The following is a transcript of the Letters Patent calling for a Royal Commission into the management of the Woogaroo Lunatic Asylum and other Lunatic Reception Houses of the Colony of Queensland, in 1877, as found at the Queensland State Archives, Item ID 2765073.
This is part of a series publishing primary source documents relating to Woogaroo from 1865 to 1901.
[On left side margin]
Entered on Record by me in the Register of Patents, No 5, page 87 , this 13th day of January, A.D. 1877.
[Signed] H. H. Massie
(For the Colonial Secretary and Registrar.)
VICTORIA, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the
Faith, &c., &c.
To the Honorable EYLES IRWIN CAULFEILD BROWNE; the Honorable JOHN MULLEN; WILLIAM GRAHAM, Esquire; WILLIAM HENRY GROOM, Esquire; WILLIAM GILL BAILEY Esquire; WILLIAM LEWORTHY GOOD DREW, Esquire; and JOSEPH BANCROFT, Esquire, Doctor of Medicine;
GREETING :
WHEREAS an Address was lately presented by the Legislative Assembly of our Colony of Queensland to the Governor of our said Colony, praying that His Excellency would be pleased to cause a Royal Commission to issue to inquire into the management of the Woogaroo Lunatic Asylum and the Lunatic Reception Houses of our said Colony: And whereas the Governor of our said Colony, with the advice of our Executive Council thereof, has thought fit to give effect to the said Address and to issue a Commission in our name, and to appoint you the said EYLES IRWIN CAULFIELD BROWNE, JOHN MULLEN. WILLIAM GRAHAM, WILLIAM HENRY GROOM, WILLIAM GILL BAILEY, WILLIAM LEWORTHY GOOD DREW, and JOSEPH BANCROFT, to be our Commissioners for the purposes hereinafter set forth: Now know ye, that we, reposing especial trust and confidence in your judgment, discretion, zeal, industry, and integrity, do, by these presents, appoint you the said Ertes IRWIN CAULFEILD BROWNE, JOHN MULLEN, WILLIAM GRAHAM, WILLIAM HENRY GROOM, WILLIAM GILL BAILEY, WILLIAM LEWORTHY GOOD DREW. and JOSEPH BANCROFT, to be our Commissioners to inquire into the management of the Woogaroo Lunatic Asylum and the Lunatic Reception Houses in our said Colony of Queensland, and to report upon the best means to be adopted, by Legislative enactment or otherwise, to improve the said institutions; and generally to inquire into and report upon the whole subject of the care, custody, and treatment of insane persons within our said Colony. And we do by these presents appoint and direct that FRIDAY, the twenty-sixth day of January, A.D. 1877, at three o'clock in the afternoon, shall be the time, and the office of our Colonial Secretary in Brisbane the place, at which you shall hold your first meeting, and that you shall at such meeting elect your own Chairman. And we do by these presents give and grant to you or any three of you, at any meeting or meetings, full power and authority to call before you such persons as you shall judge necessary, by whom you may be better informed of the truth in the premises. And we further empower you or any three of you to adjourn such inquiry from time to time and from place to place as you may find expedient or necessary. And we do further command and enjoin you that you do take down the examination of the several witnesses that may appear before you, and reduce the same into writing; and such evidence, together with full, true, and faithful report upon the several matters above referred to as you and each of you shall think fit, transmit to the office of our Colonial Secretary of our said Colony on or before the first day of May, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
In testimony whereof we have caused this our Commission to be sealed with the Seal of our said Colony.
Witness our trusty and well-beloved WILLIAM WELLINGTON CAIRNS, Esquire,
Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Queensland and its Dependencies, at Government House, Brisbane, this thirteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven, and in the fortieth year of our reign.
By His Excellency's Command,
[Signed] R. M. Stewart
[Signed] W. W. Cairns
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