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Archive Reference / Library Class No.D8760/F/FEG/1/25/8
Former ReferenceD3287/31/7/9-10
TitleLetter from Mary Price to her cousin Eleanor Isabella Gell, mostly on news of her life and events in Tasmania, also including references to the gold rush in Australia and the wreck of the "Alcmene" in New Zealand
Date22 May 1852
Extent2 sheets
LevelItem
RepositoryDerbyshire Record Office
SenderMary Price
Sender LocationNorfolk Island
RecipientEleanor Isabella Gell
Recipient LocationNo address
Archive CreatorEleanor Isabella Franklin, later Eleanor Gell (1824-1860)
Gell family of Hopton Hall, Wirksworth
CopiesA digital copy of this item can be viewed on the public computers at the record office.
TermEmigration
Transcript or IndexM Price [in pencil]
Norfolk Island 22nd May
1852
My dear Eleanor
The date of your lasat letter reminds me that I have let a long time elapse without writing – but somehow or other when the Franklin pays us a visit I have have [sic] so much to do that I scarcely ever get through all the letters I wish to write.
I am sorry to hear so poor an account of your health. I sincerely hope you will be better by the time this reaches you. We expect to leave Norfolk Island – next February or sooner if possible. Mr Price has applied for two years leave of absence, as his health has been far from good for the last two years – a change of climate is absolutely necessary for him. We have some idea of paying old England a visit, but I think the gold mines will prove so great a temptation to my better half that I think he will try his fortunes there before we bend our steps homewards. In fact a passage to England is at present so expensive in consequence of the very high wages given to the crews of vessels that at present it seems the most prudent course to remain in the colonies. This unnatural state of the labour market must soon be at an end – for gold will be a most irresistable bait to hundreds of emmigrants [sic] who could never otherwise have been induced to visit these colonies. Many no doubt will be unsuccessful in their speculations & consequently will be glad to take any employment at moderate wages. Male or female servants are hardly to be procured at any wages now. I fully expect to have to wash &d cook and clean when we get to Hobart town – however a long residence here has broken us in to such homely employments. I have brought up the children to make themselves useful in the house so that when required they are tolerably able assistants. When Mr Price goes to the diggings with the two elder boys I shall remain in Hobart Town with the five younger children (for I expect an addition in about six weeks.) I shall be very sorry to leave this , for notwithstanding the many drawbacks, we are very comfortable & able to save money which is a great consideration with so large a family. There is very little satisfaction in only being able to make two ends meet but toil is nothing when you feel that by your labour you are daily adding to the provision for your family Had Mr Price not asked for leave some time back he would eventually have had to resign, for the gold discoveries have upset every one so much that it is very difficult to find free subordinate officers to do duty here & exprisoners ticket of leave & soldiers Mr Price will not work with as he does not consider that with such subordinate officers the place could be kept un the same order as it has been kept since his arrival here. I believe that a military officer is to be Mr Price’s successor - I fancy on a reduced salary, the best of the men are to be removed & those alone who are totally unfit for V.D. Land wil remain here.
Gold has lately been discovered in V.D. Land in the Fingal district near Mr Grant’s estate & abundance of this precious metal is found near Melbourne – & it is said to have been found also in the Illawara district New South Wales. In fact the gold fields of Australia seen to be as rich if not richer that those of California. The gold fever seems to pervade all ranks – the lower orders suffer the most from its effects. I am told that at Melbourne the milk women actually carry about the milk dressed in brocaded satins. I hear that in Hobart town ticket of leave women and assigned servants will hardly work – they frequent the public houses more than ever & are seen going about the streets with black eyes and broken noses.
Has Mr Gell anything to do with female emigration to these Colonies? Some female emmigrants [sic] who came out about 8 months ago under the auspices of Mr Sydney Herbert were the most useless & I fear in some cases the most worthless creatures let loose upon a colony. I engaged one of these beauties here & I was obliged to send her up by the same vessel she came down by. Their impression seems to be that they are to get money without working for it. We certainly have enough of idle worthless women in these colonies without having their numbers added to by free emmigrants [sic] of such a description. We had a visit from Bishop Nixon about six months ago – he enjoyed himself greatly. We did not see much change in him. He took some beautiful sketches of the Island.
Mr Flemming is now with us as crown prosecutor. I dare say you remember him. He has lately married Miss Buckland. Mr Flemming is now Attorney General of V.D. Land & has £1000 a year including fees, so Miss Buckland has made a good match in every respect as he is a very gentlemanly amiable little man. The Henslowes are living in Hobart Town. Mrs Henslowe is now in very delicate health. I suppose you often hear from Henry Kay and William Kay. Mrs W Kay is my constant correspondent. Before this reaches you, you will no doubt have seen Mr and Mrs Batchelor. They left Norfolk Island last December.
My young ones now 6 in number are flourishing although weakly in appearance from the effects of the climate. Fred is as tall as myself. The three boys are now pupils of Mr Davenport’s our clergyman, which is a great relief to me as they had been almost entirely under my charge previous to Mr Davenport’s coming to N. Island. From what I see in the newspapers & Catherine Cracroft’s letters, I begin to have brighter hopes of your dear Father’s return. I sometimes think I may still have the pleasure of meeting him, once more in this world. What a happy meeting it would be. If I could feel certain of once more beholding him I should look forwards to the possibility of returning to England for a time with more pleasure than I do. Do you ever see or hear from Mrs Kendall. Will you remember me kindly to her should you have the opportunity of seeing or writing to her. I suppose Mrs Kay has quite forgotten me by this time. You never say anything about her. Do you see Mr Mackintosh sometimes, as I think he must be a parishioner of Mr Gell’s. Will you give him my kind regards when you see him. What has become of poor old Miss Williamson. Is she still in the land of the living – you never mention her? I forgot to tell you that Julia Sorell has married Mr Arnold, an acquaintance of Mr Gell’s – Mary Scott has become the Countess of Ehrenswarde, her husband is a Swede. She accompanied him on board of the Alcmene french man of war without a female attendant. A great act of devotion towards him on her part. The Alcmene was wrecked of [sic] the coast of New Zealand (I think) on which occasion the Countess E. by her presence of mind saved the lives of the officers and men. The french officers surnamed her the Angel of the Alcmene. I must now bring my long rambling letter to a conclusion. I hope I shall receive a better account of Lady Simpkinson’s health when you next write.
Good bye dear Eleanor, with our united kind regards to yourself & Mr Gell.
Believe me ever yr affectionate Cousin
M. Price
For the future direct your letters to me to Mrs Porden Kay
New Town.
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