates Winder and Whitfield to questions concerning the apprenticeship system in reply to a circular despatch of 15 July. Copied for Parliament March 1837. Bahamas, No. 116, Folios 499-525. 15/11/1836. CO 23/97/70.

Forwards addresses presented to the governor before his departure, with his replies. Bahamas, No. 117, Folios 526-529. 15/11/1836. CO 23/97/71. Reports favourably of the steady progress of education. Notes that Superintendent of the Normal School Establishment, John McSwiney, is performing his duties very satisfactorily. Bahamas, No. 118, Folios 530-531. 15/11/1836. CO 23/97/72. Forwards the punishment returns for April to September [not included in volume].Bahamas, No. 119, Folios 532-533. 15/11/1836. CO 23/97/73. Forwards reports by the Liberated African Board and

Dr. John Richardson. Recommends the importance of maintaining the convalescent establishment at Roslyn. Notes that the employment of the Africans in the Bahamas was of benefit both to themselves and the colony. Bahamas, No. 120, Folios 534-543. 15/11/1836. CO 23/97/74. Acknowledges the receipt of a circular despatch of 31 August concerning the state of currency in the colony. Recommends that bank notes should be received at the Treasury in payment for revenue and that cash accounts of government departments should be kept at the bank. Bahamas, No. 121, Folios 544-545. 16/11/1836. CO 23/97/75. Forwards a return of the stipendiary magistrates. Bahamas, No. 122, Folios 546-549. 16/11/1836. CO 23/97/76. Forwards a Chancery Order concerning the expenses of an escheat of lands, 'the property of the late Thomas Smith alias Thomas Ackart, an African, deceased'. Bahamas, No. 123, Folios 550-553. 19/11/1836. CO 23/97/77. Reports the capture of the Spanish slave ship Empresa by HMS Vestal with 393 Africans on board. States the arrangements made for their settlement and clothing. Bahamas, No. 124, Folios 554-558. 19/11/1836. CO 23/97/78. Reports his assumption of the administration of the government due to the departure of Governor Colebrooke. Bahamas, No. 1, Folio 560. 21/11/1836. CO 23/97/79. Reports on the condition of the Africans liberated from the Empresa. Encloses a distribution return.Bahamas, No. 2, Folios 561-565. 10/12/1836. CO 23/97/80. Reports the enlistment of liberated Africans in the Second West India Regiment by Special Justice John Gray Meadows after the departure of Governor Colebrooke. Encloses: correspondence had with the African Board and Regiment Commandant Lieutenant Colonel Nicolls as well as an opinion by the Attorney General concerning the matter. Bahamas, No. 3, Folios 566-577. 10/12/1836. CO 23/97/81. Forwards a petition asking for the removal of the restrictions on trade with Haiti. Bahamas, No. 4, Folios 578-583. 10/12/1836. CO 23/97/82. Forwards further replies from Stipendiary Magistrates Winder and Whitfield to the questions on the apprenticeship system.Bahamas, No. 5, Folios 584-596. 10/12/1836. CO 23/97/83. Forwards a report by Major Donald Macgregor on the means adopted for giving the apprentices their shares in salt ponds or an equivalent in money. Also encloses a copy of letter from James Misick concerning the insufficient condition of the prisons at Grand Cay. Bahamas, No. 6, Folios 596-614. 12/12/1836. CO 23/97/84. Reports on the progress of the stipendiary magistrates on circuit. Bahamas, No. 7, Folios 614-615. 12/12/1836. CO 23/97/85. Forwards a petition from William Rattray, of New Portsmouth Rock Sound Eleuthera, claiming a portion of the land included in the grant of Crown lands entrusted for the formation for townships. Bahamas, No. 8, Folios 616-621. 12/12/1836. CO 23/97/86. Recommends Henry M Williams for the vacant office of second Puisne Judge. Bahamas, unnumbered, Folios 622-633. 13/12/1836. CO 23/97/87. Forwards his speech given to the opening of the Legislature. Bahamas, No. 9, Folios 634-638. 14/12/1836. CO 23/97/88. Reports allocating £100 per year to William Hield, Vice President of the Liberated Africans Board, for the provision of clothes and tools. Bahamas, No. 10, Folios 639-643. 15/12/1836. CO 23/97/89. Acknowledges the receipt of despatches Nos 139-141. Bahamas, unnumbered, Folios 644-645. 31/12/1836.

Notes:

AMDigital Reference:CO 23/97.

CO 23.