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Copy / [initials] [?]
No. 68 / 857

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Queensland.

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Colonial Secretary's Office,
Brisbane 17th Decr 1868

Sir

With reference to your letter
of the 19th of July last addressed to
The Honorable The Attorney General
wherein you bring under notice
circumstances connected with the
forcible abduction by certain persons
whose names you have not given
of three aboriginal children from
"Bentick Island" and their deten
=tion for a length of time at
"Sweers Island" and further re=
=quest that instructions may be
forwarded to your guidance to
enable you to prevent persons from
thus molesting the aboriginals.
I have the honor by direction to
acquaint you that this is a
matter

The Police Magistrate
Burke Town }

[written lengthwise in left margin]
Will Mr Keane[?] be good enough
to lend me the Volume of the
Imperial Statutes Containing the
Slave Act referred to in this letter
[signature]
21 [March?] [69?]