b'65306AN IMPORTANT STERLING SILVER ENTREE DISHwith early New South Wales connections:the dish and cover engraved for presentationto John Hubert Plunkettthe dish bearing the inscriptionPresented To John Hubert Plunkett, Esq., M.C.Attorney General, By The People Of New South Wales,as a token of respect For his Public Character and esteem To judge from his later public utterances Plunkett considered for his Private Worth, the Church Act of 1836 the most important single achievement Sydney, March A.D. 1841; of his public career. It definitely disestablished the Church of the lid engraved with the Plunkett coat of arms. England and established legal equality between Anglicans, London Assay marks, circa 1814; 29cm across, 1750 grams. Catholics and Presbyterians; its provisions were later extended Plunkett (1802-69) arrived in Sydney from Ireland in 1832 to taketo Methodists, and Plunkett himself would gladly have included up the position of Solicitor General in New South Wales. He wasJews and Independents. Plunkett was the first president of the elevated to the position of Attorney General in 1836. Accordingboard set up to administer this Act in 1839.to the Sydney Morning Herald, He exercised important influenceFrom late 1841 to August 1843 Plunkett had been granted leave on general legislation, and we believe that every measure tendingto attend to family affairs in Ireland. It is clearly on the occasion to equalise the social conditions and promote civil and religiousof his departure that this superb covered dish was presented to liberty amidst the various, and often hostile, elements of thishim. On his return in 1844 he resumed duty as attorney-general, Colony has either been framed or supported by him. After theand was one of the twelve official nominees in the newly Myall Creek massacre in June 1838 he extended the sameconstituted council.protection, with the same ostentation, to the Aboriginals, when he secured the condemnation to death of six white men and one$12,00015,000black man of Afro-Caribbean origin for the murder of a native.307HENRY YOUNG Australian silver trophy stamped H. YOUNG, Stg. SILVER, Melbourne, circa 1880,cartouche has been covered at a later date,34cm high$1,0001,500306'