Guide to the Letter from Bennelong to Mr Phillips, 1796-08-29

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Collection number:: MS 4005
Creator:: Nan Kivell, Rex, Sir
Extent:: (1 volume in SB-000478)
Language:: English and English
Preferred citation:: Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Letter from Bennelong to Mr Phillips, National Library of Australia, MS MS 4005, [class/series/file/item number(s)]'.
Availability:: Not for loan
Access conditions:: Available for research. Not for loan.

Content Summary:: The author of this letter is Bennelong, a leader of the Wangal people. In December 1792, Bennelong and Yemmerrawanne became the first Indigenous Australians to travel to England. In the letter Bennelong mentions his wife and another Indigenous man named Carroway, and passes on his thanks to Mr and Mrs Phillips for looking after him. The manuscript records the earliest known piece of writing by an Indigenous Australian, and is the only contemporary copy of a dictated letter which appears to have been copied verbatim by an unknown scribe. Dated Sydney Cove, New South Wales, 29th August, 1796. Signed 'Bannelong'.

Conditions Governing Access:: Access conditions may apply to this collection, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1805039).
Conditions Governing Use:: Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.

Preferred citation:: Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Letter from Bennelong to Mr Phillips, National Library of Australia, MS MS 4005, [class/series/file/item number(s)]'.

Location of this collection:: National Library of Australia

Parkes Place

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia