Brian Condon: Letters and Documents in 19th Century Australian Catholic History
[Source: Adelaide Archdiocesan Archives copy]
OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION
Sydney
3 December 1822
Sir,
The funds established for the erection of a Roman Catholic Chapel in this town being now completely exhausted and the work itself consequently interrupted, I am under the necessity of earnestly soliciting His Excellency Sir Thomas Brisbane KCB to be graciously pleased to grant us such assistance on the part of Government as shall enable us to resume and complete it.
The well known benevolence of our Government, the Moral and Political importance of the undertaking for which its patronage is now solicited and the written recommendation of one of the Judges and twenty-six Magistrates of the Territory (which I sometime since had the honor of submitting to you and a copy of which, to prevent the trouble of having reference to the original I beg leave to enclose) give me the greatest confidence that my humble prayer will on this occasion be attended with the happiest result.
I have the Honor to be Sir
with the greatest respect
Your obedient humble servant
John Joseph Therry R.C.C.
We the undersigned Magistrates, being of opinion that His Majesty's and the Public Service require that a suitable place of Worship should be speedily established for the Roman Catholics of Sydney; and perceiving that the contributions which have been made for the purpose by individuals are not adequate to the expenses likely to be incurred in consequence of the necessary magnitude of the required Edifice, beg leave to submit to the consideration of His Excellency Sir Thomas Brisbane KCB the expediency of granting on the part of Government such assistance to the Roman Catholic Committee as may enable them to complete in a reasonable time the Chapel lately commenced in Hyde Park.
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Barron Field, Judge of the Supreme Court |
Thomas Riddal J.P. |
|
John Piper J.P., N.O. |
Archibald Bell J.P. |
|
John Thomas Campbell J.P. and P.M. |
Charles Throsby J.P. |
|
Dr. Wentworth J.P. and S.P. |
Thomas Moore J.P. |
|
Harry Gratton Douglass J.P. and M.O. |
John Oxley J.P. and Surveyor General |
|
Edward Wolstonecraft J.P. |
Surgeon General |
|
Alexander Berry J.P. |
John Landon J.P. |
|
William Brown J.P. |
John Brabyn J.P. |
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Richard Brook J.P. |
Edward Riely J.P. |
|
Hannibal MacArthur J.P. |
John Blaxland J.P. |
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William Cox J.P. |
John Palmer J.P. |
|
James Milcham J.P. |
George Thos. Palmer J.P. |
|
John Harris J.P. |
[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]