LETTER, PREMIER'S DEPARTMENT TO SEPTIMUS BURT RE TITLE

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North, Frederic Dudley

1901

Overview

Typed letter on cream paper with a black border and Premier's Office printed letterhead, dd 18 October 1901. From the Premier’s Department to Septimus Burt advising that His Majesty the King had agreed to the retention of the title 'Honourable'.
The text is on the front page of a single sheet of white paper that has been folded in half vertically (like a book). There are three more lateral folds which show the letter was folded twice more for storage. FD North, the Under Secretary, Premier’s Department has signed the document at the bottom and on the back page between two of the folds written sideways is a brief description, “Under Sec. Premier’s / Department / 18 Oct. 1901 / re Title of “Honourable”.
There is a narrow stain on the back of the document, possibly caused from the remains of a rubber band that held the document closed in the past.

Historical information

Frederic Dudley North, the author of this letter, was Secretary to Sir John Forrest 1891-1901.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-46-1976.68

Item type

Documents

Material

Ink

Paper

Width

200 mm

Height or length

330 mm

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 Burt's 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

Honourable Title

Place made

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Year

1901

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Scientific or research significance

Comparative significance criteria