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FRYF oliosER DECEMBER 2010 ISSN 1834-514X FRYER FryerF Library, The University olios of Queensland Volume 5 | Number 2 | DECEMBER 2010 3 7 11 THE MAJOR HISTORIA GENERAL de PERU ALUMNI FRIENDS - FOUR DECADES OF BENEFACTION to Ross Johnston examines the journal of Carolina Caliaba explains the unique qualities explorer-surveyor Thomas Livingstone of this book that it has survived four hundred THE FRYER LIBRARY Mitchell as he journeyed into central years. Cathy Leutenegger and Mark Cryle explore Queensland in 1846. the history of Fryer’s links with UQ Alumni and the rich treasures it has acquired through that organisation’s generosity. 16 19 22 PLAGUE IN AN ENGLISH VILLAGE LoG BOOK OF HMS WARSPITE WHAT’S NEW IN FRYER Retired UQ microbiologist John Woolcock tells UQ historian Marion Diamond examines the We announce the publication of a new book how a visit to the ‘plague village’ of Eyam in diary and correspondence of a Royal Navy commemorating the UQ Centenary and learn Derbyshire, England led him to a nineteenth- surgeon from the 1840s. more about Fryer’s recent acquisitions. century book in the Fryer Library. Cover: ‘Tower Almond’. ‘I named this feature ‘Tower Almond’ after an ancient castle, the 24 26 scene of many early associations, and now quite as uninhabited as this’. TL Mitchell, Journal of an expedition, p. 237. FRIENDS OF OBITUARIES: DR ALF HOWARD FRYER AND DAVID ROWBOTHAM Read all about the recent events enjoyed by We sadly farewell two prominent the Friends. Queenslanders with strong links to Fryer. Fryer Folios is published twice a year by The University of Queensland Library to illustrate the range of special collections in the Fryer Library and to showcase scholarly research based on these sources. ISSN 1834-1004 (print) ISSN 1834-1012 (online). Fryer Folios is distributed to libraries and educational institutions around Australia. If you wish to be added to the mailing list, please contact the Secretary, Friends of Fryer, The University of Queensland Library, The University of Queensland Q 4072. Telephone (07) 3346 9427; Fax (07) 3365 6776; Email: [email protected] (Note that individuals wishing to receive a copy will need to join Friends of Fryer). Unless otherwise stated, the photographs in this magazine are taken by the Fryer Editors Chris Tiffin, Ros Follett, Mark Cryle, Laurie McNeice, Library Reproduction Service. The views expressed in Fryer Folios are those of the Cathy Leutenegger individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors or Photographers Mark Sherwood, Penny Whiteway publisher. Every reasonable effort has been made to contact relevant copyright Graphic design Janine Nicklin holders for illustrative material in this magazine. Where this was not possible, the Printed by Westminster Printing, Milton, Qld copyright holders are invited to contact the publisher. 2 UQ LIBRARY TheMajor AltHOugH Better KNOwn FOR His earlier JOurneYS acrOSS THE ‘Australia Felix’ OF western VictOria, explOrer-surveYOR THOmas LivingstOne MitcHell JOurneYED intO WHat is NOW central QueenslanD in 1846. THE JOurnal OF THis expeDitiON, puBlisHED in twO VOlumes twO Years later,1 is examineD Here BY QueenslanD HistOrian ROSS JOHnstON. THE JOurnal remains an impOrtant accOunt OF earlY EurOpean explOratiON OF QueenslanD anD is A valuaBle item in THE FRYer COllectiON. urveyor-General for the colony of New South Wales Mitchell acknowledged and honoured many European figures since 1828, Mitchell was an erudite man of taste and of note in his naming of newly-discovered topographic Sculture who had studied towards an Arts degree for features. Indeed, Mitchell was a master at networking, at least two years at Edinburgh University. He read widely making and using important connections so patrons, in foreign languages, sprinkling his Journal with quotations promoters, supporters and experts (including scientists) from Robbie Burns, Shakespeare, Milton and Ovid (in Latin). had their names attached to mountains, rivers and other One authority on Mitchell calls him ‘the civilised surveyor’.2 geographical markers – people such as the eminent botanist Another of Mitchell’s interests was landscape painting in Sir William Hooker (a mountain) or the scientist Michael which he was instructed by the important English Romantic Faraday (a mountain also, in this region). Mt Mudge was painter, John Martin. The impact on him can be seen both in named after the colonel who in the army taught Mitchell the his naming discoveries after painters – the J Martin Range, use of the Syphon barometer.4 the Claude River (named after the French painter Claude Military and imperial affairs also influenced his naming Lorrain), the Salvator River (honouring Salvator Rosa, the process. Perhaps the most unctuous example of this came Italian painter) – and in the picturesque and painterly manner on 1 October 1846, as he followed a river to the north-west, in which he describes scenes on the expedition: a water-course which he believed and hoped would flow The hills overhanging it [the river] surpassed any I had eventually in a northerly direction into the Gulf of Carpentaria. ever seen in picturesque outline. Some resembled This river seemed to me typical of God’s providence, gothic cathedrals in ruins; others forts; other masses in conveying living waters into a dry parched land, were perforated, and being mixed and contrasted and thus affording access to open and extensive with the flowing outlines of evergreen woods, and pastoral regions, likely to be soon peopled by civilised having a fine stream in the foreground, gave a inhabitants. It was with sentiments of devotion, zeal, charming appearance to the whole country. It was a and loyalty, that I therefore gave to this river the name 3 discovery worthy of the toils of a pilgrimage. of my gracious sovereign, Queen Victoria.5 FRYER FOLIOS | DECEMBER 2010 3 One must be aware of his military experience and bearing; there are more than shades of the martinet. He had served in the Peninsular Mitchell’s imperial vision was mistaken, however. War 1811-14 where he gained favour from his In 1847-48 Edmund Kennedy established commanding officer, Sir George Murray. Mitchell that the river flowed to the south-west, into ran his expeditions as he would a ‘civil’ military the dry interior. He renamed it the Barcoo. campaign; he planned well; he controlled the Mitchell, however, was not wedded to European provision of rations, forage, water, transport for nomenclature; he has influenced toponymy his men and stock; he took steps to defend his considerably in Australia through his advocacy camps from Aboriginal attack. of Aboriginal place names. He lamented ‘the uselessness of new names’, and defended ‘the Certainly the men on this, his fourth exploration, necessity for preserving the native names of seem to have had respect for and trust in Rivers’.6 He would go in deliberate search of a him. His party, twenty-nine strong, included local person to communicate about the native twenty-three convicts, several of whom had name. While this was not always possible, served on previous expeditions. The tent- names he recorded on his maps such as Mount keeper had been on Mitchell’s three previous Bigando and the Belyando River came from local expeditions. Two others (the storekeeper and sources.7 the barometer carrier) had been with him on the third expedition, while another (in charge of The journal of an expedition also helps us horses) had been on the second expedition.10 to examine some of the controversies that Mitchell preferred convicts to free men for the surrounded Mitchell. An early biographer many manual tasks involved; he found it easier adverted to his ‘pursuit of fame’, his ‘obstinancy to demand obedience and discipline from them and petulance’, his ‘persistent defiance of – with the promise of relief from their punishment successive governors’ and sustained conflicts upon the successful completion of the journey. with the Colonial Office; noting that he ‘never On this expedition Mitchell had disciplinary doubted’ his superiority.8 Don Baker refers to problems with six of the convicts, but most of his self-righteousness, and categorises Mitchell them behaved well.11 as ‘a poor administrator’.9 Certainly there were difficulties and dissatisfactions in the Survey A second debate concerns the accuracy and Department which he headed. Yet on exploring veracity of Mitchell’s reports and drawings. expeditions he was an efficient leader heading a Don Baker opines that Mitchell was ‘perhaps 12 successful team effort. the best draftsman in the British army’. 4 UQ LIBRARY At school Mitchell was keen on drawing – at St George’s Bridge that Mitchell received ‘to convey accurate information’.13 In the information that Leichhardt had returned Spanish military campaign Mitchell’s main task having reached Port Essington. Mitchell was surveying; this is where he learned his craft. therefore focussed on discovering an Sir George Murray was sufficiently impressed overland route via a northerly-flowing later to charge Mitchell to complete plans and river to the Gulf of Carpentaria.19 That maps of the principal movements, battles and would establish the shortest route to India sieges of that war. These Mitchell published in and the East and enable trade. He was 1841.14 Mitchell’s competency and accuracy disappointed when traveling down the as a surveyor and map-maker are generally Belyando to find it flowing towards the acknowledged; yet a study by Brian Finlayson, Pacific Ocean and not the Gulf. He then employing recent scientific analyses and aerial chose a westerly-flowing stream, to a point surveys, seriously questions this reputation where on 15 September he could exclaim: for accuracy, claiming that Mitchell is ‘not a reliable factual witness’ of the pre-European I found then, at last, the realisation of environment in Australia.15 Finlayson’s is a my long cherished hopes, an interior detailed study of Lake Salvator which Mitchell river falling to the N.W.