LETTER, PREMIER'S DEPARTMENT TO SEPTIMUS BURT

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North, Frederic Dudley

1901

Overview

Correspondence in the form of a handwritten cream envelope and a typed letter on cream paper with a Premier's Department, Perth letterhead.

a) Letter from the Under Secretary of the Premier's department to Septimus Burt enquiring whether he desired to retain the title 'Honourable'. Dated 11 March 1901. It was noted that Burt had previously declined the use of the title after his resignation as Attorney General and this was an enquiry to see if he had changed his mind.
Single page with three lateral folds; on the back between two of the folds and written sideways is a brief description, “Under Sec. Premier's / Department /11.3.01 / re title “Honourable”.

b) Hand written envelope to Septimus Burt at a London address. At the bottom left of the front of the envelope is the name J. Bramston.

Historical information

It is unknown what response Burt made to this letter but further correspondence on the matter received by Burt from the Premier's Office seven months later confirmed that he did reconsider and that arrangements were then being made for him to retain the 'Honourable' title.
John Bramston, the name at the bottom left of the front of the envelope, was Under Secretary of State for the Colonies and so this may indicate this letter was sent from Perth via the Colonial Office, London.
The author of the letter, Frederic Dudley North, was Secretary to Sir John Forrest 1891-1901.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-46-1976.66a,b

Item type

Documents

Material

Ink

Paper

Contextual information

This document adds to the historic record of Septimus Burt's retreat from public life following his resignation from the Attorney General role in 1897. The letter is complete and in original condition, and shows his preference for refusing honours even though in the end, in this case, he relented and agreed to accept the title 'Honourable'.

The Honourable Septimus Burt KC (1847-1919), son of Sir Archibald Paull Burt, was born in St Kitts Island (formerly known as St Christopher in the West Indies) and came to Western Australia in 1861. S Burt became a prominent lawyer, politician and grazier. His political work was central to the achievement and development of the Western Australian constitution as the first Attorney General after self-government was achieved. The Hon Septimus Burt rejected knighthood and offers to be a Supreme Court Judge.

Keywords

North, Frederick Dudley

Burt, Septimus

Forrest, Sir John

Honourable Title

Place made

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Year

1901

Last modified

Friday, 20 June, 2025

Completeness