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EMIGRATION THROUGH
PLYMOUTH
EMIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA, 1849
The following account of the emigrant ships waiting to sail
from Plymouth to Australia in early March of 1849 is transcribed in full from the "Plymouth, Devonport & Stonehouse Herald". As
usual with newspaper reports in those days the text was not divided in to paragraphs but
it has been here to make it easier to understand.
EMIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA
[1]
We had an opportunity of visiting, on Thursday, a fine
ship, the Dorothy, Captain Moodie, of Newcastle, lying in the Sound, with emigrants for
Australia, and we were highly pleased with the inspection.
We may state for the information of our readers who have
not watched the progress of emigration from our shores to our various colonial
possessions, that for some years after the emigration system commenced from this port, the
emigrants chiefly consisted of farm and other labourers, principally from Ireland -- but
after a time skilful English artisans sought their fortunes in the distant land of
promise; latterly, however, persons in the middle and even the higher grades of society
have found it expedient to follow a similar course, and this, as might be expected, led to
the chartering of vessels for this latter description of persons. The ship Dorothy,
above alluded to, is one of this class, and is admirably adapted for the purpose.
She was built in 1847, register 488 tons, and is amply
provided with every necessary stores. She carries twenty-five hands, and is fitted
up by Messrs. Parsons and Reynolds, of London, merchants -- the freighters -- in the most
complete style. She has a top-gallant forecastle for the crew, and her cabins, under
the poop quarter-deck, are constructed with every convenience -- but the most striking
peculiarity of her accommodation is the fittings up 'tween decks for the passengers, the
berths being partitioned off, forming a series of cabins, with sliding doors, ventilators,
&c., so that each passenger, or family, as the case may be, has a separate apartment,
an arrangement which carries with many advantages -- while the ample space in the c centre
of the deck is furnished with tables, &d., common to all. The Dorothy has all
her berths taken, and she carries out many cabin and intermediate, and 102 steerage
passengers, all of whom have paid for their passage. She has a surgeon, and is
subject to the regulation of the passengers' act. She is bound for Adelaide and Port
Phillip.
Lieutenant Carew, the Government Inspector, was on board,
and after his usual close inspection, we understand that he expressed to the Captain his
entire satisfaction of the state of the vessel, and of the accommodation afforded to the
passengers.
The gentlemen above-named, the most respectable firm of
Messrs. Parsons and Reynolds, intend regularly to despatch ships to Australia, on the same
principle, calling at Plymouth -- their agents here being Messrs. Luscombe and Driscoll,
and we have no doubt the accommodation thus afforded will eagerly be taken advantage of by
persons in the West of England, about to embark to these favourite colonies. The
Dorothy will sail the instant the wind will allow, and we trust she will have a fine
passage.
The Hope, of Plymouth, Captain Gill, is in the Sound, and
is expected to sail this day (Saturday) with emigrants for Port Phillip; and the Emigrant,
of London, 753 tons burthen, Captain Kemp, arrived here a few days since, and will sail on
the 6th for Sidney. She will take out a large number of Dorsetshire labourers, under
the auspices of the Rev. S G Osborne.
The same newspaper
carried many other reports of emigration from Plymouth to Australia.
For example, the issue of Saturday April 14th 1849 reported that the "Lady
Kennaway", which had sailed from Plymouth in September 1848 with Irish
orphans, had taken 87 days to reach Port Phillip, Melbourne. On
Thursday April 12th 1849 the "Elizabeth", under Captain Morris, had left the
Port with Government emigrants also bound for Port Phillip. [2]
On the previous Sunday,
April 8th 1849, the "Mary Bannatyne", Captain McKirdy, had sailed with
Government emigrants for Sydney and the "Prince Regent", Captain Jago, had
left with a similar cargo for Adelaide. This latter vessel was a local
one, owned by Messrs Pope Brothers. Mr Wilcocks was the Government
agent in Plymouth at that time. [2]
Sources:
[1] "Emigration to
Australia", Plymouth, Devonport & Stonehouse Herald,
Plymouth, March 3rd 1849.
[2] "Emigration from
Plymouth", Plymouth, Devonport & Stonehouse Herald, Plymouth,
April 14th 1849.
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