"What a to do! Why can they not simply say "Everyone stay as you are until further order. And Hindmarsh, spread the news!" instead of all this?"
The first is a letter from Lord Glenelg informing Hindmarsh of the death of King William IV.
From the Right Honourable Lord GLENELG,
Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies,
Downing Street,
SIR,
21st June, 1837.
It is with the greatest regret I have to communicate to you the melancholy intelligence of the demise of His late most gracious Majesty, King William the Fourth. His Majesty expired at His Castle at Windsor, on the morning of the 20th instant, at 12 minutes past two o'clock, to the great affliction of the Royal Family, and of all classes of His Majesty's subjects.
Her present Majesty was this day proclaimed Queen Victoria with all the solemnities used on the like occasions. Her Majesty's most gracious Declaration contained in the accompanying Gazette, will best inform you of her determination, under the guidance of Divine Providence, to maintain the reformed religion as by law established, securing at the same time to all, the full enjoyment of religious liberty, and to protect the rights and promote to the utmost of her power the happiness and welfare of all classes of her subjects.
The form to be observed in proclaiming within your government Her most sacred Majesty Queen Victoria, is stated for your guidance in the accompanying communication from the Lords of Her Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council, which also transmits in order that the same may be made public within your Government, Her Majesty's Proclamation requiring all persons being in office of authority, or Government, at the decease of the late King, to proceed in the execution of their respective offices.
I have the honour to be, SIR,
Your most obedient humble Servant,
GLENELG.
The second is a letter from the Privy Council instructing Hindmarsh as to his immediate actions.
From the Lords of Her Majesty's most Honorable Privy Council:
To our very loving Friend the Governor of South Australia.
It having pleased Almighty God to take to His Mercy out of this troublesome life, Our late Sovereign Lord King William the Fourth, of blessed and glorious Memory, and thereupon Her Royal Majesty Queen Victoria, being here proclaimed, We have thought fit to signify the same unto you, with directions that you do, with the assistance of the Council, and numbers of the principal Inhabitants of South Australia, forthwith Proclaim her most sacred Majesty Queen Victoria, according to the form here enclosed, with the solemnities and ceremonies requisite on the like occasions. And you are likewise to publish and proclaim, a Proclamation, requiring all persons being in office of Authority, or Government, at the demise of the late King, to proceed in the execution of their respective offices, till Her Majesty's pleasure shall be further signified, according to the printed copy of the Proclamation herewith transmitted to you for that purpose.
And so not doubting of your ready compliance herein, we bid you heartily farewell.
From the Council Chamber of St. James's, this twenty-first day of June, 1837.
AT the Court at Kensington, the 20th day of June, 1837,
PRESENT,
The QUEEN'S Most Excellent Majesty in Council.
HER Majesty being this day present in Council, was pleased to make the following Declaration, viz. THE severe and afflicting loss which the Nation has sustained by the death of His Majesty, my beloved Uncle has devolved upon me the duty of administering the Government of this Empire.
This awful responsibility is imposed upon me so suddenly, and at so early a period of my life, that I should feel myself utterly opprest by the burthen were I not sustained by the hope that Divine Providence, which has called me to this work, will give me strength for the performance of it and that I shall find in the purity of my intentions, and in my zeal for the public welfare, that support and those resources which usually belong to a more mature age, and to longer experience.
I place my firm reliance upon the wisdom of Parliament, and upon the loyalty and affection of my people. I esteem it also a peculiar advantage, that I succeed to a Sovereign whose constant regard for the rights and liberties of his Subjects, and whose desire to promote the amelioration of the Laws and Institutions of the Country, have rendered his name the object of general attachment and veneration.
Educated in England, under the tender and enlightened care of a most affectionate Mother, I have learned from my Infancy to respect and love the Constitution of my Native Country. It will be my unceasing study to maintain the Reformed Religion us by Law established, securing at the same time to all the full enjoyment of Religious liberty; and I shall steadily protect the rights, and promote to the utmost of my power, the happiness and welfare of all classes of my subjects.
Whereupon the Lords of the Council made it their humble request to Her Majesty, that Her Majesty's most gracious Declaration to their Lordships might be made public, which Her Majesty was pleased to order accordingly.
BY THE QUEEN.
A PROCLAMATION, Requiring all Persons being in Office of Authority or Government at the Decease of the late King, to proceed in the Execution of their respective Offices.
VICTORIA R.
WHEREAS by an Act made in the Sixth Year of the Reign of Her late Majesty Queen Anne, intituled An Act for the Security of Her Majesty's Person and Government, and of the Succession to the Crown of Great Britain in the Protestant Line; it was enacted, that no Office, Place, or Employment, Civil or Military, within the Kingdoms of Great Britain or Ireland, Dominion of Wales, Town of Berwick upon Tweed, Isles of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark, and any of Her Majesty's Plantations, should be made void by reason of the Demise of Her said late Majesty, Her Heirs or Successors, Kings or Queens of this Realm, but that every Person or Persons in any of the Offices, Places, and Employments aforesaid should continue in their respective Offices, Places, and Employments for the Space of Six Months next after such Death or Demise, unless sooner removed and discharged by the next Successor, to whom the Imperial Crown of this Realm was limited and appointed to go, remain, and descend: And whereas by an Act made in the Fifty-seventh Year of the Reign of His late Majesty King George the Third, intituled An Act for the Continuation of all and every Person or Persons in any and every Office, Place, or Employment, Civil or Military, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain aud Ireland, Dominion of Wales, Town of Berwick upon Tweed, Isles of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also in all and every of His Majesty's Foreign Possessions, Colonies, or Plantations, which he or she shall hold, possess, or exercise during the pleasure of the Crown at the Time of the Death or Demise of His present Majesty, until removed or discharged therefrom by the succeeding King or Queen of this Realm ; it was enacted, that all and every Person and Persons, who upon the Day of the Demise of His said late Majesty should hold any Office, Civil or Military, under the Crown, during Pleasure, should, under and by virtue of the said Act and without any new or other Patent, Commission, Warrant, or Authority, continue and be entitled in all respects, notwithstanding the Demise of His said Majesty, to hold and enjoy the same: But nevertheless the same should be held or enjoyed only during the Pleasure of the King or Queen who should succeed to the Crown upon the Demise of His said late Majesty; and the Right and Title to hold and enjoy the same under the Authority of the said Act should be determinable in such and the like Manner, by the King or Queen who upon the Demise of His said late Majesty should succeed to the Crown, as the Right or Title to any Office, Place, or Employment granted by such succeeding King or Queen, during Pleasure, would by Law be determinable : We, therefore, with the Advice of Our Privy Council, declare Our Royal Will and Pleasure to be, and do hereby direct and command, That all and every Person and Persons, who at the Time of the Demise of Our late Royal Uncle, of Glorious Memory, duly and lawfully held, or were duly and lawfully possessed of or invested in any Office, Place, or Employment, Civil or Military, within Our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Dominion of Wales, Town of Berwick upon Tweed, Isles of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney Sark, or Man, or any of Our Foreign Possessions, Colonies, or Plantations, do severally, according to their Places, Offices, or Charges, proceed in the Performance and Execution of all Duties belonging to their respective Offices whilst they shall hold the same respectively during Our Pleasure; And We do hereby require and command all Our loving Subjects to be aiding, helping, and assisting, at the Commandment of the said Officers and Ministers, in the Performance and Execution of their respective Offices and Places, us they and every of them tender Our utmost Displeasure, and will answer the contrary at their Peril.
Given at Our Court at Saint James's,
this Twenty-first Day of June One thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven.
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.
The final document is Hindmarsh's Declaration regarding the succession to the throne of the new Queen, given, as instructed, to the Colony and to which a number of leading colonists added their signatures.
Adelaide, 19th day of October, 1837.
HIS Excellency the Governor, assisted by the Members of Council, Magistrates, Officers of Government, and numbers of the Principal Inhabitants this day assembled in front of Government House, and proclaimed Her Majesty-Queen Victoria as follows:
WHEREAS it hath pleased Almighty God to call to His Mercy our late Sovereign Lord King William the Fourth, of blessed and glorious Memory, by whose decease the Imperial Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and all other His late Majesty's Dominions, is solely and rightfully come to the High and Mighty Princess Alexandrina Victoria, saving the right of any issue of His late Majesty King William the Fourth, which may be born of His late Majesty's Consort, We, John Hindmarsh, Knight of the Royal Hanoverian Guelplic Order, Captain in Her Majesty's Royal Navy, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of South Australia, assisted by the Honourable the Council of the said Province, the Magistrates, Officers of Government, and numbers of the principal inhabitants of Adelaide, therefore Do Now hereby with our full voice and consent of tongue and heart, publish and proclaim, that the High and Mighty Princess Alexandrina Victoria, is now by the death of our late Sovereign of happy and glorious memory, become our only lawful and rightful leige, Lady Victoria, by the Grace of God Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, saving as aforesaid, Supreme Lady of Her Majesty's Province of South Australia, and its Dependencies, to whom, saving as aforesaid, We do acknowledge all Faith and constant Obedience, with all hearty and humble affection, beseeching God, by whom Kings and Queens do reign, to bless the Royal Princess Victoria with long and happy years to Reign over us.
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.
SIR,
21st June, 1837.
It is with the greatest regret I have to communicate to you the melancholy intelligence of the demise of His late most gracious Majesty, King William the Fourth. His Majesty expired at His Castle at Windsor, on the morning of the 20th instant, at 12 minutes past two o'clock, to the great affliction of the Royal Family, and of all classes of His Majesty's subjects.
Her present Majesty was this day proclaimed Queen Victoria with all the solemnities used on the like occasions. Her Majesty's most gracious Declaration contained in the accompanying Gazette, will best inform you of her determination, under the guidance of Divine Providence, to maintain the reformed religion as by law established, securing at the same time to all, the full enjoyment of religious liberty, and to protect the rights and promote to the utmost of her power the happiness and welfare of all classes of her subjects.
The form to be observed in proclaiming within your government Her most sacred Majesty Queen Victoria, is stated for your guidance in the accompanying communication from the Lords of Her Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council, which also transmits in order that the same may be made public within your Government, Her Majesty's Proclamation requiring all persons being in office of authority, or Government, at the decease of the late King, to proceed in the execution of their respective offices.
I have the honour to be, SIR,
Your most obedient humble Servant,
GLENELG.
The second is a letter from the Privy Council instructing Hindmarsh as to his immediate actions.
From the Lords of Her Majesty's most Honorable Privy Council:
To our very loving Friend the Governor of South Australia.
It having pleased Almighty God to take to His Mercy out of this troublesome life, Our late Sovereign Lord King William the Fourth, of blessed and glorious Memory, and thereupon Her Royal Majesty Queen Victoria, being here proclaimed, We have thought fit to signify the same unto you, with directions that you do, with the assistance of the Council, and numbers of the principal Inhabitants of South Australia, forthwith Proclaim her most sacred Majesty Queen Victoria, according to the form here enclosed, with the solemnities and ceremonies requisite on the like occasions. And you are likewise to publish and proclaim, a Proclamation, requiring all persons being in office of Authority, or Government, at the demise of the late King, to proceed in the execution of their respective offices, till Her Majesty's pleasure shall be further signified, according to the printed copy of the Proclamation herewith transmitted to you for that purpose.
And so not doubting of your ready compliance herein, we bid you heartily farewell.
From the Council Chamber of St. James's, this twenty-first day of June, 1837.
Your loving Friends,
COTTENHAM C.
DUNCANNON.
PALMERSTON.
COMBERMERE.
GLENELG.
HILL.
SPRING
RICE.
ANGLESEY.
The third is a minute from the new Queen's declaration to her Council regarding her accession to the throne
AT the Court at Kensington, the 20th day of June, 1837,
PRESENT,
The QUEEN'S Most Excellent Majesty in Council.
HER Majesty being this day present in Council, was pleased to make the following Declaration, viz. THE severe and afflicting loss which the Nation has sustained by the death of His Majesty, my beloved Uncle has devolved upon me the duty of administering the Government of this Empire.
This awful responsibility is imposed upon me so suddenly, and at so early a period of my life, that I should feel myself utterly opprest by the burthen were I not sustained by the hope that Divine Providence, which has called me to this work, will give me strength for the performance of it and that I shall find in the purity of my intentions, and in my zeal for the public welfare, that support and those resources which usually belong to a more mature age, and to longer experience.
I place my firm reliance upon the wisdom of Parliament, and upon the loyalty and affection of my people. I esteem it also a peculiar advantage, that I succeed to a Sovereign whose constant regard for the rights and liberties of his Subjects, and whose desire to promote the amelioration of the Laws and Institutions of the Country, have rendered his name the object of general attachment and veneration.
Educated in England, under the tender and enlightened care of a most affectionate Mother, I have learned from my Infancy to respect and love the Constitution of my Native Country. It will be my unceasing study to maintain the Reformed Religion us by Law established, securing at the same time to all the full enjoyment of Religious liberty; and I shall steadily protect the rights, and promote to the utmost of my power, the happiness and welfare of all classes of my subjects.
Whereupon the Lords of the Council made it their humble request to Her Majesty, that Her Majesty's most gracious Declaration to their Lordships might be made public, which Her Majesty was pleased to order accordingly.
C.C. GREVILLE.
The fourth document is a handwritten copy of the Queen's Proclamation regarding the immediate future of all government positions.
A PROCLAMATION, Requiring all Persons being in Office of Authority or Government at the Decease of the late King, to proceed in the Execution of their respective Offices.
VICTORIA R.
WHEREAS by an Act made in the Sixth Year of the Reign of Her late Majesty Queen Anne, intituled An Act for the Security of Her Majesty's Person and Government, and of the Succession to the Crown of Great Britain in the Protestant Line; it was enacted, that no Office, Place, or Employment, Civil or Military, within the Kingdoms of Great Britain or Ireland, Dominion of Wales, Town of Berwick upon Tweed, Isles of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark, and any of Her Majesty's Plantations, should be made void by reason of the Demise of Her said late Majesty, Her Heirs or Successors, Kings or Queens of this Realm, but that every Person or Persons in any of the Offices, Places, and Employments aforesaid should continue in their respective Offices, Places, and Employments for the Space of Six Months next after such Death or Demise, unless sooner removed and discharged by the next Successor, to whom the Imperial Crown of this Realm was limited and appointed to go, remain, and descend: And whereas by an Act made in the Fifty-seventh Year of the Reign of His late Majesty King George the Third, intituled An Act for the Continuation of all and every Person or Persons in any and every Office, Place, or Employment, Civil or Military, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain aud Ireland, Dominion of Wales, Town of Berwick upon Tweed, Isles of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also in all and every of His Majesty's Foreign Possessions, Colonies, or Plantations, which he or she shall hold, possess, or exercise during the pleasure of the Crown at the Time of the Death or Demise of His present Majesty, until removed or discharged therefrom by the succeeding King or Queen of this Realm ; it was enacted, that all and every Person and Persons, who upon the Day of the Demise of His said late Majesty should hold any Office, Civil or Military, under the Crown, during Pleasure, should, under and by virtue of the said Act and without any new or other Patent, Commission, Warrant, or Authority, continue and be entitled in all respects, notwithstanding the Demise of His said Majesty, to hold and enjoy the same: But nevertheless the same should be held or enjoyed only during the Pleasure of the King or Queen who should succeed to the Crown upon the Demise of His said late Majesty; and the Right and Title to hold and enjoy the same under the Authority of the said Act should be determinable in such and the like Manner, by the King or Queen who upon the Demise of His said late Majesty should succeed to the Crown, as the Right or Title to any Office, Place, or Employment granted by such succeeding King or Queen, during Pleasure, would by Law be determinable : We, therefore, with the Advice of Our Privy Council, declare Our Royal Will and Pleasure to be, and do hereby direct and command, That all and every Person and Persons, who at the Time of the Demise of Our late Royal Uncle, of Glorious Memory, duly and lawfully held, or were duly and lawfully possessed of or invested in any Office, Place, or Employment, Civil or Military, within Our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Dominion of Wales, Town of Berwick upon Tweed, Isles of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney Sark, or Man, or any of Our Foreign Possessions, Colonies, or Plantations, do severally, according to their Places, Offices, or Charges, proceed in the Performance and Execution of all Duties belonging to their respective Offices whilst they shall hold the same respectively during Our Pleasure; And We do hereby require and command all Our loving Subjects to be aiding, helping, and assisting, at the Commandment of the said Officers and Ministers, in the Performance and Execution of their respective Offices and Places, us they and every of them tender Our utmost Displeasure, and will answer the contrary at their Peril.
Given at Our Court at Saint James's,
this Twenty-first Day of June One thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven.
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.
The final document is Hindmarsh's Declaration regarding the succession to the throne of the new Queen, given, as instructed, to the Colony and to which a number of leading colonists added their signatures.
Adelaide, 19th day of October, 1837.
HIS Excellency the Governor, assisted by the Members of Council, Magistrates, Officers of Government, and numbers of the Principal Inhabitants this day assembled in front of Government House, and proclaimed Her Majesty-Queen Victoria as follows:
WHEREAS it hath pleased Almighty God to call to His Mercy our late Sovereign Lord King William the Fourth, of blessed and glorious Memory, by whose decease the Imperial Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and all other His late Majesty's Dominions, is solely and rightfully come to the High and Mighty Princess Alexandrina Victoria, saving the right of any issue of His late Majesty King William the Fourth, which may be born of His late Majesty's Consort, We, John Hindmarsh, Knight of the Royal Hanoverian Guelplic Order, Captain in Her Majesty's Royal Navy, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of South Australia, assisted by the Honourable the Council of the said Province, the Magistrates, Officers of Government, and numbers of the principal inhabitants of Adelaide, therefore Do Now hereby with our full voice and consent of tongue and heart, publish and proclaim, that the High and Mighty Princess Alexandrina Victoria, is now by the death of our late Sovereign of happy and glorious memory, become our only lawful and rightful leige, Lady Victoria, by the Grace of God Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, saving as aforesaid, Supreme Lady of Her Majesty's Province of South Australia, and its Dependencies, to whom, saving as aforesaid, We do acknowledge all Faith and constant Obedience, with all hearty and humble affection, beseeching God, by whom Kings and Queens do reign, to bless the Royal Princess Victoria with long and happy years to Reign over us.
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.
John Hindmarsh J. W. Jeffcott
C. J. William Bell T. Bewes Strangways
Henry Jickling Chas. Mann
Henry Jones J. H. Fisher
G.O. Ormsby Geo. Stevenson
Alfred Hardy Charles B. Howard, Clk
George C. Lewis Osmond Gilles
Charles Nantes Y. B. Hutchinson
W. Williams Thos. Lipson
Oscar J. Lines Boyle Travers Finniss
William Wyatt Thos. Young Cotter
E. Webster Edwd. Wright
L, Powes P. M. Richards
F W. Allen John Morphett
Thomas Rogers Henry R. Wickley
John White Fredk. Handcock
J. Woodforde J. W. D. Blenkinsop
Robert Thomas J. Hindmarsh. Jun
S. Sievres J. E. Barnard
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