Brian Condon: Letters and Documents in 19th Century Australian Catholic History

[Source: Adelaide Archdiocesan Archives original. Copy?]

Secretary's Office

Sydney

13 January 1821

Revd. J.J. Therry

Roman Catholic Chaplain

Charlotte Place

Sydney

Sir,

I was honored by the receipt of your letter yesterday, in answer to the one I had the honor to address to you, by desire of the Secretary, of the same date. I am now commissioned to make you the following reply.

The circumstance of one of the persons mentioned in your application being a Protestant will sufficiently evince the necessity of the List being headed as requested, in order that it may convey upon the face of it an assurance that all the Parties are members of the Church of Rome.

The Secretary is not aware of any verbal permission on the part of His Excellency the Governor for you to Solemnize Marriages between persons similarly circumstanced with those referred to in your letter now under answer; if such permission does exist, the communication thereof must proceed from the governor himself: under the present circumstances of the case the Secretary feels it altogether incompatible with his Duty to submit any application for His Excellency's approval or consideration that is not in every respect strictly conformable to the existing Orders and Regulations of Government.

The Regulation regarding the time such application should be made has never been complained of as inconvenient by any of the Protestant Chaplains, whose Congregations live equally dispersed with those under your own care.

I am Sir

Your very obedient Servant

J. Atkinson