| Description (Content/Function): |
These are fairly rough copies, perhaps even drafts entered into a letterbook, of the certificates of clearance which it was the duty of the Colonial Secretary (in practice, his Chief Clerk) to compile before the departure of any vessel. The chief purpose of the preparatory investigation was to ensure that no convicts might escape on out-going vessels, but the information recorded in the process is of importance in other connections. Details given are: name of ship, tonnage, master, destination, date of clearance, date of sailing, names of crew, names and descriptions of passengers; and finally a statement of the fees payable by the ships' owners. This is the second volume of a series, but not the last; notes in various places indicate that another series of volumes (known as "A", "B" etc.) existed in which the details were entered more regularly. This volume has its own index to ships.
|
