Letters from James Edward Bryant, his wife Ellen Freeman Bryant, from Castlemaine to his parents James and Charlotte Anne Sowerby Bryant, and other family members, 15 September 1852-01 February 1872

Component identifier:

Item 1-176

Content Summary:

(Some letters are undated, crossed, faint, damaged and incomplete).

Subjects include: voyage to Australia on Countess of Elgin; economic conditions (1855); Ellen Freeman's voyage on Ballarat (1856); collecting insects for George (1856); family health; birth of children; visit to Castlemaine of Sir H. Barkly (1857); his employment in Post Office; visit of comet (1858); advises against emigration to Queensland 'men of capital that are wanted there' (1862); requests letter of introduction to Mueller from Uncle James; men leaving for New Zealand gold fields (1863); celebrations for Prince [of Wales] wedding ruined by weather; visit to Mount Franklyn; visit to theatres in Melbourne to see Charles Kean; sending various specimens, including a fungus from Eucalyptus log made by larva of moth and colonial manna, which drops from leaves of white gum (1865); prices rising due to political deadlock (1865); death of Rev. Mr Hill when visiting a prisoner 'the beast hit him on the head with part of his bedstead' (1869); collecting ferns; illness and death of Ellen (Nelly) - problem finding a suitable person to look after the children 'so many of the middle aged and old women drink ... and to get a young one would only be to create scandal' (1871/1872).

Processing information:

M2712

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