Lot 1332

Description

Safe Passage Document, framed behind glass 39 x 47 mms., issued by Major General Ralph Darling, commanding Mauritius on 11th February 1819 to the Schooner 'Little Mary' (60 tons), commandered by William Rollon?, bound for Port Jackson, New South Wales, signed Ralph Darling at Port Louis, affixed with two ink seals of Isle of France etc.

Sir Ralph Darling (1775-1858), arrived at Port Louis in February 1819 to take over the military government of the island which had been captured from the French eight years before. He remained as commander of the garrison after Farquhar return in July 1820, until June 1823. In 1824 he was appointed governor of New South Wales in place of Sir Thomas Brisbane, he arrived at Hobart and proclaimed a separate government of Van Diemen's Land leaving it under the control of a Lt. Governor. He arrived in Sydney on the 17th December 1825. He eliminated the dollar currency of NSW, by importing British coinage and remained as Governor until 1831.