Colonial Despatches

The Memorial of Henry Needham Scrope Shrapnel late of Her Majesty's 3rd Regt of Dragoon Guards, and now Barrackmaster of Dundalk District Humbly Sheweth

That he is the Son and representative of the late General Shrapnel Royal Artillery, who rendered important Service to the State by the great perfection to which he brought the British Artillery and by the introduction of the "Shrapnel Shell," a Weapon of War which from 1804 to the present time has been of national service to Great Britain and the Colonies.

That the late Lord Raglan duly appreciating the great benefit this country has, for so long a time, derived from the Services of your memorialists Father and your memorialist having stated his anxious desire to settle with his family in British North America, His Lordship without delay, appointed your memorialist to a Barrackmastership in Canada, where your memorialist proceeded with his family after having sold, at a sacrifice, what little property and effects he possessed in England.

That the recent changes, decided upon by the War Department, have rendered all the Stations in Canada vacant, in consequence of which your Memorialist was removed to Bermuda and ultimately to his present Station—Dundalk. That your memorialist had to undergo severe losses in consequence of such changes and having had to move a wife and nine children so great a distance.

That your memorialist most earnestly desires to return to Canada or British Columbia where he has a better chance of providing for a large family.

Your memorialist therefore most humbly prays Your Grace will be pleased to note your memorialists name for employment in any capacity in which he may be of service to the Crown. Your memorialist can speak the French language and is fully conversant with the Laws of the Country and Engineering in all its branches.

Your Memorialist can confidently rely upon the good opinion of the Secretary of State for War as to his conduct and zeal, in the hope your memorialists fathers services to the Crown may be considered worthy [of] Your Grace's kind consideration in forwarding the earnest desire of your memorialist for Colonial employment.