Letter from Bennelong to Mr Phillips

Containers:: Box (Shared), Folder (MS 4005)
Component identifier:: Class 1
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'.

Online content

Parent Restrictions:: 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).
Parent Terms of Access:: Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions.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 Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.

Location of this collection:: National Library of Australia

Parkes Place

Canberra ACT 2600, Australia