MS journal of a voyage of the 'True Briton' from Deal to Port Nicholson, with later journals of voyages from New Zealand to South America and from South America to England.
MS 4199 comprises eight original autograph letters signed. Six letters are from Josiah Godber, transportee, to his wife Rebecka at Ripley in Derbyshire, one written on the 'Retribution' hulk at Sheerness, one written from the ship 'Tottenham' taking him to Australia and the other four from Sydney dated from December 1817-August 1822. There is also a letter (4 p.) from George Brassington, a friend and fellow transportee of Godber, written from H.M. General Hospital, Sydney, July 1823, informing Mrs Godber of her husband's death on 19 November, 1822. Another letter is written by William Kirkland, Mrs Godber's landlord, (1 p.) in March 1824, serving notice that if Mrs Godber did not quit her home in Ripley the rent would be increased to 12 pounds a year (1 folder).
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'.