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

[Source: Adelaide Archdiocesan Archives copy]

Hobart Town

3 February 1825

Sir,

I should consider myself deficient in respect to the high Authority by which I am appointed resident Roman Catholic Chaplain in Van Diemen's Land, and to the distinguished Personages of my own persuasion who procured the appointment, were I passively to submit to the manifest injustice rendered to me by the Rev. Mr. Connolly who, in a note to Your Honor in answer to a communication of my official appointment by Earl Bathurst, evasively asserted that "I should bring faculties from a Roman Catholic Bishop".

Your Honor is well aware that I must have had those 'Faculties' as he terms them before Lord Bathurst could appoint, and that His Lordship's appointing me to the Mission must have proceeded from the recommendation of the Roman Catholic Bishop of London, who inducts to all foreign Missions exercised by Roman Catholics. I most respectfully beg to state that my production of these qualifications from the Bishop could not procure for me any countenance or support from His Majesty's Government in these territories, who in these matters are solely directed by official Communications from one of the Secretaries of State administering the affairs of the Colonies.

Notwithstanding this species of implied inhibition of Mr Connolly in his note, I have officiated in my clerical duties at Pittswater and the Coal River districts by Mr Connolly's desire, which circumstance must prove to Your Honor that Lord Bathurst's appointment supersedes the unofficial Certificate of the Roman Catholic Bishop.

A distinguished Roman Catholic Gentleman in London has sent out as a present to the Roman Catholic Chapel in this Settlement a Service of Communion Plate which, addressed and peculiarly and expressedly directed to me, Mr Connolly procured means of obtaining into his hands and retains, with sorrow I say unjustly, which circumstance of the Plate, independent of my official appointment, proved the knowledge thereof of the Catholic Laity in England and Ireland and, an obstacle to the discharge of my official duties in Hobart Town being placed by a person unappointed to this Settlement, it requires no small sophistry to unravel his meaning.

In the Registry of all the official appointments in this Colony under Your Honor's upright administration my name has been omitted, notwithstanding that my appointment has never been abused or sullied by any conduct derogatory from the Character of a Minister of the Gospel, as my conduct in the Van Diemen's Land has been invariably directed by a sense of my duty in affording Religious Instruction, and promoting as much as in my sphere appertains the interests of the Colony, by inculcating obedience to the Laws and Regulations of a Settlement, over the Spiritual interests of a great part of the Community of which I have been appointed by the most exalted Authority.

All of the above circumstances I most respectfully beg to submit to Your Honor's discriminating judgement, which will be further increased by a Memorial which the Roman Catholics under your Government mean to submit, and convinced of the soundness of your judgement and rectitude of your heart in affording my just station in Society,

I have the honor to be, Sir,

Your Honor's most obedient humble Servant

Samuel Coote