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Tuesday 12 September 1848
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MRS. CHISHOLM.
(From the Sydney Morning Herald.)
THE following correspondence has been handed to us for publication :—
Downing-street,
8th March, 1848.
SIR,—I have the honour to acknow- ledge to your despatch, No. 188, of the 22nd September last, accompanied by a letter from the Speaker of the Legisla- tive Council, alluding to an intention to raise a subscription for Mrs. Chisholm, and expressing a hope that Government would make a contribution to its acknow-
ledgment of her exertions in favour of immigrants to New South Wales.
Almost at the same time with your despatch I received a letter from Mrs. Chisholm expressive of her wish, with every sentiment of gratitude to the friends who had originated the proposal, to decline any pecuniary aid. I enclose a copy of the letter, as well as of the reply returned to it, by which you will perceive that whether or not, the general rules of the public service would have rendered it impossible to make a pecu- niary grant to Mrs. Chisholm under the circumstances, I am confident that there could be no case in which it would have been better merited, and that I am fully sensible of this last proof which that letter has given of the disinterested spirit by which she has been actuated in her exertions for the assistance of immigrants, and for the general encouragement of emigration.
I have, &c.,
GREY.
Governor Sir C. Fitz Roy, &c.,
38, King-street, Covent Garden,
1st March, 1848. Sir,—I beg leave to take the liberty of calling your attention, for the information of Earl Grey, to the circumstance of my having this day received letters from in- fluential parties in Sydney, informing me that a public meeting of my friends in the colony had taken place for the pur- pose of co-operating with me in my efforts to promote the re-union of fami- lies, and of ensuring me against any loss in my exertions in the cause of emi- gration, and that with this view a depu- tation of gentlemen waited on His Ex- cellency the Governor to request that a sum of money as an acknowledgment of my services, should be awarded to me from the public funds, and which requi- sition Sir Charles Fitz Roy was pleased to say would be submitted for the con-
sideration of the Home Government.
While I feel deeply grateful for this effort of my colonial friends, and duly
appreciate the motives, as well as the considerate intention of the local govern- ment, I am desirous of declining this pe- cuniary aid in the most respectful man- ner, and should therefore feel indebted to Earl Grey if he would do me the favour not to submit the application in question
for the consideration of Her Majesty's
Government.
I have, &c.,
CAROLINE CHISHOLM, Benjamin Hawes, Esq., &c.
Downing-street,
8th March, 1848.
Madam,—I am directed by Earl Grey to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 1st instant, mentioning that you have been informed of an intention to apply to the government for a grant from the public funds in acknowledgment of your services, and stating that while you feel deeply grateful for this effort of your friends in the colony, you are desi- rous respectfully to decline the proposed pecuniary aid, and do not wish the
question to be submitted to Her Majesty's
Government.
I am directed by Earl Grey to state that in the sentiments thus conveyed by you, His Lordship recognises the same disinterested spirit which has marked the whole of your benevolent exertious in fa- vour of your fellow-subjects upon their arrival in New South Wales, and that whilst in deference to your wishes he will abstain from enquiring whether the course proposed by the gentlemen who had assembled in New South Wales would have admitted of adoption, your present communication only supplies additional proof how well merited would have been such an acknowledgement if it had been compatible with your own desire and with the general rules and precedents adhered to in the public service.
I am, &c.,
H. MERIVALE, Mrs. Chisholm.
Colonial Secretary's Office,
Sydney, 19th August, 1848. Sir,—Adverting to your letter of the 10th September, 1847, bringing under the notice of the Governor, the proceed- ings of a public meeting held on the 7th of the preceding month, for the purpose of raising a sum of money tobe presented
to Mrs. Caroline Chisholm, as an ac- knowledgment of her exertions in pro- moting immigration to this colony, with
a view to obtain a contribution from Go- vernmeut towards the subscription. I am directed by His Excellency to transmit to you the accompanying copy of a despatch from the Right Honorable the Secretary of State, together with the enclosures thereto, from which it will be observed that Mrs. Chisholm had expressed her desire to decline the pecuniary aid pro- posed to be afforded.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
lour most obedient servant,
E. DEAS THOMSON.
Charles Nicholson, Esq.,
Chairman of the Committee, &c.