Despatches from Evan Murray John McGregor, governor of Barbados (October to December...

Despatches from Evan Murray John McGregor, governor of Barbados (October to December 1836) together with letters from 'offices' (Government departments and other organisations) and individuals sent during the year. Despatches are described at item level; correspondence from offices and individuals is not, and correspondents and subjects are as follows:

Offices:

• Admiralty (passage for Sir Sandford F Whittingham);
• Agent (remarks on Judicature Bill, recommends his son for the vacant post of colonial secretary, recommends that Mr Bezant be appointed stipendiary magistrate, asks if the bill to regulate the emigration of apprenticed labourers has received the royal assent);
• Commander in Chief (no objection to Lieutenant Cuppage being appointed to the special magistracy, expediency of having an additional major general in the command, objects to the troops being employed for ordinary policing, 'ravages' by disease of the troops at Tortola, payment of Sir S Whittingham's expenses during his tours of inspection, asks for conveyance to be provided for Sir S Whittingham);
• Home Office (in reply to enquiry about Lawrence Edwards - accused of rape in Barbados - forwards letter from the police magistrate at Liverpool stating that Edwards did not arrive there on board the Francis as suspected);
• Board of Ordnance (Act vesting certain lands at Charles Fort and Battery at Kendels Point in the Crown);
• Treasury (objects to Sir L Smith's proposition for establishing 'a small circulating medium' [local currency], salary due to Archibald Elliot, directions have been given for an addition to be made to estimate for clerks in civil office, approves appointment of Mr Cummings to the office of casual receiver, erection of a lighthouse on the southeast part of the island, letter from the Brethren of Trinity House respecting the erection of a lighthouse, Sir Lionel Smith entitled to £800 as 'table money', payment of certain extra allowances to the auxiliary compensation commissioners, sanctions additional remuneration to Messrs Sharpe and Mayers additional compensation commissioners, Sir S F Whittingham's allowances for tours of inspection, whether to accept the bishop's bill for £326 6s 4d for expenses of his visitation of the southern portion of his diocese, expenses incurred by Sir S F Whittingham in his tour of inspection as commander of the forces, remittance of British silver coin to the colonial military chest, salary of civil governor, residence of the commander of the forces in the West Indies, payment of salary to the governor's private secretary, whether they are to pay the sum of £13 8s 11d drawn by President Beccles for salaries of clerks in the governor's office, salary issued to secretary to the auxiliary compensation commission);
• War Office (staff pay of commander of forces);
• Lloyds Committee (letter concerning lighthouse has been laid before the committee [missing], lighthouse);
• Office of Commissioners of Compensation (continuance of payment of assistant commissioners, no objection to further remuneration being granted to assistant commissioners);
• United Service Museum (thanks for presentation of a 'petrifaction' from the Leeward Islands).

Individuals:

• J Bezant (would not object to being appointed to his former district, thanks for kindness, requests an interview, requests employment in the West Indies, requests appointment as stipendiary magistrate [several letters]);
• T Berkeley (recommends erection of a lighthouse on Ragged Point);
• Felix Bedingfeld (seeks appointment as colonial secretary);
• Sir J Conroy (asks if stipendiary magistrate Captain J Hutcheson is alive);
• Robert Deverill (is about to sail);
• William Eliot (his brother the archdeacon's wish to retire to a living in England);
• Archdeacon Edward Eliot (his wish to retire to a living in England);
• W G Freeman (applies for post of collector of customs);
• Kitty Grace (petition seeking freedom for herself and her children and for certain property);
• S Glendon (requests names of certain officials);
• Globe Newspaper (respecting payment);
• T Harris and others (memorial against an Act entitled 'Bye Laws Ordinances and Regulations for the good government of Bridge Town';
• J Hodgkinson (seeks appointment to the vacant post of secretary and clerk of the Council);
• J Hamilton (seeks transfer to Grenada);
• P Inglis (thanks for kindness);
• J Mayers, former protector of slaves (applies for appointment as colonial secretary or to other position);
• J M O'Hanlon (sends memorial from Barbados merchants praying for aid towards the construction of a railroad from Quebec to St Andrews in New Brunswick);
• A Paine (pecuniary claim against Captain F Mathews);
• Teresa Saunders (requests investigation into her rights as heir to the property of the late Edward Saunders);
• C Shirley (asks for any letters addressed to Colonel Bridgeman to be sent to him);
• H E Sharpe, attorney general (reports his arrival in England on leave and requests interview);
• E Webb, stipendiary magistrate (obliged to resign because of ill health and requests an appointment in North America [Canada]);
• Sir Stanford Whittingham (his pay and allowances, when he should travel, seeks instructions as to conflicting applications for troops from different governors, requests copy of instructions to Dr Madden concerning the enlistment of liberated Africans, acknowledges letters).

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