Passage of Native, Seamen.

Passage of Henry Hovenden to New South Wales

Despatch from Lord Stanley to Sir George Gipps

Downing street, 28th August, 1845

Sir, I transmit to you herewith a copy of a letter from the Secretary to the "Destitute Sailors' Asylum," with a Memorial from Henry Hovenden, who being incapable, from accident and disease, of following his calling as a sailor, is desirous of being provided with the means of joining his family at Sydney, of which place it appears that he is a native ; and, under the circumstances of the case, I have authorised the Colonial Agent to provide him with a passage to Sydney. I have done so, anticipating the concurrence of the Legislative Council, as it is not usual to withhold such assistance from the Colonial Revenues, in cases of extreme distress like the present.

Stanley.

Governor Sir George Gipps, &c.

(Enclosure referred to.]

Destitute Sailors' Asylum, 13th August, 1845.

My Lord,

I have the honour to forward to your Lordship a petition of Henry Hovenden, a native of Sydney, New South Wales, who is unfit to follow his duties as a sailor, and requests your Lordship to be pleased to order him a free passage to Sydney, where he has relatives and friends to assist him.

GEORGE PIERCE,

Secretary. The Right Honorable Lord Stanley.

To the Right Honorable Lord Stanley, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies.

The humble petition of Henry Hovenden, Sheweth : That your petitioner is a native of Sydney, in New South Wales, and is twenty-one years of age-has been at sea eight years.

Your petitioner left Sydney four years ago in the John Cottar, which vessel was wrecked on a reef near the Island of Tahiti, and after encountering much privation, ultimately came to England in the Sir Edward Paget, on board of which latter ship he had the misfortune to fall from the fore-yard and had his thigh broken ; since that period, he has been on board the Dreadnaught, Hospital ship, eleven months ; in the London Hospital fourteen days; and at the Destitute Sailors' Asylum one month. Being still unfit for service at sea, and desirous of returning to Sydney, where he has a mother and brothers now resident, and where he might be able to earn a livelihood, your Petitioner humbly prays you will take his case into your consideration, and kindly grant him a passage to his native country, and your Petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

HENRY HOVENDEN. Destitute Sailors' Asylum, Wells-street, London Dock, 13th August, 1845.

Letter from the Port Master to the Colonial Secretary.

Port Master's Office, Sydney,

22nd January, 1846. Sir,-I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 16th instant requesting me to ascertain and report whether Henry Hovenden has arrived in this colony.

In reply, I beg to inform you that Hovenden arrived last night in the ship Golden Spring from London, which sailed from the London Docks on the 17th September last ; he embarked on the 16th. Hovenden fell from the fore-yard of the Sir Edward Paget, on a passage from Valparaiso to Liverpool.

I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most. obedient servant,

MERION MORIARTY,

Port Master

The Honorable the Colonial Secretary, &c.

SG 30 May 1846 ; p 151

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