Typescript copies of letters of David Watson to various members of his family in Scotland (160pp), May 1852-December 1857

Component identifier:

Series 1

Content Summary:

The letters were written at Leith, London, Plymouth, Melbourne, Forest Creek, Geelong and Sydney. They refer inter alia to Watson's resignation from his legal firm; preparations for the voyage to Australia; visit to Plymouth; the voyage, including passengers, drunkeness of crew, 'crossing the Line' festivities, reading, seasickness, articles that should be brought by emigrants; first impressions of Melbourne; prices and rents; difficulties faced by emigrants without capital; appointment as a clerk at the Forest Creek Post Office; Forest Creek diggings; landscape; dust and insects; hardships of living in a tent; preachers; mutual friends; Scottish news; misleading information about Australia given to intending emigrants; appointment as bookkeeper in Banner Newspaper office in Melbourne (Oct. 1853); divisions among Scottish churches in Melbourne; Rev. A. Cairns; appointment as clerk in Union Bank (Jan. 1854); economic conditions in colony; affairs of Union Bank; fund-raising for churches; travels in Western District; Ballarat diggings; a walk from Ballarat to Castlemaine; Crimean War; murder of J. Price (March 1857); departure from Melbourne (Aug. 1857); impressions of Sydney and Blue Mountains.

Some of the letters are extracts only and in other letters some words or phrases have not been transcribed.

Filmed selectively

Processing information:

M2065

Access and use