Letters from Denison to Henry Labouchere (19 letters), March 1856-December 1857

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File 9

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Private and confidential letters sent to the Secretary of State for the Colonies at roughly monthly intervals. Among the many subjects discussed by Denison were the state of society in New South Wales, the 1856 and 1857 elections, the colony's relations with Britain, military defences, the inauguration of responsible government, the Sydney Mint, a visit to Sydney by Bishop G.A. Selwyn, the transfer of the Pitcairn Islanders to Norfolk Island, railways, the proposed separation of Moreton Bay from New South Wales, the boundary between the two colonies, parliamentary proceedings, ministerial crises, the award of the KCB to Denison, the Northern Australia Expedition, prison discipline in Britain, customs duties at the border between Victoria and New South Wales, mail services, comparisons between the Australian colonies and the United States, honours, and Denison's visit to Norfolk Island in 1857. Enclosed with the letter of 27 Oct. 1856 are letters from G.M.F. Young and Rev. G. Nobbs in Norfolk Island both acknowledging the supply of food received on the Kate Kearney and referring to potatoes received from Bishop Selwyn. Nobbs also raised the question of diocesan responsibility for Norfolk Island.

Enclosed with the letter of 25 Nov. 1856 is a copy of a letter from Sir Alfred Stephen, the Chief Justice, on the legal question of the separation of Moreton Bay from New South Wales. There are also cuttings from the Sydney Morning Herald (5 Nov., 13 Nov. 1856) and a page from a printed document on provisions in the 1850 Australian Constitution Act.

The final item is an unsigned letter written from Auckland, 1 Oct. 1857, referring to a visit to Norfolk Island and discussing the claims of Bishop Selwyn to ecclesiastical jurisdiction over Norfolk Island.

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