Record Number: 12800

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Reading Experience:

Evidence:

'Lord Grey's despatches have arrived...[prisoners gather to hear proclamation read aloud] when Captain Bance unfolded his papers the burliest burglar held his breath for a time. Neptune to proceed firthwith to Van Diemen's Land; on arrival there prisoners to receive (in compensation for the hardships of their long voyage and detention) her Gracious Majesty's "conditional pardon" - except "the prisoner Mitchel", whose case, Lord Grey says, being entirely different from all the others, is reserved for separate consideration, but special instructions respecting it are to be forwarded to the governor of Van Diemen's Land. When the reader came to the exception of "the prisoner Mitchel", he raised his voice, and spoke with impressive solemnity. In a moment all eyes, of officers, sailors, prisoners, soldiers, were fastened on my face; if they read anything but scorn [in italics], then my face belied my heart.'

Century:

1850-1899

Date:

13 Feb 1850

Country:

South Africa

Time

daytime

Place:

city: Cape Town
other location: on board the "Neptune", in Simon's Bay

Type of Experience
(Reader):
 

silent aloud unknown
solitary in company unknown
single serial unknown

Type of Experience
(Listener):
 

solitary reactive unknown
single serial unknown

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Reader / Listener / Reading Group:

Reader:

Captain Bance

Age:

Adult (18-100+)

Gender:

Male

Date of Birth:

n/a

Socio-Economic Group:

Gentry

Occupation:

Captain of Royal Navy

Religion:

n/a

Country of Origin:

England

Country of Experience:

South Africa

Listeners present if any:
e.g family, servants, friends

prisoners, soldiers, sailors and officers on board the Neptune, including John Mitchel

Additional Comments:

n/a

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Text Being Read:

Author:

Lord Grey

Title:

[Dispatch from the Government respecting fate of convicts on ship]

Genre:

Law

Form of Text:

Manuscript: Sheet

Publication Details

n/a

Provenance

owned

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Source Information:

Record ID:

12800

Source:

Print

Author:

John Mitchel

Editor:

n/a

Title:

Jail Journal

Place of Publication:

Dublin

Date of Publication:

1913

Vol:

n/a

Page:

217-218

Additional Comments:

n/a

Citation:

John Mitchel, Jail Journal, (Dublin, 1913), p. 217-218, http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/reading/UK/record_details.php?id=12800, accessed: 21 March 2025

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Additional Comments:

None