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

[Source: Adelaide Archdiocesan Archives copy]

16 October 1821

His Excellency Governor Macquarie is humbly solicited to honor the R. C's of Sydney by condescending to lay the first stone of their intended Chapel.

It is deemed desirable that the ceremony should take place on the first of next month (November) at the hour of one o'clock but if His Excellency's convenience require that it be performed at any time before or after that day, arrangements to meet it shall be accordingly made by

his dutiful and obedient servant

J.J. Therry

P.S.

Sir, you will have the kindness to inform me whether we are permitted by His Excellency the Governor to convey the rough stone from the Government quarry near the penitentiary for the use of the intended R.C. Church.

[Note: The most extensive collection of transcriptions of Fr Therry's correspondence remains Eris O'Brien's The Foundation of Catholicism in Australia; life and letters of Archpriest John Joseph Therry, Sydney, Angus & Robertson, 1922]