Attorney General's Office - Letterbook, 1831-1840

A 165

fonds

1831-1840

421902

Microfilm : CY 887 (A 165)

1 volume - 0.04 Meters
Textual Records - (manuscript)

John Plunkett's term of service as Solicitor General (1831-1836) marked the Colony's first Catholic appointment to high civil office. In this role, Plunkett assisted the Attorney General, John Kinchela, in advising the Crown, acting as deputy in his absence, and acting as assistant counsel in court proceedings. Indeed, as a result of Kinchela's deafness, Plunkett undertook many of the Attorney General's duties [and therefore authors correspondence in this letterbook]. When Kinchela retired in 1836, Plunkett was appointed Attorney General and served until 1838. -- Reference: Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol.2, 1788-1850. Carlton, Vic.: Melbourne University Press, 1967

Correspondence [dealing with legal and administrative matters] with the Commifsariat [ie. Commissariat. James Laidley and William Miller], Director of Public Works, Collector of Internal revenue [William Macpherson], Surveyor General [Major Mitchell], Customs - Auditor General [William Lithgow], Principal Superintendant of convicts [F.A. Hely], Crown Solicitor, and miscellaneous

D.S. Mitchell bookplate inside front cover
"D.S. Mitchell" signature on title page