The bulk of the correspondence relates to the routine observed on the arrival of a convict ship: permission had to be obtained from the Lieutenant-Governor before anyone could land, or before any goods could be unloaded; the Surgeon had to make certain returns concerning the convicts in his charge, and the Master had to report on the voyage. In accordance with the agreements under which the convicts were transported, the Lieutenant-Governor had to certify as to the discharge of their respective duties of the Master and the Surgeon; copies of such certificates are to be found in this series (cf. CSO 71). Correspondence of a similar nature is also included concerning the arrival of free immigrant ships. The series was discontinued with this volume. File references are quoted, and there is an index to ships, surgeons, masters and subjects, with sub-entries.

These records are part of the holdings of the Tasmanian Archives