| Transcript or Index | Norfolk Island 22nd September 1851
My dear Eleanor
I was glad to see your handwriting again. I began to suspect you did not intend writing to me any more though I am not the best correspondent possible. I never remember allowing two years to elapse between my letters; we have but 4 or 5 opportunities a year for sending our letters, & I am sure I have written at least once a year if not twice. I trust the unhappy differences between Aunt Jane and yourselves which you allude to, may be amicably settled e’er now: it would be distressing to your dear Father (should he still be spared to return home) to find dissension where there ought to be concord. You may make your mind perfectly easy my dear Eleanor I do not believe thoroughly all I hear; not that I would accuse a person of willfully misrepresenting any thing, for the best human understanding is liable to error – I had heard of your disagreement with Aunt Jane previous to the arrival of your last letter. At such a distance I cannot judge of the merits or demerits of the case, but from what I know of you I can not blame you; & if it can be any satisfaction to you, I can assure you that my regard for you is unabated. Now for some family news – I must first of all tell you that we have another son, the very db [?standing for double] of his Father, quite a chip of [sic] the old block – He is of course a great favourite and is likely to be much spoiled, since brothers & sisters, Papa & Mama are endeavouring to outdo each other in spoiling him- Fred is as tall as myself but I fear he is a lazy boy, he aught soon to go to school. If we do not leave this soon, we may possibly send him to England. Jemmy [for James] is a nice steady boy a great help to me at home; he is in fact my right hand in the house and a great assistance in looking after his baby brother, for we are miserably off for female servants. in fact I have none resident in the house at this present moment. My eldest daughter Emily nearly lost her eye (about 8 months ago) by running the point of the scissors into it. I am thankful to say she has entirely recovered the effects of the accident. She sees as well from the injured eye as from the sound one; indeed if she lives to grow up she will not be in the least disfigured, the scar will scarcely be perceptible. Your account of the Evans & Emma was most unsatisfactory. Emma was an affectionate amiable child- I deplore like you her want of education & I still more deplore that she has been so much estranged from her Father’s relatives, who are her most disinterested friends. I had intended beginning a correspondence with Emma but I shall not now do so – it would be useless. I feel pained by her want of regard for myself, but however, the poor girl is not to blame. She only echoes the sentiments of her mother and Mr Evans. I agree with you in thinking that in the event of her mother’s death another home aught to be provided for her. I must now tell you what I remember with regard to the existence of the trust deed relating to Mrs Herring’s property. I have always been under the impression that a will or legal document of some kind was drawn up, rather more than a year previous to my Father’s death by a lawyer of the name of Price, a Welshman (the same who made the deed of seperation between Sir Thomas & Lady Brown) of the firm (I believe) of Price & Bolton. I believe this document was signed by Mrs Herring & as far as I recollect one of the witnesses to the signature was a dressmaker then in Lady Brown’s employ known by the name of Younger. She I think signed herself Roberts, as she said she was then privately married, but that her husband had left her and gone off to America. I believe her Christian name was Emma & she lived at that time in lodgings in Castle Street. Oxford Street. I was not present at the signature of this document nor did I ever see it to my recollection – but I have always been under the impression that it existed & that by it Mrs Herring bequeathed her property to Emma after her own and Mrs Evan’s deaths. I do not think according to this document that the latter would have it in her power to will the property to whom she pleased & I gathered from what dropped from the parties in the course of conversation, that this trust deed or will (I know not what to call it) was made to prevent Mrs Herring’s husband’s relations or their heirs claiming the property at her death, since I believe all the property Mrs Herring is possessed of was her husband’s. – At the time these circumstances occurred my Father was living in lodgings in Essex Street Strand & Lady Brown (who had lately been seperated from Sir Thomas Brown) was residing in lodgings with Mrs Herring in Cecil Street Strand where I was also staying with them. The numbers of the houses I forget. I think that Mrs Smith formerly Anne or Mary Cross ( my Father’s nurse) would be able to give some information about this matter as she was then living with us. It would be desirable to find out her whereabouts if you possibly could should she still be living. Another woman Celia Gurnsey, the wife of a carpenter living near Bath or Bristol, was at that time Emma’s wet nurse. She might possibly be able to give some information as to whether she had heard of such a deed being in existence. She was a friend of Miss Younger’s but quarrelled with her after the latter had gone to Paris with Lady Brown in the capacity of ladies maid. I understand Mrs Herring is living in Wales with an Aunt & a sister of Mr Evan’s.
I sent you last year 180 lbs of arrowroot of our own manufacturing to be divided between yourselves, Aunt Booth & I think Aunt Cracroft. I directed the cask of arrowroot to Bedford Place & I hope you have received it. I am glad to hear you keep up an acquaintance with Mr Mackintosh, he is a most worthy man. Remember me kindly to him when you meet. I am sorry to hear Catherine Cracroft’s health is so indifferent; give my love to her as well as to Emma and Aunt Cracroft when you write. Mr and Mrs Batchelor, whom you must recollect leave N Island by the next vessel, it is their intention to proceed to England. They will be a great loss to us as we like them much. Mr P. Frazer is acting colonial secretary in the place of Mr Bicheno, who died about six months ago - he is very likely to be confirmed in his situation.
All the people here abouts are touched with the gold mania since the discovery of the golden regions beyond Bathurst. Gold has also been found at Moreton bay & it is supposed there is gold in the range of mountains beyond Lake St Clair in V.D. Land. All provisions are rising greatly in price and are expected to be much dearer. We expect Bishop Nixon down by the next Franklin [supply ship sailing between Van Diemen's Land and Norfolk Island]. I shall be really glad to see him again. I do not think Mrs Nixon will accompany him. – I trust your little Eleanor continues healthy as when you last wrote. I hear you wear caps & look quite matronly. You never say a word about Miss Williamson? Do you ever write to her or see her? Give my kind love to Uncle Sellwood & to Emily, Anne and Louisa that is to say if they care to hear anything about me. Remember me kindly to Louisa Simpkinson – Now my dear Eleanor I must bid you goodbye. God bless you. With our united kind love to yourself and Mr Gell. I remain your affectionate cousin
M Price
P.S. We have not heard anything about Mr Gell’s brother.
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[at top] Paid Ship letter
Mrs Gell
16 Seymour Street
Portman Square
London
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