33054-002276

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34/6387 5356 5358

[in margin in pencil:] The Harriet [sailed-underlined] this morning. The Agents are Mssrs Aspinal & [ ... ]

[in margin in another hand:] Send Extract to W. Laidley of Capt. Clunies's letter

[in margin in pencil:] MC. Immediate Mr Laidley 7 November 1834

On the arrival of the Brig Harriet chartered by the Commisariat Department to Convey Maize and Timber from Moreton Bay, the Deputy Comissary General submitted an Account for the Passage of nine Prisoners of the Crown forwarded by the Commandant, amounting to £18. which the Governor ordered to be paid. W Laidley having stated that no Engagement had been made for their Passage, his Excellency directed a Communication to be made to Captain Clunie that he ought to have made such Engagement.

In replying to the letter from Moreton Bay, I find that in the concluding part of 34/5356, three of these Men are stated to have been forwarded to Head Quarters having [arranged-underlined] with the Captain to work their [passage-underlined] and also

Letter Mail Immediate W. Laidley 7 November 1834

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also that in 34/5358 _ the six other men were sent on the application of the Captain(whose Letter is enclosed) the Crew having mutinied and refused to proceed _ unless other hands were procured to assist in pumping, in consequence of the damage the Vessel sustained by getting aground-

The Commandant observes that their being so sent, will be the means of forwarding them free of expense to Sydney.-

It would thus appear that the owners of the Harriet had no right to demand the Expense of the Passage of the Nine prisoners in Question[Although no Communication-crossed out] as the Vessel was chartered by the Commissariat Captain Clunie ought to have apprised Mr Laidley of the Terms on which the Men were sent to Sydney

[right margin] Send Contract and [...illeg] to Mr Laidley

[right side, bottom] No- Capt Clunie acted perfectly correctly= The confusion was mine, but the Agents must still be applied to

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to Sydney, and taken an engagement from the Master of the ship that no charge was to be made.--