Transcription Page 69

Country is such, that should
force have to be resorted to, a
strong party would be required
which should be divided into
five or six parties, to cooperate
by land and by water, to
Insure the probability of success -

Herewith I beg to enclose
a copy of my Journal relative
to the proceedings that have been
recently adopted, for the above
mentioned purpose -

I have the honor to be
Sir
Your Honor’s most obedt Sert
Charles J. Tyers
Comm CL.

[Annotation: right]

Not sent
in Duplicate

Transcription Page 70

Melbourne 7th October 1846.

Sir,
I am directed by the Committee
appointed at the Public Meeting held
at the Royal Hotel Melbourne on the
2d.Ultimo, for the purpose of devising means
for the rescue of an European female stated
to be detained captive by one of the Gipps’
Land Tribes of Aborigines, to transmit you
a Copy of the Colonial Secretary’s letter dated
19th. September 1846, in reply to a requisition
made to the Government for supplies for the
use of the said expedition

Your Honor will observe on perusal of
the Colonial Secretary’s letter that His Excellency
entertains no doubt as to the existence of a
white woman in the position described,
and that instructions have been given to
the Local Government to “incur any expense
that may be found necessary” in compassing
her rescue, and further that His Excellency
expresses his surprise that the Mayor of Melbourne
or any other person really interested had not
applied to your Honor “who was able and wil=
=ing to communicate information”, both as to
the existence of the Captive and the means
intended by the Government for her rescue.

Your Honor is aware that at the time
the Public Meeting was held Your Honor was
not in the District of Port Phillip, and hence
no application for any information could be
made to you.

The

His C. J. La Trobe Esquire
or the
Superintendent of
Port Phillip

[Annotation: top left]

No 46/1473

[Annotation: top right]

8th October 1846
Mr J McDonald Hon:Sec:. of y Comee
apptd to carry out arrangts for
y rescue of a certain European
female among ye wild blacks of Gipps Ld

[Annotation: left]

Acknowld
ye 12 Oct -

Transcription Page 71

The Committee have made final
arrangements for the dispatch of the expe=
=dition in Your Honor’s absence, and appoint=
=ed Mr. DeVilliers to the command, a gentleman
in whose experience and conduct the Com.
=mittee and the Public generally have
every Confidence

I am now directed by the Committee
respectfully to apply to your Honor for such
information of the unfortunate female in
question, as the Government may be in
possession of, and also the means in
progress for her rescue; and I am further
directed to enquire of Your Honor whether
the Government will interpose any obstacles
to the expedition, as is reported by some subor-
=dinate officials, they intend doing.

The Committee beg to express their
regret that circumstances unavoidably
arising from Your Honor’s temporary ab.
=sence from the Province, should have led
to a mis-apprehension on the part of the Govern.
=ment as to the views and intentions of the
framers of this expedition, who never pur-
=posed using any other means than negoci-
=ation and stratagem; arms and ammunition
being required only as a means of self defence.

Under these circumstances I am
directed to state that the party under
Mr. DeVilliers’ Command (if your Honor
wishes) will be instructed to co-operate
with any party which the Government
may