Lot 4458

Description

Australian colonial letters, 1845-1870, an historic collection of letters revolving around the Scales family which migrated to Australia, together with a testimonial parchment dated 18.10.1840 signed by prominent citizens of the town of Leith in Edinburgh, Scotland and given to James Scales, holder of the office of Chief Magistrate, and within which testimonial is stated his intentiion to migrate to New South Wales; also included are three letter/envelopes, one from England to Australia dated 1852 with postmarks for East Place Lane and Rochester and two from Australia to England, one from Melbourne postmarked 1867 and the other from Hotham postmarked 1870 both with sixpence Victoria stamps and both via Southampton (the mail ship). Fine - very fine. (lot)

Some of the significant topics in the letters include, * Description of sea trip to Australia. * Reference to opening of electric telegraph between Melbourne and Williamstown and imminent extension to Geelong. * Discovery of gold at Bunningyong, known as Ballarat diggings and another discovery at Mt Alexander diggings as well as the need for bi-weekly Government Escort to Melbourne. * Details of election of members to form the first parliament in Melbourne under the newly established constitution as well as a description of activities on voting day. * Details of how Adelaide people now navigating the Murray River to transport requirements to the diggers at lower rates than Melbourne merchants can do because of the bad state of the roads to the interior. Note: This letter confirms the use of the now popular word 'Digger' originated in the Victorian goldfields in the 1850s. * Reference is made to the widespread use of pistols at the goldfields and the continual firing at night between 8pm and 11pm being akin to the Battle of Waterloo. * A variety of other contemporary topics are mentioned such as wages, types of personal requirements for bringing to Australia, accomodation and many other things.