Letters, 1783-1793
- Component identifier:
- Series Add MS 16381
- Content Summary:
- Mostly written by Southwell to his mother, Jane Southwell, and uncle, Rev. Weeden Butler. The subjects include Southwell's appointment as midshipman on the Queen in 1783 (pp. 4-11), the voyage to New South Wales in the Sirius in 1787 with descriptions of Santa Cruz, Rio de Janeiro and the Cape of Good Hope (pp. 12-26), the arrival at Botany Bay, La Perouse's expedition, the departure of P.G. King for Norfolk Island and encounters with Indigenous Australians (pp. 27-29), the voyage to the Cape of Good Hope in the Sirius in 1788-89 (pp. 30-39), the shortage of provisions, the wreck of the Sirius at Norfolk Island, the cultivation of crops,Indigenous Australians, Southwell's hopes of promotion, the deaths of seamen, the difficulties faced by settlers at Norfolk Island, N.S.W. rivers, the future of the colony, the wreck of the Guardian, Governor Phillip, John Palmer, William Dawes (pp. 44-94), Butler's discussion with Sir Joseph Banks on the future of N.S.W. (p.98), a deputation to Capt. Hunter about rations (pp. 103-4), the voyage to England in 1791 (pp. 105-14), Southwell's efforts to obtain a Lieutenancy (pp. 123-34).
- Processing information:
- M1538
Online content
Access and use
- Parent Restrictions:
- Available for Access.
- Parent Terms of Access:
- Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the British Library. For more information visit: How I use the images I order?-The British Library [https://www.bl.uk/help/how-can-i-use-the-images-i-order].
- Location of this collection:
-
Parkes PlaceCanberra ACT 2600, Australia
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