Record series
Inward Registered Correspondence
VPRS 4
1836 - 1839
Open
North Melbourne
Agencies
This record series was created by:
Agencies responsible for this record series: Department of Justice ( VA 3085 ): 1992 - present
Date Range
Series date range: 1836 - 1839
Series in custody:
1836 - 1839
Contents in custody:
1836 - 1839
Function / Content
This series consists of correspondence received by the Chief Magistrate of Port Phillip District, Captain William Lonsdale. This correspondence was principally from the Colonial Secretary and other government officials both in Sydney and within the colony of Port Phillip dealing with matters relating to the administration of the colony. There were some letters from private persons making requests or representations or forwarding petitions.The series also includes a Minute Book maintained by Superintendent Charles Joseph La Trobe from 1 October to 20 November 1839. Superintendent La Trobe recorded notes on meetings with officials and deputations and on correspondence or memoranda written. (The 'diary' is not easy to read. The document is difficult to read on the microfilm; it is also difficult to read in the original. Some of Superintendent La Trobe's handwriting is barely legible; some words are abbreviated.)
This Minute Book (as it was titled by La Trobe himself) is what is referred to in 'Historical Records of Victoria', vol. 7, p. 275, as La Trobe's diary.
How to use the records
**Researchers please note: the records in the P0 consignment have been digitised. Browse or search the consignment to view the digital images of the records.**For correspondence with respect to specific subjects or from specific persons consult VPRS 3 Inwards Correspondence Register (or VPRS 2140 Microfilm Copy of Inwards Correspondence Register).
Recordkeeping system
Correspondence was filed in annual single number order.VPRS 1 Outward Letter Book (1836-1840) and VPRS 2 Confidential Despatches to Governor Burke (1836-1837) contain outward correspondence from the Chief Magistrate of Port Phillip.
