What does this document mean?

[JGSnoopy]

I'm trying to understand what happened to one of my ancestors.

In 1856 he left his wife and two young kids and moved from London to Australia.  He died in Melbourne 7 years later, penniless in a benevolent asylum having never seen his wife or kids again.

I have found the attached document from London in 1856 just prior to him leaving for Australia, but I don't know what it means.  I assume he wasn't bankrupt as he somehow bought a ticket to Australia.  I'm sure this holds a clue as to why he moved to Australia, so any help appreciated!

[Neale1961]

You don’t say what or where the document comes from.
It looks as if it was printed in the newspaper, and is simply announcing that Richard had arranged for his estate (financial affairs) to be executed by a certain Edward Taylor. Therefore any of Richard’s creditors would have done their ‘business’ with him through Edward Taylor.

[JGSnoopy]

Thank you. It came from the Times newspaper. I guess this was in preparation for his move to Australia as he would not be around to settle his own creditors.

I need to find what preceeded this that prompted the move.

[amondg]

Amelia Edwards was his second wife they married 1843, he had several children with his first wife Jane Good who he married 24 July 1825.

He was 52 in 1851 so 57 by 1856 when he left for Australia.

[Neale1961]

Perhaps he was just lured by the prospect of GOLD! - like many others at the time.

[Wexflyer]

OR -
He was in financial difficulty, and in danger of ending up in debtor's prison - which still existed at the time. Emigrating was a standard way to avoid such a fate.