33054-001736

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[top of left margin] 32/1366 - 14 February 1832.

[on right] "Governor Phillip"

Commandants [sic] Office Moreton Bay 31st Jan'y [underlined] (1832)

[in left margin] No. 32/1

Sir

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Your letters No's 31/17 & 31/18 of the 30th Ultimo by the Governor Phillip which arrived here on the 17th Inst. and is now ready to return to Sydney.

2 .... [opening of square bracket] [ It is with much regret I am under the necessity of reporting to you for the information at His Excellency The Governor the unfortunate Seizure of the Schooner Caledonia by eleven convicts at this Settlement and the consequent escape of the latter under nearly the following circumstances.

Early on the morning of the 16th Ultimo, I learnt that the above Vessel had arrived in the bay and as I recieved no communication from You authorizing

[on right] her

[written in left margin]

A copy of so much as relates to the Seizure of the Caledonia is required for enclosure to Capt De Saumarez as soon as convenient

[Initials, on right] RB

[underlined] (July 19th 1832)

[in another hand, on right] Copy herewith

[on right] 20 Feb

[in a third hand, in pencil]

Mr J ...

.......... Immediate

[pencil tick, on right]

[in a fourth hand, in pencil, underlined] (This letter requires orders)

[in second writer's hand]

Captain Clunie receipt

acknowledged

............... 21 May 1832.

[in fourth writer's hand, in pencil]

Capture of the

Caledonia

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her to touch at this place; and suspecting she must have done so unauthorizedly, I lost not a moment in proceeding to meet her, with a view of preventing Smuggling and ordering her off immediately, at the same time as I learnt that the object of her coming here was to take away a boat belonging to the late ship America, I gave directions also for it's [sic] being forwarded in case it should appear to me proper to give it to her.

As the wind proved for sometime rather unfavorable I could not reach the Vessel, before it was dark, when I found she was anchored near Amity Point, which it may be necessary to mention is about fifty miles from the Settlement, and at which place the pilot resides with seven prisoners as a boat's crew and three Soldiers.

The Vessel being anchored some distance from the shore,

[on right] and

and it being dark, it would have been impossible to have sent her off that night and I therefore delayed communicating with her till the morning, which I was more particularly induced to do, from finding that the Pilot had obtained from her some spirits and was not only drunk himself, but had also given spirits to two of the Soldiers who were likewise intoxicated. The Pilot himself was in a most outrageous state, had locked himself into his quarters and being unable to let himself out, fired a pistol through the door which fortunately did no harm and as he soon after apparently went to sleep, I did not think it advisable to interfere with him till he became sober. I also had the two soldiers put to bed, and taking their arms into the place where I intended to remain, directed the other Soldier, who was perfectly Sober to keep a look out during the night, in front of our quarters

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[diagonally, on left, in pencil] 18

and in so doing I candidly acknowledge, I diverted his attention more to looking after the arms, than the prisoners, as I must confess, I did not suppose any danger was to be apprehended from so few unarmed men when the boats were secured, and as I learnt that the Schooner had a crew of nine free men, I lay down to rest. - Shortly after this the boat belonging to the America arrived, but I was not informed that in consequence of the unfavorable wind, more men came with her than I had ordered, and I only directed a Soldier who came with her to assist the other in looking out during the night. There being no opening in the back part of our quarters, unfortunately their sole attention was directed to the front, while some of the prisoners made a hole under the foundation of the Pilot's house, got up through the brick floor, and took out two

[on right] mus- [musquets]

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[centred] 32/1366

musquets, some pistols and ammunition, which it appears the pilot got from the shipwrecked crew of the America and kept without my knowledge, or permission. The prisoners also contrived to get into a separate building, where the oars, sails &c. were lock'd up and the night being very rainy with much thunder and lightening [sic] without being observed, they launched a small boat, with muffl'd oars got on board of the Schooner, seized the man who was looking out and got possession of the Vessel without any resistance. At this time it was nearly day break, and the Vessel being observed to move, the alarm was given, but the prisoners had taken the precaution to conceal all the other oars, so that the Vessel having the wind and tide in her favor before any attempt could be made to retake her, had got to too great a distance and had sent on Shore in a boat the owner and

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