Correspondence and documents, 1819-1834

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Series

Extent:

95 items

Content Summary:

The bulk of the correspondence on this reel relates to the affairs of St Gregory's Priory at Downside, the construction of the chapel (opened in 1823), land purchases, financial transactions, the school and students, appointments, the activities and difficulties of other Benedictine houses in England and Europe, and the establishment of missions, especially within the diocese of Mauritius. Many of the letters were written by or to John Bede Polding, the novice-master (1819-1834) and subprior (1826-1834) at Downside Priory. Other correspondents include Bede Brewer, Richard Marsh and Augustine Birdsall, the presidents-general of the English Benedictine Congregation between 1799 and 1837, James Deday, provincial of Canterbury (1826-1834), Bernard Barber, the prior of Downside (1818-1830), Michael Lorymer, procurator of the Southern Province (1802-1826), Bishop James Bramston, vicar-apostolic of the London district (1823-1836), Edward Slater, bishop of Mauritius (1818-1832) and William Morris, bishop of Mauritius (1832-1840).

The small number of letters on this reel that deal directly with Australia are itemised below. The earliest references to Australia concern the Botany Bay Fund (1820) and a memorial from magistrates, merchants and landowners in Sydney to Governor Darling seeking his help towards the completion of the Catholic chapel in Sydney (1830). In 1832 William Bernard Ullathorne, who had been trained at Downside Priory, was appointed vicar-general in New South Wales for Bishop Morris. He arrived in Sydney in February 1833. As well as letters from Ullathorne, there are letters from two Irish priests, Philip Conolly, who had been serving in Hobart since 1821, and John McEneroe, who arrived in Sydney in 1832. There is also correspondence about the refusal of Polding to accept the bishopric of Madras in 1832 and his appointment in May 1834 as vicar-apostolic of New Holland.

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