1 July 1846. Called on Mr. Croal and had a conversation with him respecting the Execution Sale, the Portuguese priest etc. etc.

Wrote to the Gov^t. Sec^y. enquiring when the provision for the Portuguese priest should date from etc. Received a reply to the above this evening.

Mr. Haynes called to inform me that instructions were sent by the Portuguese Govt. to their Minister in London to obtain the sanction of the British Govt. to the appointment of H. as Portuguese Consul of British Guiana.

2. Baum and Dallas say that they knew nothing of the Execution Sale till it was sent to them to print. Campbell, Arrindell's attorney, it would appear, called on Craig the day before Clancy's departure, and said that he should arrest his (Craig's) client unless he gave security for the costs in suit (the last) versus Baum and Dallas - Craig referred him to Imlach who, he said, would do the needful. Imlach was out of town and Clancy was off before he returned. Imlach pleaded that he had no funds etc. etc.

Mr. Robinson called in reference to the transport.

Mr. Reed has come back and brought me a letter from Mr. Kelly of Berbice.

Judge Firebrace called in this evening and kindly offered to hold a court tomorrow for the passing of the transport.

[3]. Got transport of the house today, and paid Robinson 2^nd. instalment $2,000, and a Set of Exchange for the remaining $2,000 or in sterling £416.13.4, payable in six months at the London Joint Stock Bank.

4. Wrote for packet sailing tomorrow to D^r Taylor, Cardinal Fransoni, and to the Secretary of the Institut D'Afrique.

Sent copies of newspapers with notice of Execution Sale to Cardinal Fransoni, D^r Cullen, D^r Taylor and Mr. Troy.

Sent to Gazette for publication a caution to parties in reference to Execution Sale.

11. Recd. 100 dollars from J. Reed in part payment of board etc.

12 July 1846. The mail has come in and brought me an account of the Pope's death. Received letters from M. Kelly and from the curate of the village of Nasciaro, Malta. On Friday last 10^th. Mr. Alty called in reference to the repairs of the church. By his account Estwick has been deceiving the Bookers as well as me. He proposed dismissing him, and employing another carpenter to finish the job according to plan - to the which I assented.

13. The sale by execution of Mrs. Goodman's house, furniture etc. took place, but nearly the whole, including the House, was bought in for the family in the name of Miss Valerino.

Received a communication from the Government Secretary to the effect that my letter to Mr Secretary Gladstone was received at the Colonial Office, and copy transmitted to Governor Light for his report thereon. What report will he make?

14. Wrote to the Government Secretary in reply to his communication of yesterday's date.

Wrote to Mr. Robinson in reply to a note of his - took advantage of the occasion to inform him that I discovered certain dilapidations in the house he sold me, and that I should look to him for payment of any expenses I may be put to in repairing etc.

A letter from the Bookers informing me of their intention of engaging Mr. Haughton to complete Estwick's job, if it should meet my approval. Wrote to them that I should be quite satisfied with the arrangement.

15. Mr. Alty came to the church accompanied by Mr. Haughton the architect. The latter inspected Estwick's work very particularly, and returns again to take measurements preparatory to his giving an estimate of the expense of completing the job.

A letter from the Government Secretary acknowledging receipt of mine of yesterday's date.

16 July 1846. Carpenter began working today at other house. Put in a new brace, in the E[ast] Angle of the morning room, of locust wood. The old brace and sill were half consumed by the wood ant. A wallaba post runs up the side of this part of the building - have not as yet discovered whether there is more of this wood in the frame of the building - the old brace was of green heart, as was also the sill.

17. Mr. Haughton took measurements in the church this morning, and in the course of the day he is to furnish the Bookers with an account of the expenditure required for completing the job, and me with the particulars of the work to be done.

19. Mr. J. Burke approached the Sacraments this morning as a preparation for his voyage - he goes home by tomorrow's steamer.

Wrote to Monsieur Choiselat-Gallien [of the French missionary support group Société pour la Propagation de la Foi], enclosing receipt for F20,000 - informed him of purchase of Robinson's house £2,000 - about £450 of which still remaining due.

Wrote also to Mr. H. Robinson, Manager of the London Joint Stock Bank.

To D^r Taylor to say that I had not as yet received any acknowledgment from the London Joint Stock Bank of any lodgment in my name

Forward[ed] papers relative to Execution Sale to Mr. Troy, J. Gould, J. Ryan, D^r Taylor, D^r Lee, ArchBishop Murray, Choiselat-Gallien & D^r Cullen - D^r Griffiths.

20. This morning received a note from Campbell the Attorney in reference to the Execution Sale which is to take place at 12 today.

A little after midday the execution sale took place, and Clancy's right, title and interest such as it is, was knocked down to Campbell the Attorney, his clerk named Watson bidding for him - the sum for which it was knocked down was somewhat above $200, exclusive I suppose of Marshal's fees etc. Watson, when he had bid up to what covered I suppose all their costs, proposed to J. Reed to bid another dollar, and he should have it - but that J. Reed declined, and perhaps wisely - for after all, what use is the purchase to Campbell - he must prove Clancy's right to the house before he can do more - the victimizing me for costs was no doubt the object of this unprincipled transaction, of which Arrindell and Craig were no doubt the promoters.

What the next move on the part of Arrindell will be, I shall be all anxiety to learn.

21 July 1846. Sent Mr. Walshe to Berbice as Catechist. Wrote by him to Mr. Kelly. Mrs. Cramer a day or two ago came to show me a letter from Mr. Verbeke in which he proposes to give a piece of land for a church and school, and suggests the mode of raising subscriptions.

Called on Mr. Verbeke today - he appears quite ready to render all the assistance in his power, and states that there is not an estate on the coast of Essequibo on which Portuguese are not located. I proposed visiting the Coast in the course of next week.

22. Called to see Mrs. Goodman. Stephen, who had been conversing with Campbell relative to the Execution Sales, was of opinion that I should have bought in the right and title. This seems to be a prevailing opinion, and fears are entertained that I may soon be involved in expensive litigation with Campbell.

Returned Haynes's visit, as also Mr. Heintren's.

Received a letter yesterday from Mr. Cullen complaining of the state of his eyes etc. requesting an exeat to leave the Vicariate, with a recommendatory letter to D^r Murray. Wrote him this day in reply, refusing to comply with his request until such time as a substitute be procured for his mission.

23. This morning a letter was handed to me from Father Joaquin with a very absurd petition - to wit, that he can do no good here, that the state of the Portuguese is as bad as before his arrival, and that I would permit him to join the Jesuits, for whose Society he had originally a vocation. A strange application from one so averse to labour, so obstinate and conceited, and unnatural withal where thousands of his countrymen are in danger of perversion from the faith. It seems to me a ruse to get back to Lisbon, now that he is a Priest - of course I will never grant any such permission.

A visit from Mrs. Tresini, who informs me that there is a house and lot for sale at Williamstown Essequibo, and that the house might be made to serve as a temporary Chapel.

Called on Mr. Vyfhuis, who promised to write by next packet to the Proprietor of Ruimveldt to grant a piece of land for the erection of a church etc. on that Plantation - in the meantime he offered the use of a logie as a temporary Chapel - called also at Mr. Sutton's.

Miss Graham (our new convert) was to sail today for Barbados.

24^th. Edw^'d. Leonard made his appearance this morning at breakfast-time, having quitted La Grange. He certainly does not look strong, but his visits are most inconvenient.

Another letter from Fr. Joaquin again seeking to quit the mission, and now intimating a desire to join the Oratorians! The little knave is at a loss for a pretext to abandon his post. What an unnatural creature this must be - the Colony crowded with Portuguese and no priests to assist in any way any of them except those in the vicinity of Georgetown, and yet he would desert even the few to whom he can administer consolation.

26. A letter today from Mr. Kelsh, manager of Plantation Perseverance, Essequibo, in reply to a communication from me requesting him to look out for me some place which would serve as a temporary chapel etc. He seems to have used great diligence, and is evidently anxious to render all the assistance in his power towards the establishment of a mission on that coast.

Received from Mr. Verbeke a package of letters of introduction to several proprietors and managers of Estates in Essequibo. A finer opportunity has not presented itself since my arrival for the establishment permanently of a mission in the Essequibo; but all, I fear, will be lost through the want of hearty cooperation on the part of our Portuguese Priest. His indifference, want of zeal, and dislike to the Mission will produce, I fear, a disastrous influence on our first operations.

27. At length Mr. Haughton has commenced operations in the church - so far as jobbing out several portions of the Work.

The mail has come in and brought me letters from Revd. J. Goold, Mr. Troy, Mr. John Gould, Revd. J. Savage, with an enclosed letter from the Marchioness Delgada for Father Corrêa, from Aletta and Mrs. Taggart, Mr. Robinson, manager of the London J. S. Bank, and from the War Office in reference to an application from me under date of 19th May.

28. A visit from Mr. Daly, Stipendiary Magistrate of Leguan. He tells me that the islands in the Essequibo are full of Portuguese, and that in many cases they have taken their children to the Protestant clergymen for baptism.

29. Sent off Fr. Joaquin in company with J. Reed to Essequibo, proposing myself to go by steamer tomorrow morning

Deposited $800 in the B[ritish] Guiana Bank - to my private account.

Wrote to J. Savage enclosing copies of Fr. Joaquin's letters.

30. On leaving home for Essequibo consigned to Patrick's care the letter for J. Savage and one for Mr. Young. Gave Patrick $2 for Bristol, paying up to Saturday 2^nd. August - 14 bits for grass to Sunday 3^rd. August inclusive - one dollar in advance to himself and one to pay postage - 6 bits to Kelly and $10 for house expenses: to Adelaide.

Started by steamer at 8 a.m. - arrived off Mr. Bagot's estate Huits to Dierem at 51/2 p.m. Slept there for the night. The manager, whose name is Beamish, is a native of Castle Townsend in the County Cork.

31. Visited the Portuguese labourers on Huits to Dierem: found many of them in a very sickly state. One young woman appeared to be dying, but fortunately she had confessed the day before to Fr. Joaquin, who with Mr. Reed was fortunately driven in there.

There are 36 Portuguese on this estate - 31 fullgrown people and 5 children - there are also from 30 to 40 Dominican people on the estate

After breakfast set out off for Perseverance, which I reached in about 2 hours - found Mr. R. and Fr. Joaquin before me and met a most cordial reception from the manager, Mr. Kelsh.

Looked at several spots for a church erection in the evening.