______

BRG 42/9 . Office. Letters received from the Colonial Manager 1 January 1838 to 2 July 1838 Transcribed by Judy M Fander, volunteer at the State Library of , 2015 Edited and indexed by researcher Chris Durrant, 2015

This transcription consists of two parts: a literal transcription, and a more readable and informative version with footnotes.

The first part presents as literal as possible a reading, transcribed by Judy Fander. In this:

 pages, additions, deletions and emendations are tracked  the writers’ spelling is adhered to  variable capitalisation of nouns is followed, though in many cases the intent of the writer is ambiguous  punctuation is generally limited to a dash with no attempt to distinguish the lengthy from the almost dot-like  all annotations of cover pages, margins and page tops and bottoms are noted.

The second part is an edited version prepared by Chris Durrant. In this:

 only the final version is reproduced  spellings of words and names are regularised  capitalisation is discarded  punctuation is added according to present usage (sometimes requiring the sense of the writer to be guessed at)  contractions are expanded  details of address and annotations made after receipt in London are placed in a separate section in small type at the beginning of each letter  footnotes identify persons, vessels and some events  an index allows reference to persons, vessels and some topics. This is in addition to a keyword search of the document.

The Business Record Group does not contain copies of most of the documents said to have accompanied these letters.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 1 of 173 ______

Literal transcription

1st. Sh. Orig. Per to Hobart Town. Recd 11/6/38 Ansd 3/9/38 South Australian Co. 1st. January 1838. Edmund. J. Wheeler Esquire, My Dear Sir, I write You under very painful feelings. My last despatches were dated 16 Decr. from Kingscote, forwarded “Pr Hartley” to Launceston. I then advised you of the stranding of the “South Australian” — and of my intention to proceed hither by the “Solway” — I arrived here on the 20th ulto., On the 21st. a violent gale, from S. E sprung up — when the Solway having had 2 Bower Anchors, and with one Stream Anchor down from all of which she parted, also Went on Shore — the John Pirie, rode 3 ½ hours longer than the Solway, but having parted from One Bower Anchor, and slipped another, she was \ skilfully / run by Captn. Martin, at the deepest place, across the Reef, and run on shore, on a sandy bottom 6 or 7 ft. Water, near the ill-fated South Australian. A survey was held on the 22nd. (the Anniversary of the “South Australian” sailing from Plymouth) — when she and the Solway were condemned and recommended to be sold — and the John Pirie, to be lightened — her Rudder, which had been injured, & unshipped, to be repaired &ca. and another survey \ to be / afterwards held. — Written in the margin alongside the paragraph above Copy enclosed as to So. Australian that as to John Pirie to be sent by Captn Martin from Hob. Town Text continues On the 23d. Mr. Mann who had come passenger Pr. J. Pirie, set out on foot, for with the necessary papers, authorised to apply to the Governor for a Warrant of Sale of the So. Austrn and Solway — I expected him to return yesterday, or previously — but he has not yet Returned — By him, I wrote New page you a few lines with the preceding mournful intelligence, and mentioning at the same time, the melancholy tidings of the loss of Sir John Jeffcott — and Captn. Blenkinsop in coming out of “The Murray”, in a Whaleboat. I embrace the leisure of New Year’s day, to communicate this Ezekiels roll, — I say nothing of my feelings — but that, I am sore distressed and that I hope, no recurrence of calamities, so great — so numerous — so unexpected — and withal so perplexing, is awaiting either the Company, or myself. My grief and anxiety are heightened, by uncertainty, as to Insurance on the So. Australian — and on the Oil & Whalebone shipped, Pr. Solway — and any difficulties have been greatly increased, by the unaccommodating disposition of Captn Pearson — These disasters have entirely changed the plan of operations, which I think, was laid judiciously — The particulars of that plan were, 1st. To tranship the Beef & Pork, which had been left in the Solway for Ballast. Where Pr. the So. Austn. which came down here, that the Oil might be got ready under the Superintendence of Captn. Mcfarlane & my Son. with which \ Provisions / the So. Austn. was immediately to

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 2 of 173 ______have proceeded, to Hobart Town, from which, I had favourable advices, as to prices — and thereafter to have been employed in the Conveyance of Stock &ca., from the neighbouring Colonies — till the season for the Black whaling. — 2nd. The Solway having got on board at Kingscote, the Oil & Bone which were there was, after having discharged the Beef & Pork here, (as above) to complete take in the whole of the Oil here proceed to Hobart Town, complete her loading, and proceed to London, agreeably to the Charter Party — a Subscribed Copy of which, I send herewith, for the information of the Directors. 3d. The Sarah & Elisabeth having — owing to the shameful state of Repa disrepair, in which she had been sent out from England — lost the season for Sperm New page fishing, on the Middle grounds; was to have been dispatched, in Ballast, to Hobart Town that the repairs might be completed — some sheets of Copper Beg being off &ca, and thence as soon as possible to New Zealand for a Cargo of timber, whence, it was calculated, she might have returned, in time to proceed, at the beginning of the Black whaling season, to some Bay. — All these plans are confounded. — It will be no small gratification to me, to learn, tho’ it be nearly 12 months hence, that they have met with the approbation of the Board of Directors. And I must, Very Respectfully, yet very earnestly, now, and in Subsequent letters, express my most decided conviction, that an officer must be appointed, who shall have the immediate superintendence, and personal charge and direction, of the ships, belonging to the Co. and of the Shipping-business, generally – who may be instructed by the Board , if they think proper, to consult with me, but who shall go from place to place, when required by Circumstances — and relieve my head — & hands — & shoulders, of the determining of the mode of employing the ships — of the personal superintendence of that department of the company’s business — and of the Responsibility, connected therewith — Such an officer is essentially necessary — and altho’ the calamities which have occurred here, might have equally occurred, under such an officer, yet the appointment of Such an officer, seems not only a likely means to prevent calamities — but a necessary means, to secure the most advantageous employment, of the Co’s Shipping — Oh ! had such an officer been appointed, instead of a Superintendent of Flour Mills — Salt works, — or Even of the Dock-Yards, & Patent Slip — Such an officer, must be a man of Experience in that line — of Sound Judgement — of Decision — and above all, a man of Principle. It is perhaps enough for me, thus to have recommended the appointment — A decided conviction of its absolute necessity, has led me to do so — I venture a step further, I take the liberty of saying, it is an appointment whh. I know of none qualified to fill, but Yourself — and which would give full employment to all your active energies, — and if it be the intended, that you should succeed me, in the general management here, I cannot conceive of any more natural, & proper way of initiation, than Your coming out, as soon after receipt of this letter as the measures connected with your leaving London, will permit — and taking that important department of the Co’s business, into Your hands. — This Proposal, I beg, very respectfully to submit to the Board, as one, by which the interests of the Company, will be most materially promoted and one, which I must continue, to urge. — I have detailed the plan, which I had laid — it remains, that I point out, what I what I mean to do now. —

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 3 of 173 ______

1st. The John Pirie is to go to Hobart town, to be employed as hitherto, in the general trade of the Colonies; — and on board of her, I have got shipped, ex So. Australian — 109 Provision Casks, (including 50 Tierces Cape Beef, which were brought out by the Emma , on her 1st. voyage, & whh. have since, been allowed to lye at Kingscote,) — and, ex Solway 95 Casks. It is not thought advisable, that she should take more — & more, have not yet, been got out of the Solway — the tide flows, and ebbs in & out of her, & the So Austn. 2nd. The Sarah & Elisabeth is to come down here, to take in the remainder of the Oil Provisions, if recovered from the Solway, about 270 or 280 casks — for sale, at H. Town. and to take in the Oil, on Board the Solway, (31 casks about 36 Tuns) — and the Oil, New page 2nd. Sheet [Jan. 1, 1838] Text continues on Shore here, about 19 160 Tuns — and the Bone — of which, about 10 tons, \ the total Quantities / were shipped Pr. Solway, at Kingscote — & of which, about One half has been got out of the Solway — and the rest is expected. to be got — 3d. The Sarah & E having discharged at Compa H. Town — the Oil & Bone will be sent home, on freight — she will have her repairs completed and proceed thereafter to N. Zealand for a cargo of timber, which is much wanted in the Colony, and on her return, she will proceed to the Whaling, according as the Season may be. — I wrote for Captn. Wakeling, or rather sent him notice of my plan — he came down here, in an Open boat, (as we are obliged, at present, to pass from place to place) — was very averse to bring down the S. & E — but at last agreed — left us this morning by the same Conveyance, on his Return to Kingscote, to bring her down, agreeably to the above, and by peculiar care, in mooring her, &ca. I think there is no fear — She is deficient of an Anchor, we hope to get one of the So. Austn’s weighed, before the S & E. arrives — You have never informed either Captn. Wakeling, or me, whether the Insurance, done on the Sarah & E — was confirmed, or not — so that on that point, we are all \ is / uncertainty, & uneasiness — I hope it is all right. I hope the Insurance, as Ordered by me, from Kingscote, when I advised the intended Shipment, Pr. Solway on Oil & Bone, “ by Ship or Ships “ — was effected and that any damage sustained, by that, now in the Solway —or which may not be recovered out of her, will be recovered, from the Underwriters — I shall send you what papers, can be prepared here, & as soon, as the facts can be ascertained, so as to enable you, to Recover, if insurance has been done, I hope it has; — should it not — I hope you will get it now done, from Nepean Bay, — and thence to this — from this, to Hobart Town — and thence to London — by Ship or Ships — according to the facts of the Case, as I have described them. — I am a good deal uneasy about the New page Lord Hobart, on the subject of Insurance, — As it could not be insured, in — and I had no information, but what was furnished by Mr. Spark, and Captn. Hawson, I fear, I could not have got it done, in H. Town — but at a very high premium — or by concealing the facts of the Case, which would have vitiated the Insurce. This question also may involve us in difficulties with the Commrs. — but I trust her safe return, by & by, will set that question at rest, in the meantime — I expect her in all April. — and hope we shall be able, to make her serviceable — I shall write Mr. Orr, by the present

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 4 of 173 ______opportunity, on the Subject of the Insurce. of the Lord Hobart, and shall desire him to advise you, what is done — During the last 12 mos. we have hired the Cutter “William” — (about 17 Tons, I think,) commanded by Captn. Wright — who has enjoyed a degree of Confidence, on the part of Mr. S.S. of which, I consider him, utterly unworthy — The period of engagement expired on 21st. Decr. He asked £300. — for her as she stood, in bad order — or £200 —!! for the use of her, for 12 mos. — he putting her in repair, — and the manning & provisioning her — I considered both proposals as evincing, very clearly, a disposition to take advantage of the supposed necessity of the Case, (a disposition almost universal here,) and I declined both. — The latter I considered an absolute insult. — And \ Wright / having refused, to let her on any other terms, for any period, Mr. E.S. applied to him, to allow her to come down here, for me, after the 21st. which he refused — and, so far as I know, she is lying unemployed, at Kingscote, since, — and when I return, I must return, in an Open Boat — unless the Govt. Cutter come hither, as has been reported — & give me a passage — Under these circumstances, I shall write Mr Orr, to purchase, or hire a Cutter, — 2nd. Jany. We ought to have been supplied, with such, by Mr. Mildred, & his men — but the Want of suitable timber — the repairs of the S & E. &ca. have prevented this — and prevented building the Govt. Cutter whh. was contracted for, and even prevented our getting a barge, or punt, to assist, in discharging Cargoes, at Kingscote — New page With Reference to my last despatch, via Launceston, (16 ulto.) I beg to mention, that Your favour of the 19 Aug. Pr.er Navarino, was Recd. by me here, on the 24th. Ulto. along w. the Duplicates, & accompanying papers, &ca. I am happy to observe your intended Shipment of Oil Casks, Pr. “Royal Admiral” — I hope, all the [illegible deletion] Oil Casks, you send, will be of the very best Quality — The expense of recoopering those whh. came by Solway, & Such Casks, is enormous, — Whatever is sent hither, should be as perfect of its kind, as possible — Let no Ship ever come again, in the State, in which the Sarah & E. was. — You cannot be too particular in the selection of Your Ships Captains — nor they, in that of their officers, & Crew — I wish you could actually officer & man a Ship, wt men who would conscientiously adhere to Temperance Principles. — Surely a Captain & Chief Officer, of this character, may be found — In this Colony, we have no Government, to protect the interests of Ship Owners, — and to secure the service of seamen, if they are dissatisfied, — and choose to desert their Ships — which from the high wages on Shore, almost all do. — In the event of a further supply of Beef & “Pork from & Biscuit” from Hambo. I pray, that the Biscuit may not be packed in such Casks, as that Pr. Solway — I refer to the Certificate, of the Survey, transmitted by my last despatches, from Kingscote — Duplicate of which, I shall send You, by next Opportunity. — on no account, Send any more Beef — I am thankful that the Contemplated shipments, by the Board, were delayed — and by the time, they arrive, I hope we shall be better prepared, to receive them. — At the same time, the difference between London Prices, & V.D. Land Prices, is so great, that we must have our supplies, as much as possible, from the former, & that, Regularly — A vessel with such Goods New page as have been repeatedly specified, Once a Quarter of a Year — or smaller Supplies more frequently — by such vessels — as may be coming — would be most desirable. — In the

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 5 of 173 ______

Commencement of a business, great disadvantages are sustained, from want of System, — but the sooner, we can get out of the incipient state, into the Systematic, the better. — Amid the distractions of mind, which I have experienced here I have been endeavouring to arrange, as to the operations next season, in the Black Whale Fishing — I have next thing to arranged wt. Mr. John Harper, one of the most successful of the Headsmen, engaged here, last year, to superintend the establishment here, next season. — whh. I think of having, as a four Boat fishery, — & Mr. Harper will likely go Pr. The Pirie, in a day or two, to Hobart Town, to engage his Headsmen & hands. —May Written vertically against the last paragraph 6th. Jany. Arranged Text continues he be more successful, than Mr. Mcfarlane was, last season. — Perhaps the Solway may serve, for a Cutting in ship. — Thistle Island, in the Entry of Spencer’s gulf, is very favourably spoken of — as a suitable place, for a shore party. — I contemplate sending Mr. Mcfarlane thither — and if I could accompany him, I would go, to examine particularly, the Safety of the Anchorage — there [illegible deletion] \ is / no Want of Whales — on any part of this Coast, in the Winter Season — but there is hardly any place known, of, decidedly land locked anchorage — And those places, which are protected from the prevailing Winter Winds, are exposed to those of Summer, whh. are even more violent than those of Winter — No such gale was experienced by th So. Austn. during the Winter, as that of the 8 Ulto.— On Thistle Island, if found New page 3d. Sheet In another hand [ Jan. 1, 1838 ] and [ On last page is a letter of Jan.6, 1838 ] 9 Text continues Suitable, I mean to establish a four Boat Whale fishery — \ under Mr Mcfarlane, / and if the accounts, I have heard, be confirmed, by actual inspection, it will afford us, an opportunity, of rearing Stock, [illegible deletion] at very little expense; — There are no natives: — no fencing — and very little tending, will be required. It is about 12 miles long, & 1 ½ or 2 miles broad. The State of the market at home, for Black Oil offers very little inducement, to prosecute that trade, vigorously, yet I have ever looked to the Whale-trade, as One of the chief sources of the Company’s revenue —and under that impression, I am particularly grieved, at the disaster, which has befallen the —and the South Austn. and the State of the Sarah & Elisabeth. — No intelligence has yet reached me, of the Lady Mary Pelham — Under that impression too, I feel more deeply, than I can express, a sense of my incapacity, to direct these operations — and my regret, that there is no man, in the service of the Co., excepting Captn. Wakeling, who has had, almost any experience in the South Sea fishery — no man whom I can appoint over this business — Had Captn. Morgan come here, instead of going to England, he might have been very useful — if sufficiently active experienced — and judicious. — Mr. S. S\tephens/ in the absence of a better and under a different opinion of the man, than I have formed, confided in Captn. Wright. The principle of the division of labour, enables One individual, to superintend the most extended, & complicated concerns, but it must be obvious, that in order to bringing this principle into Operation, there must be individuals, qualified to take charge of the various subdivisions — which unfortunately [illegible deletion] \ with us / in reference to some of the most important subdivisions, is not the Case — We want such a man, in the Shipping department — and Such a man, in the Whale-fishing department — The former I hope, to

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 6 of 173 ______find, by & by in you, the latter, I must do my best, to find, here — & make the best use of the materials, (persons) I have, or can obtain here. New page On the subject of Stock, as that department is still confided, to Mr. Sam. Stephens, I have not done any thing, as yet — I expect him here, daily — my own opinion is, that at present prices of Sheep, notwithstanding the fall, in Wool, that we ought to increase our flocks, considerably — adopting some other means, than those of last season, to ensure the safe transmission of them, to the Colony. The purchases of last Year, were recommended (as Per Appendix to 2nd Supt.) on the ground of yielding an “immediate” return! — I would, make them, with a view to the extent, and value of the Ultimate returns. — The Whale fishing trade, if successful, affords the prospect of profitable immediate returns, as do the Bank operations, so far as they go, but from the Other Sources we must be content without immediate Returns, if We see a steady — certain — progressive provision made, for extensively favourable, ultimate Results. — As to the Bank operations, I am happy to learn that Mr. E. S. was to write you, from Adelaide, by the Way of India — I beg to refer to mine of 16th. Instt on this subject, and to confirm my wish, for increased remces in specie — Surely these must be on the way — No remittance, will ext pay better, when everything is considered. I have thus, my Dear Sir, under many disadvantages of circumstances, and feeling, communicated my sentiments, as to the most of the Departments, of the Company’s business — I have done so, unreservedly — I hope the Directors will receive the Communication, favourably — I am grieved, at having to transmit such accounts, — it is a painful Duty — which I have thus, endeavoured, honestly to discharge. — I wait Mr. Mann’s return, to complete the legal part, of the business; and to despatch the John Pirie — In a subsequent letter, by this same packet, I shall, advise you, what further measures, are adopted, and in the main time I beg very res- New page pectfully of the Directors, to extend to me their sympathy, and to accept of my renewed assurance, of my entire devotion, body and Mind — by day, and night, to their Service. — I am my Dear Sir Yours Very Affectly. David McLaren — Of this letter I retain no Copy — & can, of Course, hereafter, send no Dup. I hope it will be duly received — Do not fail, in that case, specially to acknowledge it — the Recollection of it. I shall never lose. — Encounter Bay — 6 Jany./38. Mr Mann has not Yet returned from Adelaide — We are uneasy lest some accident has befallen him — The John Pirie must proceed if the wind be favourable Without him — I wish to get off this afternoon to Kingscote — in hope of Reaching K it before the Sarah & Elisabeth sail — and in time to Settle wt. The Lady Emma — I enclose Cer Dup. of Certificate fm. Colonial Commr. as to landing Emigrants ex Hartley — The Papers as to the So. Australian’s \ Protest / expences &ca. must be sent afterwards — Till Mr Mann’s return, no Measures can be taken as to the Sales — N.B. (Written in the margin) I drew on You 1st. 2nd. 3 Ex. No 2./ in favour of George Eaton Stangar — 19 Decr. @ 60 d/t P £60. - . - . for (late surgeon S. & Eh.) I do not recollect any thing else — D McL—

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 7 of 173 ______

On the last page, at right angles to each other are the following: 1838 D McLaren Encounter Bay 1 Jan Recd 11 June Ansd 3 Sep 1838 D McLaren Encr Bay 1 Jany Recd______11 June Ansd______3 Septr

New letter Recd 11/6/38 Ansd 3/9/38 South Australian Co. Encounter Bay, 5 January 1838. Edmund J. Wheeler Esquire, Manager, London, My Dear Sir, Since finishing my letter dated 1 / 2 January, I have been detained here, chiefly owing to Mr. Mann not having returned from Adelaide, the cause of which we cannot conjecture. It has occurred to me, that a more particular statement of the Circumstances connected with the disasters which have occurred in this bay, than that transmitted in that letter might be acceptable to the Directors, I therefore respectfully send the following. — I transmit herewith a Sketch of the Bay, furnished at my request by Mr. Mildred on which the Soundings are marked in feet. The bottom generally is sand & Clay — Very good holding ground — the soundings were made by Mr. Mildred Kindly assisted by Captn. Duff late of the Africaine, and Sir Charles McCarthy, about time of halftide [empty space] day of the moon’s age. — 1st. As to The John Pirie. — Her former position, as well as her present is marked — had such a gale as that of the 21st. Ulto. been anticipated she would no doubt have been anchored further in, altho’ it is obvious she could not have been very much further inshore, without coming into comparatively shoal water — more than was supposed to be necessary, in the prospect of her remaining only for a few days. I Captn. Martin is to forward all the necessary documents from Hobart Town, after the repairs have been completed, and I hope there will be no difficulty in recovering the amount from the underwriters — In the mean time, I send You a Copy of the first & second Survey on that vessel, duly Subscribed by the Surveyors — and in case of misapprehension, I mention that at the time of the Second Survey Captn. Mcfarlane was not here.— \ nor is he yet / I send also an approved and Cer- New page tified account of Charges against the vessel to which those to be incurred in Hobart Town will be added — I am very thankful that the John Pirie, is not only afloat, but is making no Water. The detention here however has been very unfortunate — I hope she will go

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 8 of 173 ______tomorrow, and may she have a prosperous voyage, — During the gale Captn. Martin behaved as a Good Seaman — was cool — watchful — decided — and ultimately adopted, I believe, the only course that was left to him, for saving the vessel —. 2nd. . — The Gale of the 8th. December was much more violent than that of the 21st. by all accounts — It had continued for several days to blow in the same direction — there was consequently much more sea — She lay near about, where the John Pirie is in her first position — when she parted her larboard Bower — she nearly swung on the Bluff — Sir John Jeffcott’s statement is so satisfactory as to Captn. Mcfs conduct, that I do not blame him at all but on one account — viz that he did not take up the position, whh. he had found so safe during the Winter. — It is to be remembered however that the winter winds are generally S.W. and the Summer winds (the Violent gales) S.E. And he had the prospect of remaining but a short time — Oh I am grieved to see her lyeing where she does — I send You a Copy of the Surveyors Certificate — They were unanimous. I have not much knowledge in these matters — but she does not appear to be very much injured — I am uncertain, if she can be got off — uncertain whether means can be had here to repair her — but from the peculiar beauty of the vessel — the her suitableness for the trade of these Colonies &ca. I am sorry that I am precluded bidding for her, for the Company — Her Spars & Sails &ca. are mostly ashore, and I mean to send them to Hobart Town for Sale on behalf of those Concerned, — Did I know, as to the fact of her being insured, I should consider myself bound to sell everything — Did I know that she was not insured, I shd. sell nothing — You see the difficulties of my Situation New page 3d. The Solway.— Captn. Pearson alledges that he has been deceived as to this Bay altogether — he refers I believe particularly to Captns. Wright — Mcfarlane & Martin &ca. I have He specially excepts me and promised to mention this. He thought his vessel sufficiently moored, and certainly he has had a great deal of experience — I send a Copy of the Charter-Party whh. was entered into between him and me. a copy of the B/L. for the Oil — & Bone — also for the Beef & Pork — I send also a Copy of a Certificate granted by me as to the discharging of the Cargo at Kingscote, and of a joint statement by him & me of the Circumstances connected therewith that you & Mr Graham may settle the matter finally. — I annexed a note also to the ships manifest of that the Cargo had been Received by me agreeably to a Special Certificate granted by me. — Since I came here I have been very much annoyed by the Want of that friendly co-operation on the part of Captn P — whh. I had reason to expect — He was extremely disliked by his men On his passage out — while at Kingscote, they reportedly knocked off Work — Here few of them would work for him — He made little or no exertion to save the Cargo — he repeatedly refused us the use of his launch on One silly pretence or another — and contrary to what Mr Mann stated was his Duty, he absolutely refused to be at any expense in discharging Cargo — stating distinctly that if he landed it — he should not deliver it to me — but sell it — claim a Salvage — and give up the Remainder of the Proceeds — With every disposition to make allowance for the distressing circumstances in which he has been placed, I consider such conduct very improper, especially after We had given him accommodation on Shore in Our Best House largest Hutt for him- New page

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 9 of 173 ______self & Stores while Captn. Mcfarlane & my Son slept in a small place adjoining — on Sails — It is well that the freight of that Cargo is payable in London, — You & Mr Graham may settle it — The expense of discharging the Beef & Pork \ here / including the use of the Boats or rather their destruction, Will not be less than from £150 @ £200. — 4th. The Sarah & Elisabeth — I expect her here in a few days, previously to which the John Pirie will in all probability have sailed for Hobart — She is waiting a Wind, & my Sailing instructions — I hope to get away to Kingscote tomorrow, though I must take my Chance in an Open Boat — Measures have been taken for getting the S & E. speedily & Safely moored — so that I trust further disasters will be prevented. As to the Bay itself — I refer you to the accompanying Sketch — The space between the Bluff Head & the Reefs is so limited that I am satisfied, we must in future seasons have either a vessel to come here and load immediately at the close of the Whaling Season or have the Oil conveyed from this by some small craft, and [illegible deletion] shipped for England elsewhere — I am, My Dear Sir Your most Ob St. David McLaren.— Manager — New sheet Added in another hand at right top of page [ Enclosure to disp. Of Jan. 5, 1838 ] Below is a sketch of Encounter Bay A. Western Bluff Encounter Bay 11/6/38 B.C. S A C Stations D Granite Island E Jno Pirie before parting from her anchor Tick line the course taken by the Jno Pirie after parting F Jno Pirie after being got off G Solway before parting her cable H Solways present position I. South Australian’s position on the rocks K Rivers with bar entrances. L Blenkinsops Fishery station M & N Two islands O & P Coral reefs Q Causeway nearly dry at time of low tide

New letter At the right hand top of the page in another hand: Jan, 8, 1838 E \ ncounter / Bay — 8 Jany. morning Recd. 11/6/38 Ansd. 3/9/38 The Pirie is about to get under Weigh for Hobart town —

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 10 of 173 ______

Tl There have been about 100 Provision Casks shipped ex Solway Pr. Pirie and about 150 Casks got on Deck out of the Hold — Total Quantity Shipped Pr. Solway undelivered at Kingscote. 376 Casks — of the Whale Bone about ¾ has been landed — The Whole of the Remainder of the Provisions — of the Bone and the Oil Shipped Pr. Solway it is expected will be saved — The Inland Postage on the Enclosed foriegn letters to be Charged to Dr Dreschers act — D McL The page has been folded in half. The inner pages so formed are blank. On the back page is written, at right angles to each other, the particulars of this note: 1838 8 Jan D McLaren Encounter Bay 8 Jany Recd 11 June Ansd 3 Sep Duplicate of the above 1838 D McLaren Encounter Bay 8 Jany. Recd —— 11 June Ansd—— 3 Sepr]

New letter Orig. Per Lady Emma to Launceston. Recd 13/7/38 Ansd 3/9/38 South Australian Co. Kingscote. 15 January 1838, Edmund J, Wheeler Esqre Manager, London, Dear Sir My last Mournful despatches were forwarded were forwarded fm. Encounter Bay, on the 8th. Instant — and must occasion very unpleasant feelings to the Directors, & Yourself — I returned hither on that day — and purposed proceeding in Captn. Pearsons Long-boat, along with him, today, to the Main, — The Lady Emma, came in from that quarter, yesterday. — By her Mr. Sam. Stephens meant to have Returned, but by some misapprehension as to the time of Sailing — he Missed his passage. I have had the pleasure of hearing from my son, who have Went down to Encounter Bay Pr. The Sarah & Elisabeth — She had been got very safely & comfortably moored, with 3 Anchors ahead — & One was to be a-stern, and a Cable astern made fast to the rocks — he wrote me a few hours after arrival — Of the Cargo on board The Solway, they had got 220 Provision Casks on the Deck — from 50 @ 60 remained in the hold, which they expected to recover — nearly the whole of the Whalebone was ashore — and all, both bone & Oil expected to be got shipped Pr. Sarah & Elisabeth —

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 11 of 173 ______

I am happy to say, the Sir Charles McCarthy rides quite right & making little or no water in the Bay here — I have been on Board She has a very roomy hold, which I have no doubt We shall make very useful — I enclose New page her Register & condemnation, \ wt / which you will please do the needful.— By this present Opportunity tho’ via Launceston, I have written Messrs Dickson Burnies & Co. Cape Town — Copy of which letter I shall send You in with my next — I have transmitted an Order to them to be executed Conditionally — The total amount will be if wholly executed about £1500. – . – . From Our experience in the Case of the Emma — and of the Hartley — and from what I saw of the difficulties of Shipping at the Cape — and from what Mr Giles experienced, I am satisfied, We must Order no Stock from the Cape — What I have ordered is chiefly Wine — Butter — Tallow — Fruits — Onions — Tea — &ca. You should send us large & regular Supplies of London Porter — Wine — particularly Pork — Tea— Coffee — Cheese — Hams — Candles. — Slops — (Favell & Bousfield) — Strong Shoes &ca. A ship appeared this afternoon off Point Marsden, which I suppose is the “Royal Admiral” — I sent off a Pilot — but she will not make the anchorage till midnight — I hope however I shall have the opportunity, if my conjecture be right, of replying to the Your despatches, by the present opportunity — I half-expect, she will bring me, your reply, to my first letter, from this, the Dup. of which, went from Launceston, 3 June Pr Salacia. Having had a Triplicate Copy, of my letter of the 18/25 — Novemr. I send it herewith — Much of it is now unfortunately is of no avail — the importance of the subject of engagements with Servants, is my chief motive in troubling You with it — New page I enclose also an \ copy / letter from Mr. Beare, which I meant to have sent Pr. Solway — it serves to Confirm the advice, I have ventured to give as to engaging Servants, and also as to the absolute necessity of greater Caution as to advances — * He died of Delirium Tremens, Occasioned by inveterate, excessive drinking of ardent spirits. — [insertion in pencil:] * J. Calnan — (Cooper) 16 Jany. The Royal Admiral arrived this morning — I have read the Original dispatches Pr [overwritten or vice versa: by] her have been on board & Saw the Passengers — Mr. Sleep is rather unwell — so that I did not see him — Mr & Mrs Beer, Son & daughter have come on shore — I purpose going Over to the Main, by the Royal Admiral, tomorrow morning — instead of the by the Solway’s Long Boat — and shall then determine finally as to Mr. Sleep — & family — Mr Beer & family. The important arrangement with the Colonization Commrs. will place the Bank Operations on a new footing with Mr. Gilles — I deeply regret to hear of the irregularity which has attached to the Acceptance of the Governor’s dfts — but it is Well it is over — The Remce in Specie is much less, than I anticipated, and from the Amount of Bank Orders, it would have been Well, that the Amount had been greater — I calculate On its being increased by following vessels especially after Receipt of my first dispatches from this — I am happy to understand that Messrs Dickson Burnies & Co. have agreed to the reduction in the Commn. & their Agents at least Where Much business is done Should do the Same. — Order no Beef — There is no consumptn for it — I enclose a Copy of the Survey held here of

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 12 of 173 ______

On Bread & flour recd. Pr Solway — so that I dread a further supply of these articles from Hamboo. lest the same Mischief should arise from the State of the New page 1838 David McLaren 15 Jan 1836 Text continues Casks — Oh, it is lamentable, to see Such food so destroyed — and no Redress, I presume to be got — The Quantity of Ship Bread is unfortunately now too large by a great deal, — The Quantity of Cheese & Butter might have been tenfold — By all Vessels, we must have Tents — and altho’ they the Canvass instead of being fit for Sails &ca. afterwards, do not last, half the time, that We would need to use them as Tents — The Sun Rain, &ca. destroy the Canvass very soon — Yet [illegible deletion] The weather boarded houses are not much better — and still We must have shelter for the Immigrants. Requesting You to excuse the hurried & abrupt Conclusion, I as the Captain is sitting by me, I am My Dear Sir, Yours very Respy. David McLaren — Manager — P.S. I have drawn on You. this date @ sixty days Sight No 3 — 1.2 & 3d Ex. In favour of James Padgett Esqr. for £50. 0. 0 4 1.2 & 3 " Do of Messrs Philip Palmer & Co £50. 0. 0 These on ac/ of Mr. W. Giles, & his Dr. here, — £100. 0. 0 Beside 4 above is written: Encd. C.B.B. I drew on You, on 19 Decr @ Sixty days Sight. Beside this is written: Encd. C.B.B. No 2 — 1. 2 & 3d Ex. In favour of George Eaton Stanger £60. 0. 0 And on 17 Novemr @ Sixty Thirty days Sight No 1 — 1.2d & 3d Ex. In favour of William Huggins. £10. 0. 0 This letter is addressed in the same manner in two places at right angles to each other as follows: 1838 D McLaren Kingscote 15 Jany. Recd — 13 July Ansd — 3 Sepr

New letter Orig. Per “The Siren” — to Launceston. — Recd 14/6/38 Ansd 3/9/38 South Australian Company Adelaide 26th. January 1838. Edmund, J, Wheeler Esquire, Manager, London, Dear Sir,

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 13 of 173 ______

I have to acknowledge Receipt of Your Sundry favours Pr The Royal Admiral, and must beg your indulgence for the defective nature of my Reply, and the meagre character of this letter — Mr. Sleep & family, as well as Mr Beer & family have come hither — and have been employed in getting tents erected, we cannot do anything else in the mean time, and do not consider ourselves Obliged to do this, but have pleasure in doing what we can, although you can hardly imagine how enervating and enfeebling it is, to live & Work in such tents, and the Bank business is yet done in a Tent. In the course of a few weeks we hope to get into a Stone-house, which was Originally contemplated, as Mr. Mildred’s habitation. — With Mr Sleep who is rather in an indifferent state of health, I hope we shall get some arrangement made — Mr Wilson Junr talks of having sustained disadvantage from the want of his land to the extent of £300 — which he alledges he could have made by growing vegetables &ca. A recourse to arbitration is stipulated, in case of disputes, and I presume, this must be adopted in his case — but and the decision if unfavourable to the Co. will determine the Other Cases — With this fact, you will not be surprised that I say most emphatically that I hope no more farm tenants, will come out till We You have heard from us, that we are ready to receive them. The mode of dividing and letting the Town Acres is so various according to their situation New page Written in the margin, at right angles to the text Selling Town Lots Despatch Pr “L Emma” Supplies Bricks Text continues and the purposes to which they are to be applied that no arrangement of the kind contemplated in your favour of the 18 Sept. seem practicable in London — These arrangements as must I am persuaded be made here, not in London — I am pleased to observe that Messrs Dickson Burnies & Co. have acceded to the proposed reduction in the rate of Commission On the 16 Instt. I transmitted from Kingscote, Pr. Lady Emma via Launceston a Parcel to Your address under Cover to L.W.Gilles — containing — No 1. Original Letter to You — 15/16 Instt. 2. Triplicate " to You 18/25 Novemr. 3. Copy Survey of Flour & Bread at Kingscote 14 Decr. 4. Copy Letter T.H. Beare to me, as to Jer. Calnan &ca. 5. Register of The Sir Charles McCarthy — 6. Copy Charter Party of Solway. 16 Decemr. 7. Letter to J. W. McLaren — By the same Opportunity as then mentioned in my letter to You, I wrote Messrs Dickson Burnies & Co with an order, whh I shall be happy, if they can execute. The principal articles Ordered are Wine — Butter — Tea — Coffee — Candles. Fruits — Onions — Barley — Oats & Maize — It will assuredly not to do, to import Stock into the Colony from the Cape — and there is little or no Consumt for Beef — I am alarmed, at the thought of Getting more Provisions — Bread & flour &ca. from Hambo. destroyed by bad Casks — I can not account for the mistake in the Invoice of the Oars, but, I think the difference will be Recovered — I observe that the Directors have Chartered the Goshawk — which we look for in the Course of next month — The Quantity of Bread is extreme — That of Cheese & Butter is limited in

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 14 of 173 ______the extreme. I can hardly imagine how you thought of Ordering only 10 Cwt Butter — and 20 Cwt Cheeses ! Oh, Send no more Bricks — They Cost us when we get them laid down [illegible deletion] here, about £9 — Pr M. — We sell @ £4 —— Pr. M. at the field, and £5 — delivered in town — Since my arrival here, I have made a new arrangement with the Superintendent of the Brick field, by which we expect to have from 30 to 40 M — monthly for 3 or 4 mos. of this Season yet, we pay him 40/- Pr. M. for making, burning, & loading Carts, & furnish him with Wood &ca. so that they cost us about 50/- @ 54/- Pr. M. at the field — New page Written in the margin at right angles to the text Germans Mr. Stephens Officers Text continues Most fervently do I pray, that we may have no more German Immigrants, the heavy advances to them, will never be recovered, and the general character of German labourers, seems to be Indolent — Obstinate — Suspicious — and withal like all labourers in this Colony most unreasonable in respect to Wages. You are aware that hitherto, the flocks & herds have been under the Charge of Mr. Sam. Stephens. I hoped that they would have continued so, & that they would have been managed so, as to have in some measure compensated for the enormous losses sustained in the Importations —I expected to have found him here on my arrival, but I had the mortification that he had sailed the evening before, for Kingscote — I avail myself in the meantime of Mr. Randell & Mr. Lillycrapps knowledge & Services — I thank you for the Copy of the Letters to the Other Officers of the Company, and shall apprise you of anything of moment which Occurs in relation to them — Here, you know how efficiently the Bank is conducted — several of the Other officers have been almost idle — In Kingscote it is worse — a heavy expenditure, with little prospect of Returns — Many of the officers dissatisfied with their situation, and with each Other — the Working classes almost universally desirous of coming Over here, because of the excessive wages paid here — while the Relations between Mr. S. S. & myself are you are aware anything but agreeable and likely to become daily more uncomfortable — I notice the information as to the vessels expected to arrive here, and hope by the continued accession to Our population that the price of labour will [illegible deletion] by & by be reduced — It remains excessive — Joiners get from 10/ to 15/ — Bricklayers — Blacksmiths &ca. about the same — The most lazy indolent labourer 5/. pr Day — or upwards — and other classes — trades &ca. whether on Weekly Wages — or Piece Work make at least 10/. Pr. Day and upwards — While half Work is not done — New page Written at right angles to the text Purchase of Dr Imlay’s Stock x 62 = £1085 x 40 = 600 x 130 = 325 2010 Text continues Dr Imlay, One of the largest Stockholders in N. South Wales, whose chief establishment is at Twofold Bay, where he and his two Brothers have large flocks & herds — a Whaling Establishment — a Ship building Yard &ca. has visited our Colony — having brought in One of his Own Ships, The Lady of The Lake — \ rather / upwards of 100 Horned Cattle and about 130 Ewes —

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 15 of 173 ______

Having examined them very particularly, on Board Ship — in Company with Mr. E.S. — Mr. Randell — & Mr W. C. Stuart, I bought the whole as deliverable at Our Station here, say 60 Bullocks — 2 Cows — & 40 Heifers, & 130 Ewes for the Bullocks & Cows I agreed to Pay £17.10/- for the Heifers — 3 Years old in Calf } 15. – . – . 2 Years old Do & for the Ewes — in Lamb & not Shorn 2.10/- Payable by Dft on You @ £ [illegible deletion] 60 dst — The Universal Opinion is, that in no Case has Such a Cargo, in respect to kinds and Condition been receiv brought to this Colony — Dr Imlays brother is expected daily with such another Cargo, the first offer of which I have Secured — but Dr Imlay’s principal object in visiting us, was to endeavour to persuade the Company, to purchase their establishment at Twofold Bay as their Contract expires on 1st April next — he has kindly given me a note of their Whole Herds, & from him New page Added in brackets by later hand: [Jan. 26, 1838] Text continues I expect to procure much valuable information — Stock is as follows — Males 2860 Cows 3050 Heifers 1150 Calves 500 Bulls — Working Bullocks & 102 7662 — These he said were we disposed to go into the proposal, he would let us have deliverable at Twofold Bay at Seven Pounds, Overhead. — They hold, I believe, 30 or 40,000 Sheep and the produce of their Dairy, does more than defray all the expenses Connected with the Herds — Of course This is a measure which from its immense magnitude, I could not entertain, and yet, in no other Way, I am persuaded can Capital be more advantageously invested in this Colony, than in flocks & herds — Whilst on the Other hand — the competition between this and the Neighbouring Colony, in the Wool Market is all against us, in the price of Stock & Wages I am my Dear Sir Yours Most Respy. David McLaren — On the reverse side, written twice at right angles, to be read when folded, the same information: 1838 D McLaren Adelaide 26 Jan Recd 14 June Ansd 3 Sep Orig Pr Siren to Launceston — Recd 14/6/38

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 16 of 173 ______

Ansd 3/9/38

New letter South Australian Co Adelaide 26 Jany 1838 Edmund J. Wheeler Esquire Manager London. My Dear Sir By the John Pirie from Encounter Bay I wrote You 1/5 January — & Sent therewith H via Hobart Town, Copy of 1st & 2nd Survey on John Pirie Copy of Survey on South Australian — Copy of Charter — Party with Solway and of Certificate as to landing of Cargo — & of Joint Statement by Captn Pearson & me — Copy of B/L of Oil & Bone & Beef & Pork Shipped Per Solway — The principal object of my visit to Adelaide at present was to have the Protest as to the South Australian extended — & to obtain from the Governor a Warrant of Sale — I now enclose, No 1. Original Protest — So Australian — 2. Surveyors Certificate Do. The Governor promised immediately to grant the Warrant but I have not yet got it. Captn Pearson is also here, and is selling his articles \ Boats, &c / privately —and will continue to do as he thinks proper, whether he get a Warrant or not — I regret I can not by this opportunity to transmit a note of the ex- Written in the margin of the above: Despatches Pr “J Pirie” New page penses connected with the surveying and dismantling of the Barque So Australian they shall be handed with the auctioneers Bill of Sale — I presume the best Way will be to Sell the Sails &ca. here by description — & perhaps the vessel too — as no person almost can be expected to attend a Sale at Encounter Bay — My time is gone — I hope You Will forgive the abrupt conclusion and believe Me Ever Yours David McLaren Manager Written twice at right angles so it can be read in two directions is 1838 D McLaren Adelaide 26 Jany Recd 14 June Ansd 3 Sept

New letter Orig. Via Sydney. Pr Lady Wellington Ansd 3/9/38 South Australian Company. Adelaide 2nd February 1838

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 17 of 173 ______

Edmund J, Wheeler Esqre Manager London My Dear Sir, I wrote You last on the 26th ulto. via Launceston as Pr. Dup. Enclosed. Since that time I have been very much Occupied and have made some purchases of Stock of an unusually large amount, but which have been done after due deliberation and consultation, but which I am satisfied it would have been most unwarrantable in me to have lost the opportunity of doing — I have ordered from Dr Imlay 25 Bullocks including one team of working bullocks at least @ £20 a head 25 Steers @ £15 50 Milch Cows @ £ 17.10/.- 25 3 Year Old Heifers in Calf } @ £15 – – 25 2 Year old Do Do 500 Breeding Ewes in Lamb @ £2 – – 500 Wedders @ £ 1.5 – The whole warranted to be from Dr. Imlays Own flocks & herds — and he to be paid Only for those delivered at &ca. in good Condition and paid for by Dfts on You @ 60 dft — The Superior quality of His Stock &the Superior Condition in which we have reason to expect that Stock will be brought to us, would have justified us, in giving even higher New page prices, but at the same time I endeavoured to make, and consider myself to have made a very good bargain. — Dr. Imlay is a highly honourable man and a very fair dealer — which is a rare character in these Colonies — I mean to Sell a few of Our Older Bullocks in consequence of the purchase from Dr. Imlay advised in my last, and expect to get from £50 @ £60 Pr. Pair at least. Those bought from Dr Imlay at that time Cost £35 — Pr. Pair — I have I succeeded in getting him to take 40/- for the Ewes in Consequence of having previously closed a bargain with Messrs Hack to bring for us from 600 @ 700 Ewes Warranted from the best flocks in New South Wales, and deliverable in good Condition at Our Bullock Station here at 40/- a head — These arrangements free us from the risk of Such tremendous losses as we were subjected to last Season.— Had the “South Australian” been plying she was just the vessel for such a trade, & Should now have been earning handsome freights —but in Our present circumstances I am persuaded no Other course is so advisable, as that which I am pursuing. — Some papers Relative to the South Australian were sent Pr The Siren — Duplicates shall go by another mail which is to be made this evening for the present vessel which I hope will be in time — There New page There is to be a Meeting of Those interested in the Sections at the Harbour today at 12 O’clock — the hour at which the mail closes. and the hour at which I am thus constrained abruptly to Conclude — Deferring to my letter to be written in the Evening, I am, With much Respect Dear Sir Your mo Obd St David McLaren

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 18 of 173 ______

Manager This letter bears three stamped postmarks, one oblong, which reads DOVER, INDIA LETTER and two round, which are illegible, beside a red wax seal. At the centre of the red seal are the letters Co.The seal is incomplete, with nearly half of the wax missing. On the remainder can be read RCIAL and AUSTRALIA The letter is addressed 1¼ oz Pr Lady Wellington via Sydney. Recd 13/7/38 Edmund John Wheeler Esqre. Manager, South Australian Co London The letter also bears the wording, duplicated at right angles for ease of later reading as follows 1838 D McLaren Adelaide 2 Feb Recd 13 July Ansd 3 Sepr

New letter Orig: via Sydney, Per Lady Wellington South Australian Company. Rec 18/7/38 Ansd. 3/9/38 Adelaide 2nd February 1838 Edmund J. Wheeler Esquire, Manager, London, My Dear Sir, I wrote You this forenoon, and am happy to report, that the meeting as to the Acre Sections at the harbour Went off very pleasantly, and altho’ the Co. stood very unfavourably as respected their Right of Choice, they now stand in the Most advantageous position. The total number of acres at the harbour is 29. The Company’s Choice was No 1. 22. 24. 26. 27 & 29. The object of the Meeting today, was, to “deciding finally upon the “Spot where such acres Sections shall be surveyed” “& fixing a day for making such Selection —“ An Opportunity having Occurred of Securing the right of the Second Choice, I bought it for the company, price £90 — bargain Concluded & Money paid today, before the Meeting — Having informed myself thro’ Col. Light’s Kindness politeness, of the respective merits of the Acres on the two sides of the river I thus secured the best On each Side — differences of Opinion obtained as to the \ proper / position of the acres — 1st \ Whether / on the East or the West Side of the River — the former being On the Side nearest the town — and the latter, having comparatively firm ground to the Waters edge, and six feet there — while on the East side it is many Mangroves & Swamps — for 700 @ 1500 ft or upwards from the Waters edge —

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 19 of 173 ______

2nd Whether those Acres on the East Side should be in the Swamp, with a real Water frontage — or on a range of Sandhills New page beyond the boundary of the Swamp — Today I proposed which was agreed to, that the parties present should disclose where they wished their acres surveyed, whether on the West Side — the Sandhills — or the Swamp — 15 declared for the West — 10 for Sandhills & 4 for Swamp — For the Co. I took 3 on the West including the Section bought today in my own name — 2 On the Sandhills, and 2 in the Swamp — The other 2 in the Swamp are in the hands of Mr Gilles, & by a private arrangement, we have engaged to divide some of the Acres there so as to Secure to each, both frontage to the Canal, now in the Course of being Cut, and to the River — the whole frontage to the Canal With the exception of a road of 60 ft wide all along the bank and a road of at the upper end, is in his & my hands —and Will soon be made available — the length of the Canal is upwards of 600 ft. I was pressed by some at the meeting to declare, for which of my choices I took those in the Swamp. I considered the inquiry irrelevant, but I answered it by saying I took them for 27, & 29 — so that I should not be surprised altho’ the Very last choice, may turn Out to be the Very best and most valuable Acre.— The day for making the Selection of the Acres is tomorrow week — It is now Midnight — and I purpose starting tomorrow Morning for Holdfast Bay, to Return to Kingscote Pr. The Royal Admiral — Mr. Fisher has taken up decided ground, as to the claim by the Governor for a number of Acres to be reserved for the Government at the harbour — he stated at the Meeting, that he meant to allow 4 acres at the head of the Canal at the Opposite \ side / of the Canal from that on which the acres on Sandhills & Swamp have been chosen today — but none on the last mentioned side — Yesterday he received intimation, that his Exc.y was to be at the harbour to morrow forenoon to Select the Land for Government purposes — There may New page and likely will be, some difficulties to the Completion of Our Work today, from the Govrs. visit tomorrow — So much do the authorities act at Cross-purposes. — Mr. Fisher further stated his intention to be, to Call a Meeting of the Preliminaries in the Course of a fortnight, at which the right order of Choice shall be determined — and in the Course of 3 months \ hencefor / he thinks, as does Col. Light, that the Country land may be selected — In Col. Lights Office, they have begun to map the Country which has been surveyed — which when completed will be exhibited for Several weeks previously to the day of Selection — In connection with the Subject of Country lands, I am Very sorry to Say, that Mr. Sleep Senr. died this evening — During the voyage he was Very poorly — he took his passage in the Steerage — The Surgeon behaved so very ill — frequently drunk — yet Reading prayers On Sabbath — that the Commr. refused to pay him any thing — Since the death, I have seen Mrs. Sleep & family — We shall do what we can with propriety for them, and the oldest Son, is I believe a very excellent Young man. — Since my arrival here, I have used every endeavour to obtain settlement from the Colonial Commr. for the Cancelled bargain but the Colonial Treasr. has delayed, and has this day refused to draw, the same as he alledges being contrary to his instructions from the Commrs. — I therefore insisted that the Commr. should draw on the Col. Commrs. and should

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 20 of 173 ______accompany the dfts with a letter of advice, and \ shd / explain fully the Circumstances, & especially, the reason why the Col. Treasr. did not draw them — I enclose you my special Indorsement of the 1st. of Exchange, viz J. H. Fisher Colonial Commr. on the Colonization Commissioners for South Australia 2 Feby @ 60 d/s £1717.6.6 New page “The letter of advice”, Mr Fisher states, shall be a Copy of all the correspondence, on the subject — I fear it will not be Read — I took up this simple principle — “a bargain is a bargain, & must be fulfilled” — I sincerely hope you will get payment in London, but You see how the wheels of the machine are clogged — and how imperatively necessary it is, that the Commrs abandon the idea of laying down minute Regulations, as to monetary matters I in London — and that the Public Officers should draw together — I embrace this Opportunity, of sending the Dup. Protest in the Case of the South Australian, and the last Copy which I had of the Survey on the John Pirie — and I have to Report that the Col. [illegible deletion] Secretary pro Temp informed me, that the Governor’s “legal advisers recommended him not to interfere.” — I believe the principal Reason was, that they did not know how to proceed in the regular legal Course — I consequently applied to Esqure. Duly appointed Agent to Lloyds, to take Charge of the sale, whh he is to do, he has written to N. South Wales & V.D. Land, \ to / advertise the Sale — the same to take place here — about 2 months hence — I think I have not mentioned to You previously, that Dr. Imlay, a accompanied by a Gentn. on horseback, & a Servant on foot — left this on Saturday last afternoon, and returned on Tuesday evening — [illegible deletion] from the “Murray.” — The Dr. is One of the most competent persons in this, or any of the neighbouring colonies to form a correct estimate of a country — &ca. and I am happy to say, he gives a highly favourable account — he has not seen in N. S. Wales so favourable sheep runs, as between this & the Murray — and over the Second range of hills from this, the Easterly — there are most extensive fertile plains — he reached the Murray within an hours ride of the time he expected to do so — found it a deep broad stream, the water like a Canal — beds of Reeds sometimes ¼ mile broad, on each side, and behind them a belt of trees — all within about a steep bank, which may at first times be form New page In another hand at the top of the page: [Feb.2, 1838] Text continues form the Winter bank of the River — They saw no natives, but heard them calling — discovered fires lighted very soon over the country — no doubt as Signals — The Dr. found a Canoe made of bark — the first seen in the Colony. The Dr. and the 2 Others went in to the Canoe it Could have contained 6 men — In part of it was a quantity of Earth — and a fire burning — in the Canoe — On leaving it, the Dr left some fishing lines, and fish hooks — he considers the distance in from this to Murray about 45 — he returned by a different road & yet was only 28 hours on the way — he could do it now in 6 or 8 hours — he considers it quite practicable, to carry a road, for Bullock Waggons, from this to the Murray — he went but a Short [illegible deletion] Way along the Banks of the river, but saw no place, where Sheep or Herds could be brought Over the River — I am My Dear Sir With much Respect Your mo. Obed St

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 21 of 173 ______

David McLaren Written twice at right angles to each other: 1838 D McLaren Adelaide 2 Feb Recd 13 July Ansd 3 Sepr

New letter Original Per Sarah & Elisabeth to Hobart Town — Private & Confidential — Recd 16/7/38 South Australian Compy. Private Kingscote 14th. Feby 1838. Ansd 3/9/38 Edmund J. Wheeler Esquire, Manager, London My Dear Sir, I wrote You, and the Board “Privately & Confidentially” on 2nd /8th. Novembr. Orig. via Launceston, Dup via Hobart Town, with copious accompanying documents, which I hope are nearly home, and will be duly received. I am sorry to say, that the present state of the Company’s affairs renders it necessary, that I should write you again, in the same private & confidential strain — I need not say how grieved I am to have to send accounts so unfavourable, but I have no alternative, consistently with my pledge, (which shall never be violated) that whether the accounts sent by me, were favourable, or unfavourable, they should be uniformly true. — With Reference to the abovementioned letter of the 2/8 Novr. I beg to advert in the first place, to the Case of Mr. Samuel Stephens. When On the Main in Novemr. Decr & Jany he took Charge of the Bulllocks & Flocks &ca. but I regret to Say Occupied himself during part of the time and some of the Servants of the Company, in Horse-Racing &ca.. A considerable degree of dissatisfaction was felt and expressed by Mr. Edward Stephens, but nothing particular Occurred till the 26 December When Mr E.S. Refused to sanction Mr. S. S’s proposed purchases of Stock, On ac/. of the Co. — The Sole ground of Refusal, was the incapacity of Mr. S.S. for transacting business, at that time — Fortunately for the justification of Mr. E. S. and for the satisfaction, (the mournful satisfaction) of the Board, the hand Writing of the Mr. S.S. at the time, remains — I send herewith the letter which he subscribed & addressed — and delivered to Mr E.S on that Occasion in which he resigns all future connection with the Co I send also a Copy of a letter Received by me, when in Adelaide lately, from Mr. E.S, on this Subject — Written in the margin alongside the paragraph above: Document No. 1 and No. 2 New page Written in the margin at right angles to the main letter: S. Stephens Lands S. Stephens Text continues

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 22 of 173 ______

That, I am sorry to say, was not the only Occasion, on which, according to Mr. E. S’s statement to me, Mr. S. S had incapacitated himself before dinner, for business under these Circumstances, I had no Choice — as to Retaining Mr. S.S. in the Co.’s Service — so that since my Return hither, I have informed him, that I accept of his Resignation, and approve of Mr. E. S.’s conduct. — Thus terminates the Connection, between the Company and their late Colonial Manager, whose early appointment, and arrival here, seemed to promise securing advantages to the Co. of no Ordinary value — He professes himself disposed, to give information, and advice, still, but in the Relation in which he & We now Stand, and the adjustment of accounts, which has yet to take place between us, preclude the hope, that much of assistance, can be had, from that quarter — When at Adelaide lately, I applied to Col. Light, explaining the situation, in which I was placed, as Respected Mr. S.S. — and the Selection of the Country lands, and the right of Special Surveys, &ca. — when he promised to give me full information — but I hope the Board will duly appreciate, the disadvantages, under which I have to undertake this labour — a department, which might fully Occupy the undivided attention of any man, between this time, and that when the Country sections are to be chosen — supposed Now, not to exceed 3 months. — I lately appointed Mr. Randell to the Superintendence of the flocks. In visiting the stations &ca. he will have Opportunities of seeing the Country — and after the portion Surveyed, and allotted, for the preliminary Sections, has been mapped some time will be given for examining which, I shall endeavour to have improved, as much as possible. — This Result with Mr. S.S., supersedes the necessity of all inquiry into those reports, and statements, which led the Board to withdraw his Power of Attorney, but which at the same time, led them, and especially, the Worthy Chairman, to indulge the hope that Mr. S. S might have been retained in the Co.’s Service, and ultimately re-instated in Office — I do not know, what he intends to do — the probability is he will form a partnership with Captn. Wright — but if they do not do better for themselves, than they have done for the Company — They won’t make much money. — I have applied again, verbally, for a statement of his transactions here, as Manager, which he says he is making up, but has been prevented by having been prevented writing, by a disease in his hand — I am grieved to say, another Cause, not so innocent [illegible deletion] Was in Operation, during my absence — and from the way in which his transactions have been New page Written in the margin at right angles to the main letter: L M Pelham Text continues Kept, in small books, and jottings, I am much afraid, that I never shall receive a satisfactory account — And yet, what can be done? I refer next, to the Case of The Lady Mary Pelham. After a long period of suspense and anxiety, we \ there was / recd. On 23 Jany. here, a letter from Captn. Ross — the Original of which I now enclose — A more deplorable account cannot be imagined — I was there \ 23 Jany / at Adelaide. It is seems quite obvious to me, that the man who wrote that letter is n has not education sufficient to navigate a Ship — and I have been told by Mr. S.S. that the Mate of The Pelham when she sailed either from this, or from V.D.Land — had been recently taken, from before the Mast — Oh, I am grieved at heart, at the failure of so many of the Company’s plans — and I cannot resist the conviction that that failure has been Occasioned by the incapacity, or unfitness of those who were

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 23 of 173 ______selected for \ the / different departments — Captn Morgan I have not seen — Captn. Ross appears in the enclosed — is an Old man — and (Captn. Wakeling says) drinks hard. — Captn. Allan incapacitated himself, for taking Charge of Ship, Fishery or any thing else, & hastened his death by intemperance — The Sarah & Elisabeth is an Old Hulk, which should never have been sent a three Years Voyage, in the State in which she left England — Written in the margin alongside the paragraph above: Document No. 3 Text continues On the 5th Instt I received another letter as to The Lord Hobart — I send a Copy enclosed — Most certainly I should never have thought of purchasing that or any vessel of the Kind — had I not had the Opportunity of having her examined by One Supposed to be a Competent Judge — Others I know — and these Ship Captains —Duff — and Pollard, — were desirous of purchasing her at the money we paid & Waited Only our Refusal, but I procured our Mr. Mildreds Opinion, which events have proved was most erroneous — I have not yet Received particulars of the Disbursements (Captn Hawson having trusted to Mr Spark sending them, & Mr. Spark — to Captn Hawson —) but by Mr. Sparks acco current which I saw On the main, they amounted to about Eight Hundred Pounds, and Yet She Could not be insured, but at an extravagant New page Written in the margin at right angles to the main letter: Matters Premium — [illegible deletion] is Still uninsured — and if lost, or \ if / any injury be sustained by the Life Live Stock On Board, which maybe attributed to the Ship, We shall be involved in extreme difficulties with the Commr. My anxiety on this hand is extreme — I hope “in all March” — to be relieved from this Oppressive load, of anxiety in so far as Respects, the safety of the Lord Hobart, & her Cargo, by her arrival at Port Adelaide. — [illegible deletion] In addition to these source of grief and disappointment, I must add the general state of matters, Here, at Kingscote. I do not wish to magnify the difficulties of my situation, I would rather endeavour to Overcome them, but the dissatisfaction and disorganisation which obtain here at present, & which have done so, for a considerable period, are very great and almost universal — The utmost prudence, wisdom, and decision must be employed in any attempt to remove them — The first object in a Case of the Kind is to discover the Causes — Unfortunately they are numerous. 1st. The Prices of Provisions, \ Clothing &ca. / so exceedingly different from what the emigrants were told by the Manager, the Chairman, & otherwise (Sutherlands book &ca.) in England. 2nd. The Want of Fresh Water — and of fresh Provisions of which last, \ little or / none has been had since about Xmass excepting a few fish Occasionally, — 3 d. The Want of almost any employment here, except in discharging or loading of Cargoes and the consequent necessity of working in the Water owing to the broad sandy muddy flat, and the irregularity of the tides. 4th. The bad character of some who have come Outward as the Company’s Servants, and of Others who have run away from Ships — come from Whale fisheries — & from the neighbouring Colonies — 5th The high Wages paid on the main — the supply had there of fresh Water & fresh provisions — the encouragements held out by those who have gone thither, to those who

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 24 of 173 ______are here to follow them — and the facilities now had of frequently getting from this to the Capital — 6th Last, but not least — The establishment of numerous grog Shops, which for reasons formerly assigned We have been obliged to connive at, especially as we have not been able to keep up a Supply of Beer — Porter, or even Wines — Second sheet Written at the top in another hand: [Feb, 14,1838] Written in the margin at right angles to the main letter: Matters at Kingscote Chairman Officers Trading Text continues I am pained at heart, to think of the enormous outlay of Capital at this place — the want of Returns and the improbability of their ever being got — so that the alternatives of giving up the establishment altogether — concentrating our \ shipping / Operations at Port Adelaide — if fresh Water can be had there — removing from this, to The Pelican Lagoon — or continuing here, and expending more money in constructing a jetty — are all subjects for the most mature consideration. Among the officers of the Co., there is no mastermind, qualified to decide by virtue of its own superior judgment, a Case of so vast importance — To the Master of the Dock Yard, in Such a Case I should naturally look — but in the Soundness of his judgment I have not much confidence, & the state of \ his / feelings towards Mr. S. S — might bias his judgment — his utter selfishness, I more than suspect — so that however singular it may seem, my mind turns to the Chairman of the Board, and I say decidedly that if his health permit — there is enough in this question — and in the present state of the Company’s affairs, to justify me in expressing an earnest wish that he Were present, to determine such a point, and to aid by his Counsel my endeavours and those of the Other Officers who are sincerely desirous of promoting the Co’s interests — I should not say so I assure you on Slight grounds — A conviction of Duty leads me to express myself as I have done * But in the Mean time, measures must be taken to remove if possible the dissatisfaction and the whole system must be revised — One of the difficulties with whh. I have to cope, is, that a good Many of the Officers, are engaged in trading here, and from the prices at which articles have been sold in the Retail store, and the Short supplies of some articles — they have found it Pay well, & Some of them have stated their determination rather to give up their situations in the Co’s Service, than relinquish their trading — pleading as the Workmen do. The difference of personal & family expenses actually — and that previously represented — I hope this will be got remedied so as at least to be brought within permittable limits — You shall be advised — & the names of the recusants, if any there be, communicated. — Added at the bottom of the page: *and to add that it is my decided conviction that he should as soon as possible come out to this Colon. 12 or 15 mos from home will be all. — New page Written in the margin at right angles to the main letter: Labourers engagements Local Authorities Text continues In consequence of some legal proceedings at the Capital against Thomson who came Out as Salt Worker & was imprisoned & fined at the instance of Mr. E.S. I waited on Mr. Wigley, now Public Prosr & Resident Magistrate &ca. and was distinctly told by him that in Order to proving in court the agreement with the Labourers &ca. it was necessary that the Witness or

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 25 of 173 ______

Witnesses, who saw the individual subscriber, should personally appear, & declare to that effect — !!! He further stated, that these agreements would be better without any Witness if he could not be produced — that it might be advisable to get each emigrant to subscribe his name, in the presence of Witnesses, who might produce those Signatures &ca. and that this plan should be adopted even in Reference to those who could not write — but make a mark &ca.!!! so that the Law as thus laid down, by the Resident Magistrate from whose decision there is no appeal renders it almost hopefess hopeless, the idea of establishing any Workmans engagement — at least any German’s — several of whom have clandestinely gone off — from this, leaving us to seek them Out there and endeavour to [illegible deletion] recover if We Can the Advances paid — Send us no more articled Servants — and especially no more Germans,. It is in vain to expect, that any men will work under the current rate of Wages — and from the extreme indolence of the men — the difference of language — and the expenses connected with their Superintendents and interpreters, We have not Quarter Work for the pay — and som a large proportion of the advances will never be recovered. — The only Other point, to which I think it proper to advert in this Communication, is the Relations in which the authorities stand toward each Other on the main — It is not in the Slightest degree improved since Mr. Gouger left — whom you will no doubt have seen long ere this comes to hand — With their squabbles I should not trouble you — but as it affects the Co & especially the Bank — The Governor and Mr Fisher cannot continue both in Office — The trial of Strength will be probably at Home — Mr. Gouger’s presence may affect the result — Col Light Read to me a letter, which he had Lately Received from Col. Torrens, from which it is quite obvious, that the Commrs. are determined to resist such interference as the Governor thinks it proper to make as to the Land & Site of Capital — Strong suspicions are entertained that the Colonial Office is not averse to such a State of Matters here, as will throw [illegible deletion] the Colony into the hands of the Crown — If the Govr prevail & Mr. Fisher be thrown Out — he \ Mr F. / has got too much New page Written in the margin at right angles to the main letter: Gilles &c Jickling Himself Text continues Of Our money by half — He is poor — speculative — extravagant — The relations between him, and Mr. Gilles as Col. Treasr are equally inimical, to the Regular management of business, and coupled with the Regulations Received Pr. The Royal Admiral, very likely to bring pecuniary matters among these Officials to a Stand Still. — I gave Mr. E. S. —\ instructions / on no account, to discount, any more of their paper — till We had other instructions from You — Mr. Gilles is enraged at the Bank getting Six Per Cent on his dfts, but it will be seen, how much Cheaper, they have their Remces from V D Land & Sydney. — His feelings towards the Co. are I believe decidedly hostile — and as matters there are regulated much more by feeling than by judgment — We have been Kept out of upwards of £150 — of accounts done by the Government for several months, as to some of which I wrote them officially in July — August — Septr & Octr. — and again on 30 & 31 Jany — Bef the present Judge, Jickling ,nothing can be done — He is quite incompetent — was, next thing to dismissed, because of incompetence from the subordinate situation of Clerk to the Magistrates — as to his incompetence for which — in my hearing, he proposed (when acting as Clerk) to Mr. E Stephens & Mr Gilbert — then sitting as Magistrates in the Bank tent —

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 26 of 173 ______trying a man on a Charge of Assault — Mr Jickling proposed, when the Second Witness was called in “Reading Over to Him, what the first Witness had said.” — !!! But the Governor says, “he is a very “learned man.” — I know nothing to the Contrary.— It is grievous to see, all the Public “Acts”, which should be prepared by the Legal authorities & form the basis of the Colony’s stability & prosperity — indefinitely postponed, from mere want of Capacity — Mr Wigley has some talent, but stood so low, in point of Character, in Sir John Jeffcott’s opinion, that he told the Govr. that he would not allow him to practise in His Court — and On that account the Govr. declined appointing him Magistrate for Kangaroo Island — but he has now made him Resid. Magistrate at Adelaide & Public Prosecutor — Into his hands we must come if in court we seek to enforce any Workmans engagement — Were I disposed, I might introduce 20 Other subjects — all, important, and encompassed with difficulty — the sources of loss to the Company — and of incessant grief to me — but I forbear — it may be, they will pass away — be remedied — mitigated — or the injurious tendency counteracted — A sense of Duty brought me here — Keeps me here — Regulates my conduct — dictates my letters — prevents (in general) despondency — and will, I hope, under the kind providence of God, be ultimately blessed with New page Written in the margin at right angles to the main letter: Himself Chairman Text continues a moderate degree of Success. Should this hope be disappointed, there is One source of Consolation of Which, I think, I may say, I shall never be deprived:— there is One subject point, on which, I think, I may say, the Directors may have entire confidence, — the failure shall not be owing, to intemperance, — to a vain conceit of my own superiority in talent, — to rashness, — obstinacy, — extravagance, — or, irritability of temper. — These, I hesitate not, to say, have already produced much mischief to the Company’s interests, from the continued injurious influence of these, in the person of their Manager, the Company is safe. — And by friendly counsel, and co-operation, especially with Mr. Giles Snr. here and Mr. Edward Stephens on the main, both of whom are willing, to do anything, by night, or day, to promote the interests of the Company, I hope under the blessing of God I shall be able to witness, and advise you, of, a progressive improvement — although I do not see any reason to hope think, that it will be immediate — There are so many disagreeables, to adjust here — so many points to settle, as to Dock Yard — !! Saw Mills — Flour Mills — Whale Fishing — &ca. that I anticipate a continuance for some considerable time yet, of Our unhappy — unproductive state, — May the Lord send a Speedier deliverance, than I anticipate, — I beg to be most respectfully Remembered to the Board — hope to hear from them, by & by, with a Word of Encouragement and Sympathy — and in addition thereto, I do hope, that ere this time, next Year, I shall be made glad, by seeing my highly esteemed friend, The Chairman, in South Australia — With renewed expressions of attachment, to Yourself, I am, My Dear Sir, Your fellow-labourer, In the Service of The So Austn Co David McLaren —

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 27 of 173 ______

New letter Orig. Pr. Sarah & Elisabeth — to Hobart Town Written in pencil: 16 Written in pencil on side of page: Duplicate of copy in book Recd 10/7/38 Ansd 3/9/38 South Australian Co Kingscote 12th Febry. 1838. [Written pencil with reference to the date: 15 in letter book] Edmund, J. Wheeler Esqre. Manager London, Dear Sir, I wrote You last on 2d. Inst. from Adelaide — Pr. Lady Wellington via Sydney — Dup. of which, Mr. E.S. will probably send You by some Other Vessel — I was happy in having it, in my power to send so favourable an account of the proceedings at the Meeting held for determining where the Acre Sections at the Harbour should be surveyed, and, when they should be chosen. If the arrangements of that day be carried through I believe the Co. will be better accommodated, than there was any reason previously to expect. — When I learn that these arrangements have been completed, as I expect to do by the first arrival from the main, I shall send You a sketch of the Whole — On my Return to this, I had found the Sarah & Elisabeth Returned in Safety from Encounter Bay — Pearson of the Solway said deliberately and sincerely — not in joke — That “if he Could only see the Sarah & Elisabeth lying on the Reef, along side the Solway he should die in peace.” — !!! Such is the man with whom I have been intimately associated since the 16 October — with whom I have had to fight every inch of ground — and who hates me, as cordially, as I love You, solely, I believe, because I made a good bargain for the Co. [illegible deletion] as to taking home Our Oil. — The expenses connected with the discharging of the Cargo — Provisions — Oil, & Bone —, \ ex Solway / at E. Bay — and transhipping them to the John Pirie — New page and the Sarah & Elisabeth have been most enormous, while on the Other hand the deficiency of Oil through leakage \ very great / — & the quantity of provisions tainted and lost very considerable. By the last accounts from the Bay they had recovered 15 Provision Casks in addition to those Shipped by the S. & E. but of these from 15 to 20 were in bad condition — there remained still about 45 in the hold of the Solway. — As the Season has advanced so far, as to Render it inadvisable for the Sarah & Elisabeth to proceed to New Zealand from Hobart town, we have Resolved & Captn. Wakeling has agreed to go home with the Oil — in the Sarah & Elisabeth — The Cargo will have to be Restowed at H. Town — but this I am persuaded is the least evil in present circumstances, to which therefore we must just submit. The Quantity of Oil shipped by her does not exceed 160 Tuns. And of Bone about 8 or 9 Tons. If I could have immediately despatched her to H Town I should have been happy to have done so, but I have no Other means of proceeding to Thistle Island which from all accounts, is the most advisable place for our establishing a Shore fishing Station for next Season. In this matter, I wish to have the benefit of Captn. Wakeling’s knowledge and experience — especially as he was there last year in passing — For this purpose I mean to go Pr. The S. & E. to Thistle Island in a day or two — and shall of course report to You the Result *

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 28 of 173 ______

Written in the margin at right angles to the main body of the letter *13 Feby Captn Wakeling & Mr. Mildred concur in Representing it as unsafe to send the S. & E to Thistle Island — she goes direct to Hobart Town — from which Captn. Wakeling will write You — Text continues By the John Pirie, Mr. J G. Harper appointed Superintendent of Rosetta fishery went on 8 Jany to Hobart Town, to engage hands, and as I then Ordered a Cutter to be bought or hired, I expected Mr. Harper, back by this time, but I have not had any advices from him. — Mr. Mcfarlane went from Port Adelaide end of January, to engage hands &ca. for the proposed fishery at Thistle Island — and I propose taking down with me some hands, to prepare, in the event of our fixing there — But had the Co. only had a Superintendent of this department, who thoroughly understood the business — who knew the Men — & Was known by them &ca. &ca. I should have had more confident hopes of Success than I have — Neither Mcfarlane nor Harper are quite to my mind — but they were the best I could get — I could not go to V.D. Land or Sydney — There were none here, [illegible deletion] whom I could send with confidence to engage Superintendents or Headsman &ca. — Captn. Wright whom Mr. S. S. would have sent, was with Mr. S.S. then On the Main — W. M. Orr Esqre is extensively engaged, & Showed either so little attention or skill in selecting for us a few Bullock-drivers &ca. that it would have been madness to have entrusted this matter to him — The Whalers are in a measure a Separate class — and the Trade Requires a New page system of combined operations both in Summer & Winter so that employment may be provided in Summer for those Men whom it is of importance to secure for the following Winter — By the mournful experience of this Season, it is manifest that it is it as the Oil is tried Out — or at any rate, immediately at the close of the Season — it Ought to be Removed fm. the Fishery — and had Mr. S.S. engaged the Emma to have taken home Our Oil — all our mischiefs might have avoided. — He proposed it — at the freight I had named £4.10/- the freight you agreed Conditionally with the Hartley — Captn. Nelson Refused — and thus I believe the matter was allowed to drop — How deeply I have regretted, that I was then On the Main, and that favourable opportunity was irrecoverably lost. From Adelaide via Sydney on 2nd Instt. I sent Dup. Protest of Captn. Mcfarlane of South Australian, I now forward Triplicate of Protest. — I hope you will have no difficulty in Recovering from the Underwriters, the Amount covered, yet the disappointment, and the disadvantages incurred by the loss of that vessel cannot be estimated — I have heard nothing further of the time of Sale That of the Solway takes place tomorrow at Holdfast Bay — I wish you could get her Reasonably for a Cutting in Ship — but several parties are looking after her — among Captn. Wright of the William. — The charges connected with the Repairing and getting off, the Sir C. McCarthy which were under Wrights Superintendence have been very heavy — and now, she must be hove down here, under charge of Mr Mildred in order to make her Serviceable as a Cutting in Ship — The Royal Admiral is here taking in ballast, she goes by the Way of Valparaiso — We expect the Lord Goderich, daily, and suppose, that She may have been detained, or her destination altered in consequence of the arrival of the “Rapid”. — We are all naturally anxious for Replies to those Letters which went Pr. Rapid — all from the Governor, downwards — The relations between the authorities, will then be more definitely marked — and the probability

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 29 of 173 ______as to future continuance in Office or Removal from office rendered more apparent — Your despatches Written in the margin to signify the contents of the letter “Solway” “Sth Australian” Oil coming Document No 1 New page to me also, after Receipt of Mine Pr. Rapid Orig — and Pr Salacia, Duplicates, I wait with anxiety — I hope these letters of mine would prevent any More contracts with Farm Tenants &ca. at the same time, you may perhaps have engaged more Servants as Labourers &ca. for whom we may not have work on their arrival — Were it not for the Advances given to Such, we should have no difficulty — and on this subject, I hope these letters would prevent much being done — and if the Character of the Emigrants be such as I then described, there will be no harm done — How Mr Swaine and the Directors could contemplate men with large families, @ 13/. 14/ & 15/. Weekly Wages, repaying advances to the extent of £46 — £57 — — in One instance £71. — — I cannot imagine — I hope most fervently that the Goshawk, may not bring us any more German Labourers — If she do — they must have similar advances as those Pr Solway — a certain source of Dissatisfaction & Loss. — In your favour of the 18 Septr On this head, you state the mode of Repayment viz “Small Sums weekly so Long as honesty & propriety are maintained, but if any dereliction of Duty Occurs, you can punish them by claiming the whole amount at Once —” — Now really, My Dear Sir, look at the Cases above mentioned and say, how either the One alternative or the Other can be adopted practically. — The various remarks in that letter on the Other subjects have my best attention, and the accots sent therewith, but I regret to say again, that I have not yet got any Statement from Mr. Stephens of his transactions — and no attempt was made by him or Mr. Hare to keep a Day- book, Journal, or Ledger — previously to my arrival — Each blamed the Other — Mr. S.S. having been here 3 mo/. Before Mr H’s arrival — and not professing to be an accountant — Mr. H. professed to be so — but is not — cannot form or keep a Set of Books — The measures adopted by me on going arrival & on going to the Main in June last, have been detailed already — as has the failure of these Measures — since Messrs Giles arrival the Cash has been Kept by Mr Giles Senr and in that department, I know all is Right — but the appropriation of the Sums to the different Accots — requires a great deal of time & Consideration — also since that time Mr. W. Giles Junr. has with my assistance Written Journal & Ledger — but his experience with the London & Westminster Bank tho’ in large Sums, has been very limited as to New sheet Written at the top right in pencil 18 Text continues the Nature & Variety of Mercantile transactions, I have felt, and do feel very uncomfortable, as to the state of the Books, and Accounts, but no person qualified to do the Work has been sent. By the present opportunity I have risen written Mr. W. Orr, Hobart Town to engage a thorough bred experienced clerk & Book-keeper, if such is to be got at a Reasonable rate — and if not, to transmit my application to Mr Spark — Sydney — This I hope will bring us Relief — and for the Relief which I should enjoy, by having the transactions of the Company

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 30 of 173 ______

Regularly Entered in a business manner I should most cheerfully pay of my Own proper money Fifty Pounds a Year — Agreeably to Your wish, I send You a Copy of my letter to Mr. Orr. As the Sarah and Elisabeth does Written at right angles to the text at this point: Document No 2. Text continues not stand in high favour with the Underwriters at home, I have ordered Mr. Orr, to do the Insurance at Hobart Town, or to Order it to be done by you according to Circumstances, but by all means to avoid running risk — I have given Captn. Wakeling a Certificate as to the Deviation from the Whaling voyage having been according to my orders — I beg to Refer You and the Board, to Captn. Wn. — he can give you full information of the State of Matters here — and one reason he alledges for agreeing to go home is that he may endeavour to persuade your Chairman to come Out — The Sarah & Elisabeth was in a most unfit state, to be fitted out for a South Sea Voyage — It was a disgrace to Captn Whittle to do so — I send you by the Captn Wakeling, a piece of her timbers, which I took out with my hand When the Shipwrights Were repairing her here — I believe the best thing you can do with her is to sell her — Send no vessel that is likely to need any Repairs here — And in the Choice New page of Your Captains, you must be more Select. With the enlarged experience in this line, whh some of Your Directors have, it would be absurd in me, to say more — But almost everything as the issue of the voyage depends on the Combination of superior qualifications, on the part of the Captain — and a Guinea or two — Pr mo/ additional between a first rate, and a Second rate, Ought never to be a Consideration. — Mr. John Allan late 2nd. Mate of The South Australian Returns by the Sarah & Elisabeth — I have given him [illegible deletion] a \ Bill of Exchange, 1st. 2nd and 3rd. this date /— On You, in his favour @ 60 d/t = P £26.- . – [illegible deletion] \ and another bill of Exchge 1st., 2nd., 3rd. this date @ 60 d/t to order of the Executors / [illegible deletion] of the late Captn. Alex.r Allan Jr. £94.9.5 which You are Requested to pay accordingly. — Mr. Findlay late Chief Officer is Retained here in Charge of the Sir Chas McCarthy &ca. — \ & / tho in a great measure unemployed, I cannot let him go, till some decision be come to, as to the Charge against Mr Stephens in Blenkinsops Case — Whether the Case will ever be brought On or not is uncertain — It hangs Over his head — I have Requested to Mr. E.S. to demand that the Bond for the appearance of his Brother be cancelled, or a day fixed for his appearance — Findlay is the Only Witness retained in his defence. —I am sorry to say, that there is too apparent, a disposition on the part of the Govt. Party to annoy the Co., this is especially the Case with Mr. George Stevenson who guides the movements of the whole party — and all along with the most decided avowals of attachment to the Co., and especially to the Chairman — avowals which I am constrained to Regard as false and hypocritical — or at least as inferior impractical influences, to the utter dislike which he has to Messrs S. Stephens and E. Stephens — and of which I fear, I am now likely to become in some measure the object — He was unquestionably the Writer of the leading article, on the 8th No. of the Gazette, on which wt. some other articles in the same number, I thought it my Duty New page To animadvert — These animadversions, have after Repeated delays been published in the Gazette, accompanied by severe remarks which are no doubt written by Mr. Stevenson — To

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 31 of 173 ______that paper I shall assuredly Make no Reply — I presume Mr. E. S. will send You a Copy as usual of these numbers of the Gazette. — The intention of the most offensive article in the 8th. Number was I doubt not to injure Mr. Edwd. Stephens — and that for his sake & for the sake of the Company, I considered myself called on to counteract — Mr. Beer and his two Sons were left at Adelaide, and will be set to Work by Mr. Stephens — But on the arrival of the Royal Admiral, ere Mr. Beer had disembarked — he was offered 12/- a day — & Constant work — whh. some of his fellow passengers got, tho’ far inferior tradesmen. — I wrote you from the main in Reference to Shipments from the Cape We Never should Order Stock — I ordered a Cargo similar to that bought from Lord Hobart but much uncertainty attaches to Our getting it — it would pay Remarkably Well. I confirm former representations as to Our having Regular Supplies of such articles as have been Repeatedly specified from You — Once a Quarter of a Year, or so — and these Supersede Our buying these articles, in the Neighbouring Colonies, Where they are double the price. — I hope we shall by & by have our flocks in an improved & improving condition, under Mr. Randall, superintendent, and Your continued attention — The Sheep by Solway arrived in prime Order — are forward \ the intended /supply however Pr. Goshawk will be very acceptable — The Shearing of the Sheep, this last Season, was in some measure mismanaged — by us & by Others — It was too late of being begun — was quite too long of being got finished — the consequence was that so much time elapsed between Washing & Clipping many of the Sheep they might as well not have New page been washed at all — and the Wool was chiefly from the lateness of the Clipping, much deteriorated by the being mixed, with a species of Grass — Mr. S.S. estimated the Value of the Wool @ £300 — but small as this sum is, I am doubtful if it will be realised — at least I am quite accustomed to see his estimates of Revenue fall short, and those of expenditure exceeded. — The Clip has not been Received here yet — Could it have been sent home in the Sarah & Elisabeth, I should have been pleased — Written in the margin: Document No 3. Text continues I have the pleasure of handing You Inventory of the Property here, as taken at the 1st. November last — amount £12687.7.7d — I regret that this Statement has been so long of being forwarded — that it exhibits so small an amount and that circumstanced as I am & have been, I have not had it in my power personally to examine it — I believe it is Correct. From the information, Received from Captn Wakeling since Writing the preceding part of this letter, I have instructed him and Mr. Orr, to Order Insurance on the Oil & Whale Bone Pr. The Sarah & Elisabeth to be effected by You — as Pr. My letter to Mr. Orr From Encounter Bay, I took the Liberty of Recommending that You should Come out, to take Charge of the Shipping Department. From the present state of the Company’s affairs &ca. I have in my private letter by this Opportunity Suggested the propriety of my my much esteemed friend the Chairman Coming Out —of Course it would be too much to expect You both — I do expect that Mr. Angas & the Board will see the propriety of his doing so — I am, My Dear Sir, With the most sincere Regard Your affectionate friend

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 32 of 173 ______and fellow labourer, David McLaren — Manager

New letter Orig. Pr Royal Admiral via Valparaiso. In pencil 19 Recd 7/9/38 Ansd 10/0/38 In pencil Duplicate South Australian Co. Kingscote Kangaroo Island, 21 Febry. 1838. Edmund, J, Wheeler Esquire, Manager, London, My Very Dear Sir, I wrote to You this day week — Orig. Pr. Sarah & Elisabeth Dup herewith Pr. The Royal Admiral — Since that time — the disaffection here has increased, & led to assault &ca. Mr. Giles and I as Justices of the Peace, were Occupied the greater part of the forenoon, of the 17th. & 19 Instt. in investigating a complaint made by Mr. Hare agt. 3 Germans — He stopped a German near the Yard, who was rolling away a Cask supposed by Mr. H. to have been fresh Water, but which was Salt Water — The German struck him in the face, & with the assistance of another, threw him down, and there is Reason to believe, struck, & kicked him, when down. — Two of them Were fined — & the third dismissed with a reprimand — Yesterday, almost the whole Labourers struck work, chiefly, on account of the grievance, of having to pay for Water — (a penny a gallon) they came up in a body to my house. The Officers came up to protect, & Consult with, me — [illegible deletion] \ viz. / Mr. Giles, Mr Beare — Mr. Hare & Mr Mildred — The Result was, that We unanimously (Mr. Hare excepted) approved of giving those of them who are in the Service of the Co. — Water without, charge — at the rate of One Gallon Per day for each adult —& ½ Gal. for each child under 12 Years of age — and one extra days allowance weekly for Washing — The Water to be Served Out in the Store Yard — none on Sabbath, but a double allowance on Saturday — & this arrangement to Continue in force while there was no Water in the Tanks* — but not when there was — and This concession made, and intimated by me to them as having been made, not on the ground of Right but of Favour — They were in general satisfied — but some of the Germans, quite disposed Note added at bottom of page: *When the whole supply is brought from Pt Marsden it is about 1500 Gal. weekly. New page To mix up with this grievance, that, as to the prices in the Retail Store, and the Conduct of Mr Hare — This — of course, I resisted, and the matter ended for the time — The distinction between the Germans, and the English, in paying for the passage to the Colony, is a source of dissatisfaction, so strong, that although every Other grievance were removed, they would not be satisfied, while that distinction remained — in Other words, I am certain, that a great proportion of the money so advanced, will never be recovered — When I

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 33 of 173 ______saw the Crowd yesterday collected in the Yard, I thought, it was the Germans only — and such is my view of the Unproductive nature of their employment — and of the improbability of the advances being recovered from them, that I was inclined to refuse all concession — Let them seek employment where they might — and take my Chance of Recovering the advance from their employer — &ca. This would have relieved the Co’s funds of a heavy weekly expenditure, which is a constant grief of heart, to me — I would say laconically, but Respectfully, Send no more articled servants, except in cases of very particular necessity — & let this, if possible, be decided Christian men — Send no more Germans, Tyrolese, or foreigner On any account Whatever.— Give no more heavy advances.— Send no more Farm Tenants, nor any Tenants of Town Acres, till I advise You of Our having got possession of the Country Sections &ca. Send no more Machinery — Send no more Whaling-Ships, to this Port till they have got as much Oil as Will prevent the hands running away — Send no more Old Hulks, like the Sarah & Elisabeth — needing repair when they arrive here, nor \ any vessels / under the Command of men so illiterate as Cptns. Ross & Allan, especially if hard-drinkers. — New page Send no more Cashmere goats. Send no more Casks for Oil, made in Hamburg, Our Coopers ask 20/. Pr Tun, for making them fit for Oil, and altho’ that money were paid, the Wood is Very bad — [illegible deletion] On the Outward passage, Spoils the Bread — & on the homeward, is likely to spoil the Oil — The articles which Should be sent, have been Repeatedly particularised, supplies of which, I hope, are on the Way, and close at hand — There is no Butter — Cheese — Tea — Coffee — Crushed or Refined sugar — London Porter — Scotch Ale — Port Wine — Good Sherry — Calicoes — White Jean — Prints — Bed Tick — Mens & Womens Cotton Stockings & Hose — Straw hats (Mens & Womens) — Cloth Caps for men — and materials for Caps & Dress for Women — Ribbons &ca. Strong or Light Mens Shoes — Womens Leather Shoes — & Childrens Shoes of all kinds &ca. in the Colony — for Sale, excepting small supplies brought from V.Diemens Land or Sydney, at extravagant prices. — A Cargo of Such articles from England, would pay amazingly, and afford very great & general Relief. — The propriety of the prudential measures, which I considered it f necessary, in regulating the Operations of the Bank in July, & August, and which accorded so completely with Mr E. S’s own views and feelings, is beginning to appear very obvious — James Coltman & Co who then Owed upwards of £800 — On accot. and whose acceptances we held, with the Indorsation of Other parties, for a further amount — have failed — Mr. E.S. has advised me — “They have assigned Over everything to Hack & me – for the benefit of Creditors — We are very amply safe — The business is to be Continued for the present” — We were previously secured, by the Mortgage of their Town Acres, & Stores and the delivery of a Quantity of Goods. — Mr E.S. adds, “I like to be cautious, and not to speak rash, but I can see, I think coming events, casting their shadows before — I am satisfied there is here, Over-trading — Overcrediting — Over speculating — Over dealing — Over-reaching &ca. — I have watched the Colony’s New page

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 34 of 173 ______progress some time now, with some anxiety — as to its monetary arrangements &ca. I suspect it is more rotten, than many expect — Let those around, do as they like, depend upon me, I will take good care of my charge, & keep a close fist.” — Since my last Return from the Capital, I wrote him, wishing that some more decided measures were adopted, for our security, and for determining more explicitly our entire relations, with Messrs. Fishers both Father and Sons. — I was extremely sorry to find when on the Main, last Month, that the arrangement made by Me, with Mr Fisher Senr. as to his finishing the Stores for £1500, as advised in my letter of the 4 Novr. had been inadvertently on the part of Mr. E.S, departed from inasmuch as Mr Fisher had drawn Checks &ca. on the Bank whh. had been honoured, to the extent of £1700 while these Stores were far from being finished — We arranged wt. Mr. F that he should send in his accounts of monies expended, on these Stores — that they might be examined by Mr. E.S — which was immediately promised &ca. but which had not been done — Mr. E.S. advises me in his last letter (15 Instt.) that [illegible deletion] “before the Receipt” of mine, mentioned above, he had “stopped the Checks” — He promises to write me at length on this head, Pr. “The Water Witch” — which I expect every hour — Mr. E.S. has Chartered her — \ a cutter of / 26 Tons for a month @ £35 — The Owner to find everything — with liberty to me, to extend the Charter to Six months, at same rate, which, if the vessel — & Captain &ca., be to my mind, I intend to do. — as next Six months, we shall need to have facilities at all times at Command, for transit to the Fishing Stations, and to the main — On her arrival I mean to go to Thistle Island. — I enclose Duplicate of a Private and Confidential letter, of which I sent Orig of Pr. Sarah & Elisabeth to Hobart Town, but I think it probable that You will Receive the Dup. before the Original, as the former will be sent Overland to Buenos Ayres. I take the liberty of Referring to the suggestion which I have ventured to make in it, as to Mr. Angas coming out here on a visit — Little did I imagine this day week that I should so soon have had my Representations of the State of matters here, so soon, and lamentably confirmed, as they have been. By I understand Mr. Giles Wrote Mr. A. privately to the same effect Pr S.&E — The more I reflect on the subject, the more am I satisfied, that it is not only advisable, but Necessary — I am happy to say my health is improved but as the reasons, New page for suggesting that very important measure continue & are or likely long to Continue, alas, too long, I beg to repeat and confirm the suggestion, as likely to be of such service to the Company’s interests, as to justify me, in making it, and to justify the highly respected Chairman in acting upon it — provided his Other arrangements will Permit him to do so I Might perhaps plead with him, that I am sure he never intended to place me in a situation of so much difficulty — and to subject me to so much grief. of heart — but I will not urge any such plea, the Measure has been suggested \ itself / to my mind, on General Public Grounds, and On such exclusively, do I Recommend it. — As to the Letter from Mr. Sam Stephens, transmitted along with that Private letter Pr S.&E. — it was, on ac/. Of the Signature & Address the it was sent — no attempt was made, to imitate them in the Copy. — The Orthography of the letter from Captn Ross , has been preserved in the Dup — He ought to have been here ere now — I am My Dear Sir Yours Very Respectfully David McLaren —

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 35 of 173 ______

Written on the outside of the last sheet twice, to identify the letter when folded: 1838 D McLaren Kingscote 21 Febr Recd ______7 Sepr Ansd.______10 ------

New letter Giraffe [Written in pencil: 22] Orig. Pr Hartley — to Launceston. — Ansd 25/9/38 South Australian Co Adelaide 4 April 1838 Edmund, J. Wheeler Esqre Manager — London — Dear Sir,— I think my last despatches to You, were under date the 22nd. February — forwarded Pr “The Royal Admiral” via Valparaiso, since which time I have been at Thistle’s Island, and Resolved to establish a \ whale / fishery there— I returned to Kingscote, and, thence to this Pr John Pirie having arrived here on the 20th Ulto — Several most important matters have since then, Occupied my attention, to which I shall very briefly advert ere I close this, thus begun after midnight — but the chief reason of writing by the present Opportunity is for the purpose of advising my Drafts On You and on Messrs. Ladbrokes & Co, since last advices — The amount of these drafts is Very heavy — I regret exceedingly, they should be necessary — A summary of Mr. Orr’s a/. is subjoined for Your Satisfaction, & that of the Directors — On my arrival here, I found the monetary affairs of the Col. Commissioner, and those dependents on him at a Standstill — the dilemma anticipated in my letter of the [space left blank] realised, in the first Quarters salaries after the amount, which the Col.Treasurer was entitled to draw for, New page thro’ our Bank was exhausted — They had not a penny — were deep in debt — had no prospect of funds to pay either the officers Salaries, or the Labourers Wages — the former due 1st. April — and the latter — Weekly — The only practicable way which had occurred to Mr Fisher, and a Com. of Gentn. whom he had called to assist him by advice, was for him to draw irrespective of the Col. Treasurer, the Com certifying the Circumstances, under which the instruction recd. from the Col. Commr. had been violated — Such dfts, The Bank was asked to discount, and the Report of the Comm was to accompany the dfts — To that Plan, I refused to be Party — I wished that the Col Treasurer should be first applied to , and that although I was precluded from Cashing any more than £3000 — in any One Year, if he would draw I should discount. He agreed, On condition that We should hold the Dfts in Our own hands, for 2 months — We have transgressed our instructions, but the

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 36 of 173 ______alternative [illegible deletion] before us was, Either do so, or See the Colony Bankrupt — the Survey Stopped — and everything thrown into confusion — In the Month of Febry. The Col. Commr Sent Dfts P £3000 to Montefiore’s House in Hobart Town — he has heard of their having been Recd but no money is forthcoming — The Dfts done by us, as mentioned above, amounted to £1,500 — Unless subsequent arrivals from England shall bring Other instructions On this subject to the Col. Commr the Col. Treasurer, & myself — the fearful alternative which we have on the present Occasion avoided — Must befal this Colony. 5 April — Morning The Order in which the Country Sections are to be chosen, has been at last determined by Lot, and I am sorry to Say the Lot has New page been against us at least as to the early choices — I send you a list of the Co’s rights of choice, remarking only that we thought it best to take 102 separate chances, as we thought we should even in this way have many consecutive numbers as it has turned Out in several instances — and as some Others not who had a few sections were resolved to draw for the whole in One lot, we were confirmed in Our resev intention. — The whole 437 Sections Were thus Reduced to 289. — The 1st. fell to the Lot of Col. Light — his Only One 2nd. to Mr. Morphett 5 Sections for a Constituent 3 to the Governor 5 — for himself 4 to the Company. — The day for Selection is the 12th. May, but individuals may make their Selection previously, if all before them have done Col. Light & Mr. Morphett have. — Ther[page cut] no delays. — We can get no aid from Mr [page cut] Stephens — in this important matter — his [page cut] feeling towards the Co. is unfortunately at present, that of the Most determined hostility — I am adopting the best measures I can — Col. Light & Mr. Fisher promise me their best advice — Mr. Randle goes Out today — I mean th to Return tomorrow Pr. John Pirie to Kingscote — & Send Mr Giles Over by the first Opportunity — and I have adopted other measures as to which, and Other Subjects which I can not now introduce (as the mail closes at nine A.M.) — I mean to write You by another Opportunity to Launceston in the Course of this day. — Which Will likely go by the same Conveyance to [illegible deletion] London — I am, With much Respect My Dear Sir, Your Mo Ob St David McLaren — Manager — The reverse side of the page above contains the name of the author of the letter, when it was received and when a reply was sent and to whom. The page is also postmarked, with three different marks. The address: X Pr Giraffe 6 Apl.[?] 38 Recd 11/9/38 Via Launceston Edmund John Wheeler Esqre Manager, South Australian Co London The address above is overprinted with a round black double circle containing the words

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 37 of 173 ______

POST OFFICE ADELAIDE The sender details are repeated at right angles to each other at two edges of the page, to aid the receiver of the letter. One set of sender details is overprinted with two different brown stamps. One is partial, and rectangular, the second is round. Neither is legible in full. 1838 D McLaren Adelaide 4 April Recd 11 Septr Ansd 25 Septr

New letter 17/9/38 Written in pencil the number 23 South Australian Co. Adelaide 5 April/38 Explanation of the Drafts of D McL — Manager On Edmund, J, Wheeler Esqre Manager London Balance of W.M. Orr’s a/C. Ocr. 1837 ₤965.2.5 Cash advances by Do. on Sundry Ac/s till Jany. /38 say £350.-.-. Purchase of “Schooner Victoria” 29 Tons New almost — employed to bring down Whalers, whose passage Otherwise would have Cost about £300------640.0.0 Additional for Victoria, advance to Whalers &ca.------say 460.0.0 Invoice Pr. John Pirie, present Voyage including Commn @ 3% — ------Say. 1900.0.0 Disbursements of the John Pirie, in Repairs &ca. after Leaving Encounter Bay in January last 840.-.- Sundries 300.-.- £5455.— C—16 to 25—£500 ea 26 " 27 250 ea D McL.— Dfts 4 April. @ 60 d/t 10 of £500 ea — 2 of £250 = £5500.–.–. P DMcL.

New letter (Copy) South Australian Co 18/10/38 Adelaide 6 April 1838 Samuel Stephens Esqre Dear Sir I am instructed by the Manager to apply to you to request you will favor us with statement of the information as to the Country which you obtained when Colonial Manager of the Compy, calculated to guide in the Selection of the Company’s Country Sections, I have also to enquire whether you are disposed to give your services in examining the Country further a/c of the Company and if so, on what terms you would engage to do so — Your early reply will oblige I am Dear Sir

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 38 of 173 ______

Yours truly (signed Edwd. Stephens Po So Austn Co —

New letter (Copy) Adelaide 7 April 1838 Edwd Stephens Esqre Bank of South Australia My dear Sir I have to acknowledge rect. of your note of yesterday, informing me that you were instructed by the Manager of the South Australian Co: to request I would favor you with a statement of the information as to the Country which I obtained When Colonial Manager of the Compy Calculated to guide you in the New page Selection of the Company’s Country sections — and in reply beg you will inform the Manager that I respectfully decline giving the information he desires — In answer to that part of your note in which you enquire — Whether I am disposed to give my services in examining the country further on a/c of the Company, and if so on what terms I would engage to do so — I will thank you to acquaint the Manager that I had immediately previous to the rect of your note, made such arrangements as will prevent my giving to any one (except the individuals to whom I am already engaged) information as to the Lands of the Province until after the 12th of May next — If my services can then be of use to the Compy I shall be happy to make an engagement of the kind you mention — I am Dear Sir Yrs truly. (Signed) Samuel Stephens

New letter Adelaide 5 April 1838 Sir I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th. April and will have the pleasure of replying to every portion of it in order that there may be no misunderstanding on your part of the way in which I am connected with a matter of such importance to the South Australian Compy as the selection of their Country Sections, premising it however by stating the satisfaction I feel at your expressions of confidence in my good feelings towards the Compy and the view I take of the relation existing between you as the Compys Coll Manager & me in this matter New page You as the Sth Austn Compys Colonial Manager apply to me to assist you in obtaining from Mr S. Stephens the result of his observations upon the Land within the districts open to survey, as you conceive you would not have the power of making any personal agreement with Mr S.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 39 of 173 ______

Stephens for this purpose. I beg on my part to assure you that I shall be most happy to lend you every aid in my power, but I incur no responsibility; I do not stipulate to do anything which shall occupy much of my time or take off my attention from the consideration of the interests of my Constituents in respect to the Country selection, I do not engage to give any opinion of my own upon the subject in question, nor do I receive any benefit from the arrangement. In your letter before referred to, You intimate to me your wish to have in writing the results of his judgment in the form of a list of the scale of value of the different Sections accompanied by a statement in writing of the leading peculiarities of the different sections. This I will stipulate with Mr S. Stephens that he shall furnish. You desire secondly that I should obtain from Mr S. Stephens his opinion as to what part of the Country you should fix on for one or more special surveys, In reply I beg to assure you I shall be happy to get him to furnish this information, but with respect to the hope expressed in the latter part of the Paragraph alluded to viz., That in this particular you shall have the benefit of my judgment (as you are pleased to say) on account of my not having any special surveys to call for, for my Constituents I have to inform you that upon mature consideration I have come to the conclusion I cannot make any such engagement, as I think it possible I shall have orders to such effect very shortly — You observe thirdly that you depend upon my communicating to you in writing the result of Mr Stephens observations. In reply I beg to state that I shall obtain from the Gentleman mentioned every information I possibly can in writing and hand it over to you immediately — You authorise me fourthly to pay to New page Mr Stephens any sum not exceeding 3 Guineas Per diem from the present time until the first week in May, and state that you will pay what additional expences I shall be put to in consequence of Mr Stephens accompanying me, it being distinctly understood that He shall not communicate to any person his opinion of the comparative value or quality of the Sections. In reply, I have to inform you that I shall request Mr. S. Stephens not to make any such communication to anyone but to me in writing that I have agreed to pay him 3 guineas Per diem according to my opinion upon the subject expressed to you when you first brought it before my notice, such remuneration to be given for every day from the present time to the first week in May, say the 5th. May unless it shall be advisable that he occupy himself after that period in the manner required, and that I shall only claim from the Compy such proportion of my expence as Mr S Stephens or any Gentleman who might accompany me in my different excursions should think it fair to bear, To the last Paragraph of your letter I think it unnecessary to make any reply. I beg to hand enclosed the Copy of a letter I have addressed to Mr S. Stephens. And have the honor to be Sir Your very obt Servant (Signed) John Morphett

New letter The number 24 is written in pencil at top right Original — Pr Black Joke to Launceston — 24 May Recd 18/10/38 Ansd 24/11/38

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 40 of 173 ______

South Australian Company Adelaide 18 April 1838 Edmund, J ,Wheeler Esqre Manager London Dear Sir, I did myself this pleasure on the 4 & 5 Inst Pr. Dup. enclosed. I left this on the 6th. arrived at Kingscote on 8th. Returned to this on 15th. on which day I received Your esteemed favours of the 14, 18, 21st. October Pr. The Lord Goderich. I was accompanied hither by Mr Giles, agreeably to my last, who is actively employed in examining the country Lands in the Neighbourhood of Adelaide. As we came along from Kingscote, we landed at Rapid Bay, the description of which by Col. Light &ca. is substantially correct — but rather highly coloured — The “River” at some small distance from the Beach is dry. Above & below there are \ either / pools, or a running stream and clear fresh water, and across the beach the stream just trickles in breadth of not more than Six inches — . Along the beach within high watermark, are found fresh Water springing through the sand. On the subject of the arrangements made by me, when here last to guide us in the Selection of Country sections I refer to my Communications by this opportunity entitled “Country Lands” — The day previously to my last leaving this a circumstance occurred of the highest importance to this Colony — Mr Hawdon arrived, having brought a herd of Cattle upwards of 300 Overland — from His Station on the Goulburn River about 145° E. Long. 37° Lat. He crossed the Murray [illegible deletion] at his its junction with the Darling fording both Rivers without any difficulty — was Ten weeks on the way — travelled about [blank] miles — lost only 3 or 4 head of Cattle — found in general regular supplies of fresh water, from falling in with Rivers but crossed some arid plains, the continuance of which for a somewhat longer extent, must have occasional great mortality. I have had the pleasure of spending an afternoon and evening with him in company with Mr E Stephens and Mr Giles and I hope I shall have in some measure the advantage of his knowledge of this Country, in reference to Our Country — He states his willingness to go East and along with Mr Giles to examine Some districts — Mr Hawdon was very desirous that we Should purchase his herds, which are in prime condition, but the price he asked, and our late purchases & other considerations have determined me to decline it. He asked New page Written along the right hand edge to show the letter’s subject matter Stock arrangement with Stock Dr. Imaly […] October Text continues at first £25 — Pr Head — Since my arrival he has intimated his willingness to take £22 — but this is entirely out of the question — The Importations of Stock have been very heavy — Much more than there is Capital in the Colony to pay for — I think I mentioned in my Some of the letters about 2nd Feby. Messrs J.B. & S. Hack from N. S. Wales by “The Lady Wellington” — when I was here last, the Lady Wellington had returned but brought no sheep as they were not to be got in Sydney when she was there — I claimed damages for nonfulfilment of contract — compromised the matter. On their agreeing to deliver me 120 Head of Cattle of those which they had bought deliverable at Portland Bay, & of which they bring round though by sea — at Cost, which is Twelve guineas a head — for a herd consisting of Bullocks, Cows, Heifers & Steers.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 41 of 173 ______

Dr. Imlay has now completed the delivery of the Stock I bought of him, and Yesterday the account was settled:— For Wedders we paid him 25/- and can buy more at this rate were we to take 800 or more — Yesterday I sold a Butcher 300 deliverable in the Course of 3 months @ 38/- @ 42/ according to Weight. — From the same person we lately got 50/- for 100 Wedders. I observe the highly important remark in your esteemed favour of the 14 Octr. Pr The Lord Goderich — “We have three grand objects, our fisheries, banks and flocks, and to these we should as much as possible devote our” “attention” — The instructions of the Board thus communicated I shall be most happy to obey as far as in my power, considering at the Same time, that We must continue to have supplies of various articles of merchandise from You, which Will yield I hope large profits, and also from the neighbouring Colonies & the Cape &ca. by our Own vessels or occasionally by Others. — and understanding of course that under the term “flocks” are comprehended “Herds” — and that both imply one of the most important branches of the Cos operations viz that connected with the Land — I am well-pleased that the Ribbons, Watches Nutcracks &ca. are not to be sent, but Ale Porter & Wine ought by all means — For Ale & Porter — (Dunbars & Elliot’s) we pay in Hobart Town £5.15/- in Launceston £7. 10/- Pr Hhd — for bottled — 14/- Pr. Doz in Hobart Town besides Commission Charges and freight. For the former we have got £10 — and for the bottles 21/- Of London Porter Mr Morphett has 40 Hhds Pr. Lord Goderich. There has been a great scarcity want of Good Port & Sherry For very indifferent Wines 30/- Pr. Doz is paid by us in Hobart town, besides all Charges, and for these Wines [blank space] is had here, and for good Port I believe almost anything would be got which we chose to ask. As to Commercial transactions we must not be dependent on Sydney & V.D Land — We will do no good [illegible deletion] as a Colony in that respect, till we get into the system of having our supplies from the same markets as the Merchants in N.S.Wales & V.D. Land — And what we have from You, of suitable articles will, Yield us very handsome profits — As repeatedly mentioned however, I have ever since New page since my arrival in the Colonies felt that I was fettered in all commercial transactions , by the arrangements whh. were made by Mr. S. Stephens with Messrs. Fisher Brts immediately before my arrival — These arrangements connected as they were with that as to the Stores to be built by the Co. for the accommodation of Messrs Fisher Brors I did not see it to be my Duty , to refuse to sanction, and nor, considering Mr. S. Ss former powers, could I have done so, legally, without cause shown; at the same time these arrangements in all their parts, and in all their practical working have been very unsatisfactory — And from that circumstance the probability of excessive importations and some other Considerations, I am predisposed to prosecuting the commercial Branch, with less eagerness than I should otherwise have been inclined to do. — The principal Considerations alluded to above are that [illegible deletion] I am satisfied that no department at the Co.’s operation ought to be prosecuted with more spirit than the Banks, and that being Bank Manager , the Less prominence given to my operations as Commercial Manager, in the transactions with the Colonists, the better.— The very trifling Percentage of charges, on the business done, and the rate of Interest &ca. obtained, with the powerful aid thus afforded to the Colony in the general success of whh. the Co. so largely participates, concur in rendering it a matter of the most obvious policy, to prosecute with eagerness the business of the Bank. One Consideration only Restraining Mr.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 42 of 173 ______

E S. & myself, viz, that a greater amount of Capital will require to be appropriated by the Board, for this department, than they may have previously contemplated. As a practical evidence of my feelings, and convictions, on these points, I take the liberty of mentioning that this day I declined taking a joint interest in Messrs. J.B. & S. Hack, in a purchase of Wedders @ 25/- chiefly because it would have involved our drawing on You further — and at the same time, besides giving Messrs Hack 2 Dfts, on You, for good bought (flour & Soap &ca.) I have consented to give them an accommodation to the extent of £1400 by Dfts on Ladbrokes, because that latter sum is not only quite secure, but will be gradually wiped off by this transactions with the Bank. — The Commn & Interest on their Accts with the Bank from 1st Jany till 30 April will not be less than £120. — There has hitherto been very little Capital introduced into the Colony, excepting by the Co and the extensive operations which have been carried on have been in a great measure owing to the facilities afforded by the Bank — The Union of liberality and caution with an unfailing Regard to Security We wish ever to exemplify — we hope, the Board is Satisfied of this, and that they will place at the disposal of the Bank, a larger amount of Capital — that the Remittances in specie will be more ample, and bear a Greater proportion to the Orders upon us, than hitherto:— I refer to the letter by this opportunity on Bank affairs, for my sentiments on this subject, and I am happy to Say, that they accord completely with those of Mr E. Stephens New page my principal object in coming hither on the present Occasions, was to complete some arrangements connected with the Fisheries for this next season. — When here lately, I was uncertain as to the propriety of employing the Sir Charles McCarthy, altho’ Repaired as a Cutting in Ship. — I therefore got an Offer of the Cutter Water Witch 26 tons £300 — as she then lay in Holdfast Bay — On returning to Kingscote, it was Mr Mildred’s opinion, as well as Mr Harper Superintendent at Rosetta Fishery &ca. that considering the expense & risk, it would be inadvisable to send [illegible deletion] \ the Sir C McCarthy / We were thus shut up in a great measure to buying the Water Witch — I returned by her — that I might arrange the matter with the Owner — who regrets having offered her so low — I have applied for but not yet got the Inventory. I have another in view about 32 tons — at about the same manner — I hope to choose as to the One or the Other in a day or two, and then I shall be off again for Kingscote — I hope to find on my arrival there, that Mr. Mcfarlane has proceeded with all the remainder of the hands to Thistles Island in charge of the Schooner Victoria, which I am sorry to say grounded on the Sand spit when returning from Thistles Island, but was got off in about half an hour, seemingly without damage — She was to be examined by Mr Mildred during my present absence from Kingscote — All hands are at Rosetta fishery — excepting Mr Harper Superintendent who has come over with me that he may take back the W Witch — or whatever Cutting in vessel we purchase. — I learned some time ago, that some of the parties from V.D. Land, use Large Barges, which Cost less money — and much less exposed to accidents, than vessels for Cutting in, but not in time to get any built for this Season — I hope Mr. Mildred will furnish them for the next — I am highly gratified by the advices Pr. The Lord Goderich of the advance in price of Oil — and do feel very anxious as to the success of Our establishments this next Season—I can say, with the utmost sincerity that I am not aware of any thing which I had it in my power to do which seemed advisable, that has not been done, to render them Successful. Yet, there

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 43 of 173 ______are so many essential concomitant arrangements to make — so great a variety of articles to provide — and the concurrence of so many individuals, to obtain & maintain many of whom are of the worst character, that with my inexperience, & the want of any one New page Written in pencil at the top of page right hand side 25 corner 5 Text continues Individual to whom I could Commit the superintendence, or even in whose judgement I could rely, I have great misgivings of heart, that the Results may not be so satisfactory as I wish. — The whale Fishery is a trade in which Great Losses or Great Gains may be made and the grievous results of Your Whaling Ships, are not more distressing to any One of the Directors, or to Yourself, than to me. — Everything almost depends on the Selection of the Captain, Officers, & Crew — Here we have had to labour under greater disadvantages in making such selection — This Year we are decidedly better off in this Respect, than we were last Season — I hope & pray that the Results may prove it. — I observe the further supply of Oil Butts Pr. The Lord Goderich — which is well but in all such cases, it is highly desirable that the Casks should be landed at Kingscote absolutely, or the ship bound to send them thither, without Charge to us — I look daily for the “Canton” and when she comes very great difficulties will be experienced, as to her discharging her Cargo — owing to her heavy burthen Port Adelaide is the only declared Port — more than 15 feet of Water at high Water cannot be depended on at the entrance with a Very narrow channel for miles — so that she cannot I am persuaded attempt to go there. — The Governor is determined that Holdfast Bay shall not be declared a Port — and by an Act in Council goods landed there, or otherwise, than at Port Adelaide without permission from the Harbour Master are liable to be seized — & such permission cannot be expected in favour of Holdfast Bay — These particulars I brought under the notice of the Governor in conversation on the 16th. Instt. and that evening I wrote him Officially requesting instructions, that I might be prepared — but I have had no reply — nor will I likely till the arrival of the “Canton” will necessitate Him and his advisors to consider the Subject — In consequence of the Act of Council above referred to, I wrote the Colonial Secy months ago, as to Goods landed at Kingscote, but no reply — I I notice your Correspondence with New page the Col. Commrs as to Provisions — I assure You there is not much danger of a scarcity of provisions, the high prices which have been paid ensure supplies. As to the Cultivation of the Tea Plant — while the price of labour continues at any thing like the present rates, it must be inadvisable — The Tea Shrub on Kangaroo Island will never affect the Consumpt of the Chinese plant — The Cultivation of Vines is much more probable than that of Tea, and both Soil & climate I believe are favourable for the attempt. — Your wishes as to Ordering Papers from the neighbouring colonies shall be attended to — The So. Austn Gazette has, I believe, been Regularly sent You, but it is all but defunct. The Vile personalities by which it has been characterised, of which the Company and its officers have had their full share has brought it into general discredit here — every man in the Printing Office has left it — Robt Thomas is insolvent and his interest — in the Gazette &ca. (one half) is assigned to Mr E Stephens & Mr J.B.Hack as Traders for benefit of Creditors — Another Paper is just about being published — We have built an Office & Dwelling house for

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 44 of 173 ______the Editor — of which when published You shall have at least two Copies Regularly sent You — The irregularity connected with the transmission of letters from this Colony, during the first six months is \ are / unaccountable— The movement in Calcutta is gratifying, & is I presume in part at least owing to the influence of Mr. Gouger, whose brother resides there, & is in business, the feeling in favour of the scheme would be confirmed by Captn Chesser of the Coromandel, on his arrival there. — I earnestly hope neither the Goshawk nor the Canton will bring us out any more articled servants of the Co — , In my letters, Pr Rapid, it is true, I particularised many trades, operations in whh. would find immediate & constant employment — and so, I say, still, but I hope they will not come under engagement, and with advances — And above all, that they will be men of Christian principle — Members, if possible, of Christian Churches — I was sorry to say, that a very great many run-away convicts, from the neighbouring Colonies have found their way hither, and consequently, thefts — brawls — and even attempts to murder, are of frequent occurrence. The Assizes are sitting Two men tried capitally, for an attempt on the life of Mr Smart — the Sheriff — have been found guilty — Both men were some time ago in the Service of the Co. as Bullock drivers — Another who was in their Service is to be tried for stealing some of the goods Consigned by Messrs G. F Angas & Co New page Written at the top right in pencil 25 = I fear the Staves from Hamburgh, will Occasion more expense and trouble than you imagine — I am sorry to think that the Directors should have had one day’s uneasiness arising from the non-recept of my first dispatches — We are now informed that the Rapid arrived on 6th. Novembr. so that in a few days after the date of Your last, that uneasiness would be removed. Nothing further has been done since my last as to the Acre Sections at the Harbour, excepting that We have got the Land Grants for our first two choices — One of which is partly claimed by the Government, for public purposes, so that I fear we shall be brought into direct collision with the Government, in asserting our right, to that acre — Nothing you may rest assured shall be done through factious opposition, nor by violence, but if the Colonial Commissioner has not authority to grant us a clear and indisputable Title to Our Land irrespective of and in opposition to any claim, from any person or persons whatsoever, the fundamental principle of the colony is Violated— 24th April. My principal object in visiting Adelaide is already mentioned, has been in so far Secured by my purchasing for the Co. The Cutter “Mary Ann” of Launceston. 31½ Tons \ (old) / — from 3 to 4 Years old — for a Cutting in ship at Rosetta Fishery — I am to pay £280 — She was the property of Mr. L. W. Gilles Launceston, who advanced £600, on Mortgage On her, in 1835, She is Iron fastened — and the Under part, Clinker-built — Leaky, & does not sail well — but so was the Water Witch, and much smaller, particularly in the breadth of beam — I hope she will sail from Port Adelaide today — and I I mean to go on board at Holdfast Bay — probably tomorrow. On the 22 Instt. the “Lord Hobart” arrived here at Port Adelaide — in 70 days from Timor — she put in at Swan River — The Result as to the Ponies put on board is Most disastrous — 120 had been shipped — and Only 8 arrived, of which One is since dead!!! Mr. Birdseye was with her as Supercargo — I have seen him as well as the Captn — Mr. Birdseye is entirely satisfied with the conduct of the Captn. throughout — but he hesitated saying any thing as to

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 45 of 173 ______the vessel — I applied to Mr. Fisher today for 2 Bills of £500 each, to ac/ of freight chiefly for the purpose of ascertaining his intentions — He has Replied, that I have not yet received the Report of Mr. Birdseye — but New page “I have desired him immediately to let me have it.” &ca. There are Various points of difficulty — The disastrous result — the almost absolute Certainty that The Colonial Treasurer will not draw on the Treasurer of the Commrs in England for the freight &ca. as Mr Fisher engaged in the Charter Party, he should do — the detention of the vessel at Sydney which it is alledged occasioned the Ponies to be Shipped at the most unfavourable time of the Year — &ca. This matter of Course must form the subject of future correspondence — 26 April — Mr Gilles absolutely Refuses to draw on England for any portion of freight &ca. due the Ld Hobart and Mr. Fisher has said nothing decisive — but is likely to Refer the matter to the Commissioners at home. I must leave this, and various Other important matters to be settled by Mr Stephens if he can effect it previously to any Return whh must be if possible by the 6th Proxo. at farthest — The Nett Proceeds of the Sale of The Barque The South Australian has been paid in, to the Bank by the Agent to LLoyds for Remce. to You amount £ [blank space] which will be sent by the same Opportunity as this — with all the requisite additional documents — which I must leave Mr Stephens, to make up — I am most anxious to hear that the Amount insured has been recovered — and would be beyond measure distressed, should my inexperience in such matters Occasion any demur or disappointment in this matter — I have written to Mr Orr at Hobart Town Ordering Captain Wakeling to deliver up to Him for the benefit of those Concerned the Chronometer whh was on board the So. Austrn. — if my letter be too late, — at the Chronometer may be Valued & the Matter adjusted in London — One or two small vouchers are still at Kingscote but shall be sent. — I think I mentioned to You of a Claim for about £100 presented at Kingscote by Captn Pearson late of Solway — a most unjustifiable claim — to which however he did not hesitate to append his affidavit — Poor man — I have heard that he has put it in the hands of Mr George Stevenson here, for prosecution — I thought I had done with that man, who has been a source of great annoyance — but I fear he will thus continue for some time yet to annoy, through One who will I am sorry to say carry On this annoyance “con amore” — Captn Pearson & Captn Wakeling will probably meet in London — For the Character of the former, refer to the latter. — New page Top right hand side written in pencil 26 Text continues The Governor in Council has passed an Act, imposing a Duties On Wines Spirits & Tobacco &ca. which will increase the alienation between the rival Parties and excite very general dissatisfaction — The Duty on Wine, not the Produce of the or its Colonies 15 Pr Ct On Value On spirits made in the colony fm. Grain 4/- Pr Gal. On Spirits made in the united Kingdom or Colonies 8/- Pr Gal. On Spirits made in Other countries 12/- Pr Gal. On Tobacco manufactured 1/6 Pr lb — On Cigars & Cheroots. 5/- Pr lb.— The act to take effect from the hour of The Governor Signing the Same. So that Vessels now in the harbour which have landed any of these articles Duty free previously — must pay Duty on the remainder of the Cargo — With such a Coast as We have and such a Community as We have — Without the smallest provision made for to prevent smuggling or the means of

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 46 of 173 ______making provision — With grave doubts existing, as to the Power of the Council as now constituted, the Nominees not of the Crown, but of the Governor (See Section 2nd. of the Act founding the colony) — and, as to the legitimate appropriation of the Produce of all rates Duties & Taxes — (See Sections 18 & 20th) it does seem Very premature to pass such an Act especially as every day is expected to bring Replies to the Copious dispatches, which went from all parties, Pr. Rapid — The Necessity of the Government, for funds is very urgent and may account for the measure and for the circumstances in whh. it has been passed, but it is very questionable Whether the Measure will accomplish the end in view, and actually bring the needed relief — I have arranged with Mr. Gilles as to the Acres On the Swamp, by the Canal, but ask One which We have agreed to divide & of which We get by lot, the better half — both he & We come in to collision with the Government — I am My Dear sir Yours very Truly David McLaren.— Manager The inner pages are blank The back page has the details of the letter written three times at right angles to each other for easy filing. One of the labels holds the additional information that it is the Original and its subject is General Business. 2. Original Letter from D McLaren to W Wheeler 18 April 1838 General Business In larger script, at right angles: 1838 D McLaren Adelaide 18 April Recd 18 Oct Ansd 24 Nov At right angles: 1838 D McLaren Adelaide 18 April Recd—18 Oct Ansd—24 Nov

New letter Written at top right hand corner in pencil 27 Original Pr Bencoolen, via Java, Bombay & Waghorns Despatch Recd 4/2/39 On Country Lands. Very faint writing here is illegible South Australian Company Adelaide 26th April 1838 Edmund J., Wheeler Esqre Manager, London, Dear Sir, Written in the left margin alongside the first four lines of the following text

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 47 of 173 ______

Not Sent in case of miscarriage The letter In my general letter transmitted by this Opportunity (as Yet unknown), I have Referred to one on Country Lands. The importance of that subject justifies a separate letter. I mentioned in my Reports of the 4/5 Instt. that the Country Sections were to be chosen on the 12th Proxo. and that I was doing what I could, to obtain such information, as should guide me, in the Selection, which, I had had no previous reason to suppose, would Require to be made by Me, but would be made by Mr Sam. Stephens. In that same letter, I stated, that I had Other measures on view — These were — for the purpose of securing the advantage of Mr Sam. Stephens knowledge of the Country and judgment of Land &ca. In the state of mind in which he then was, any direct application to him for this purpose was almost certain of being Refused — I believe, I have secured, that advantage indirectly,thro’ the medium of Mr. Morphett — Mr. S.S. has been engaged by him, for the Co @ at Three guineas Per day and expenses — S.S. is to make a Report in writing to Mr. M — whh. We are to get — he is to furnish a Scale of Value of Different districts, or Sections whe exclusively, to us, thro’ Mr Morphett, so that I hope notwithstanding his state of mind toward the Co we shall secure the advantage of his services — which did he know, we should most assuredly be deprived of — As he procured all the information he has of the Country, while the Co’s Colonial Manager, and at the Co’s expense, he Ought in honour & honesty, to give the Co the New page the advantage of it — but this he told me verbally he should not do — I thought it proper when leaving this on the [blank space] Instt. to Request Mr E.S. to write him on this subject — for a Copy of that letter and the reply to it — I refer you to the accompanying documents No 1 & 2—These may affect X the Question of the repayment of his expenses — I beg particularly that you will by first Opportunity send me a Certified Copy of his letter of 26 Decr declining all further connection with the Co — Besides making short excursions in company with Mr. Morphett — they set out together about eight days ago, for Rapid Bay — Encounter Bay &ca. Mr. Giles came over with me, and has been similarly employed with Mr. Randle — They set out the day before Yesterday, for the Murray via Mount Barker, and will Return by Encounter Bay &ca. Very great uncertainty however must attach to the Selection of particular Sections — they are not, and cannot be, previously to the 12th. May, staked out or marked On the Ground — Those in the immediate neighbourhood of the Town are distinguished on a map, & numbered accordingly — and but none even of these are staked Out, so that nothing is more likely than that a party wishing to get 220 — may get 225 Section — We are still altogether uncertain as to “Kingscote” — It is included in the preliminaries — the subdivisions into Sections there is not marked even on the map — Mr. Fisher has not yet gone Over, to examine as to the Buildings — he talks of doing so, previously to 12 May — but this is very doubtful — Our opinion is, that We should expend our two first two choices, at least in Securing Kingscote — that we should waive our Right of Choice, so as to have two special surveys — & that we should, as much as possible, concentrate the Co’s Property —

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 48 of 173 ______

As to the additional Special Survey which the Directors authorised me to secure, by I have delayed doing any thing decisive, till I have the reports from Mr. Giles & Mr S.S. because the Survey for the Preliminary Choices has been extended so as to include New page Some of those districts, which Other wise we thought of as suitable for a Special Survey — The Resolution of the Directors On this subject was grounded in some Measure, on the Supposition, that the purchase money would be paid in Our Bank notes — We Instead of this, We should have to Credit Mr Geo. Barnes’ Ac/- — and whatever orders he may send, on that Ac/- We must of course answer — The Probability is, that the moiety of the passage money, payable to the Captains of Vessels, will be Ordered, to be paid here by us, the Bank and if so, it must be in Specie — Under this view of the matter, I certainly feel less disposed to purchase the additional 4000 or 6000 acres, than I should have done, had the payment to be made Only as the directors supposed — The Directors having done me the honour to give me a discretionary power in this important matter, I shall do my best to exercise it judiciously — and this circumstance as to the Mode of payment, I regard as a most Material item in the case — Mr Wilson Junr. & I have agreed to refer his claim for Compensation Owing to the delay in the Occupation of his farm, to arbitration. — say to Mr. Fisher — & Mr. Wigley — Resident Magistrate. — The Co’s flocks are Methodically managed and superintended by Mr. Randle, who has dismissed some worthless fellows of shepherds, and will I hope gradually bring that important department of Our Operations into a healthy and profitable state — In that, as in Other particulars Much Required in the first place to be Undone — I ordered monthly Returns — I send you two as a Specimen — The losses by native dogs &ca. form a heavy percentage On that kind of Stock but there is no possibility of avoiding these losses altogether — and the danger of loss is from native Men is increasing as is \ and / consequently, the danger of unfriendly Collision with them — I am With much Respect Dear Sir, Your M Ob St — David McLaren — P.S. I did not Write by any Other Opportunity than One beginning of this Month —

New letter Written in pencil at the top right hand corner 28 Original. Pr Bencoolen, via Java, Bombay and Waghorns Despatch Recd 4/2/39 Dupte Ansd 24/11/38 South Australian Company Adelaide 18 May 1838. Edmund, I, Wheeler Esqure. Manager, London Dear Sir, On my arrival here, On the 9th. Inst. From Kingscote, I had the pleasure of Receiving Per “The Canton” Dup. of Your favour 30th Novr. On Banking original Pr.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 49 of 173 ______

Do of " 4 Decr. General letter Trusty Do of " 11 " On Banking Do of " 11 " General letter Do of " 14 " 2nd On Banking Do of " 9 " Private With all the accompanying documents, Since then “The Trusty” has arrived and brought the Originals of the above, with Other papers &ca. The Very important business of Choosing the Country Lands, under the Preliminary Orders is now Over. In my last on this subject as Pr. “Original” accompanying this, dated 26th April, I mentioned the measures adopted to obtain information as to the country and I am happy to say, these measures were upon the whole very successful, I got from Mr Sam. Stephens, unknown to him, two Reports, which though not so full as I expected were of great service, and combined with the information obtained from Mr. Giles & Mr Randell, enabled me to make such a selection, as justifies me, in saying, that the interests of the Co., have not suffered much, if any thing, by being in my hands, on that very important occasion. — The Selection occupied three days, 12th, 15th & 17th Inst. — The Lands in the neighbourhood of the town, & down to the Harbour, and Holdfast Bay, were surveyed, Mapped,& divided into Sections of 134 Acres — No1 @ 515. Besides these, the whole Coast from Port Adelaide to Cape Jervis, and thence to Encounter Bay, was declared Open to choice, being divided into 6 Districts A @ F — and 20,000 Acres in Kangaroo Island — in 2 Districts G & H G Comprehending Kingscote — H — Point Marsden — The Choices Were agreed to be first made in No1 @ 515 the parties choosing having the privilege to “reserve” their New page Right of choice, in favour of any District, & being obliged only, at the end of the choices from among the numbered Sections to declare the District — in which after it was surveyed, they should choose, in the Order, in which they had Reserved — On the 12th. Inst I chose 28 and Reserved 12 — 100 in all, Called. On " 15 " " 14 " 18 — & Waived for Special S. 8 On " 17 " ------" Do 22 42 Choices 30 Reserved 30 Waived The boundaries of the Preliminaries having been so extended the Value of a Special Survey was proportionally Reduced and that of a Common choice advanced — I had thought almost Resolved to have 2 Special Surveys, but that consideration, together the necessity of providing for the Tenants, some of whom have waited 7 months, determined me to Relinquish the Privilege of having two Surveys & substituting for One of them 30 Reserves, — our 42 Lan Mr. Giles has made a very neat copy of the Map exhibited in the Land Office, when we made our choices which shall be sent you soon — In the mean time suffice it to say, that of our 42 Sections, contained in the Map 7 Sections area separated from the town Lands of South Lands Adelaide only by the Park — they however have no run of Water — & getting Water by digging, is probable, but uncertain — 9 " are continuous in two adjoining rows leading from beyond our Bullock Station towards the mountains and form at present Our bullocks ordinary run. —

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 50 of 173 ______

8 " are on the South bank of the Torrens, north east of the town — the best land & surest supply of Water — One of these includes our brick field, 2 are continuous — 3 continuous & 2 continuous, 1 on the North bank of the Torrens, same direction fm. town — on the north bank of the Torrens, below the town — 2 at the harbour 1 at Holdfast Bay 2 on the roads to Harbour & Holdfast Bay, 1 on each about middle way 2 at one of our Sheep Stations. 7 pretty closely together, where water was had or likely to be had — 42 In District A nearest this - we have 1st, 2nd, 3d, & 5th Choices — " B including some of our Stations &ca. we have the 1st, 2nd & 5th " C including Unkaparinga a grazing Country & 1st, 2nd, 3, 4, 6 & 7th " D including the greatest quantity of Good Well 1st, 2, 3rd Water and Land leading to Encounter Bay 16,20,22 including Rapid Bay— 2nd Valley, Yankylilla &ca. 23 & 24 " E including Encounter Bay the 22nd " F " Cape Jervis &ca. 2nd & 6th " G " Kingscote 2nd, 4th 6 & 7th " H " Point Marsden &ca. 2nd New page Your anxiety, and that of the Directors, will be most naturally excited as to Kingscote — It cannot be greater than Ours was here — Mr. Morphett for \ the second / Choice No 2 as determined by lot of 5 Sections for Richard Blundell Esqre. “Reserved” 2 — The Governor for the third choice, ″ 3 — For the fourth choice, I Reserved — The Governor wished me to purchase his first Right of Choice, says for which he asked £1000 — saying that altho’ he would not go to Kingscote & take Our buildings, he wd sell his Right of Choice to any man who \ wd / give him £1000 — At the Meeting on 17th Mr. Morphett declared his first choice Reserve to be in G. I gave public notice of the peculiar Rights of the Co there — produced the Land order 438 – which was read aloud by the Advocate General — It was previously well known by Mr. Morphett — The Advocate General acting for the Governor took his 3 Reserves in E. I declared my first Reserve to be in G. Mr. Morphett thereafter took the \ his / 2nd. in G & 1st in H. I chose next — took the 2nd. in H & thereafter the 4th in G. The first in G, I could not prevent — the Lot gave it to him — I did what I could by Reserving my first choice and declaring for G — I might have secured the 3rd. in G — and 1st. in H — and have felt very much grieved at having missed the opportunities — I did not suppose more than 2 or 3 would have been taken in G [illegible crossed out] & thought it questionable if any would go to H at all. The Small Well is there, from which we get Water at Kingscote — that Ought to have been Secured — You may be surprised I did not — So am I — I was partly induced to risk it from my Mr Giles assuring me, that there was no danger but we would get Water easily on Other parts of the same beach — which I am persuaded will be found, to be the Case — but still, it was very far wrong, to put so important a matter, in jeopardy, when it could have been Secured — that I do most freely admit — I saw my mistake when it was too late to remedy it, and my hope is, that the Well will be found to be within 60 feet of the hut

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 51 of 173 ______erected there, which will give us another chance for it, and should this hope fail, I trust We shall find the Other Realised and that Water will be got in Other places along the beach. Your Correspondence with the Commrs. as to Kingscote acquires a melancholy additional interest, from the state of Matters here — and as a much greater amount of Capital has been expended at Kingscote, in Consequence of the Non Occupation of the country lands The Directors are entitled in Equity to some very considerable Recompense — I am afraid I New page shall not have it in my power, to advise you tomorrow before this requires to be despatched of any arrangement with the Tenants — but that subject is before me for tomorrow — In their protracted deliberations on the Subject of leasing Farms, the Directors have been influenced by the most commendable motives but Oh that they had left that matter, in its details to be settled Here — especially after receiving the Representations mentioned in You favour Per The [space left blank] from Mr S.S. and my self — I cannot put the impolicy of their measures in a stronger light — (they will excuse I hope this expression from a regard to the feeling & motive which dictate it) than by mentioning that Mr. Tho Wilson Jr. claims £300 — for having been kept \ 7 mos / out of that for which he can buy from us any day, for £100 — !! As another view of the matter I beg to state, that Mr. Morphett asks or means to ask 15/- or 20/- Pr. Acre of annual Rent for some of his near the town — reserving the timber as well as the minerals — and will not give a longer lease than 5 or at most 7 Years. & You have engaged to take 30/- Pr. Acre as a Price for the fee simple, wt right of Pasture &ca. Alas, alas. A most serious difficulty Occurs as to the Location for these Tenants — They plead, that they ought to have the choice of all the Cos Lands beyond three Miles from town — So that \ nearly / all the advantages whh. the Co. might have reaped from their preliminary choices — and all from the Land, the Most prosperous part of their multifarious concerned are thrown away. a second motive On what principle the rates were fixed I cannot imagine — It could not be, with any Reference to the current rate of Interest here, and the Redemption price, is still more singular — The estimate you have made of the advantage of the Preliminary choices has been very small indeed — I have no doubt but I could sell any of Our choices on the map at from £400 @ £600 – and now we must give them away @ £200 — & perhaps pay the parties more than this for taking them — Mr. Wilson Junr’s claim for damages is to be referred to the arbitration of Mr. Fisher & Mr. Wigley — I endeavoured in various ways to get him to abandon that claim, but I could not succeed — It must go to arbitration — Mr. Hillier on his arrival on the 16th Octr agreed to refer his claim to Mr. Fisher’s sole judgment — Mr Hillier expects £150 — he refers to the expense he has been at supporting his family — Mr. Wilson talks of what he might have made had he got possession — From the tenor of Your Correspondence, I dread a fresh accession of tenants by every ship. I have fixed on 5 Sections on the map for the 8 Tenants now here, that come what may of profit or loss — good faith may be kept, and I beg fromt that You will note New page Written in pencil at the top 29 Text continues Particularly that thereafter, We have no Land which we can let within 12 miles of Adelaide, which with the exception of Kingscote is the only town in the Province but even that land when we get possession of it will be worth double purchase Money and five times the Rental that we shall get for it —

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 52 of 173 ______

You shall be duly apprised of the state of matters in this important department of Your business, so that you can give to applicants the latest information, and in future engagements with tenants I think You ought to leave the Rent — and Other details to be determined here — The Redemption clause should be expunged — and left optional with the Manager here to introduce it or not — unless you think proper to Restrict him from introducing it at all — or only to a certain extent &ca. I have been told that Mr. Wilson Junr talked you and the Board into it — He was never so well paid for his talk. — Before concluding I shall submit a few remarks on our position in the Other districts besides G & H. In A. district, I took 4 choices, 3 of which were for the purpose of securing 3 Sheep Stations — and 1 Contemplated as connected with these, as available at the harbour &ca. Unfortunately after the selection was over, Mr. Giles & Mr. Randall discovered that these stations were in district B not A — . The difficulty of finding On the ground, particular Sections even When laid down in the Map, has rendered the whole business of Selecting, somewhat of a lottery — In B — We Secured 3 Sections with a view to Sheep Stations — In C is the District Unkaparinga, which is a very fertile, and to which We have been accustomed to Send Our bullocks — it lies on the direct road from this to Encounter Bay — In D Mr. Sam Stephens said there was good land & well watered, sufficient for One half of the Preliminary to it I therefore directed my chief attention. — In E I wished to have Secured Several Sections but the number of Choices by the Governor Mr Strangways & Others previously to my having an Opportunity quite exhausted it — When I took No 22 choice there — Mr. S.S. handed a note across (having learned who paid him for his late information) saying that E was quite full, after which I daresay 20 choices were made in that district — In F I took my Choices of two from its proximity to Kangaroo Island &ca. altho Mr. S. Stephens Reported it all bad.— G I have Only to add in general, that previously being made, and during the time of the Meeting, at which they were made I received the most cheerful & valuable assistance from Mr. E. Stephens — Mr. Giles & Mr Randell — The time for making up the mail is almost expired, I must conclude abruptly. and of It goes from this Pr. The Bencoolen for Java — under Cover to Our Agents at Bombay, whom we wrote Requesting them to forward it by Waghorn’s Overland despatch — Owing to the risk of miscarriage & expense I send no Dup & Only my last Orig — On the subject of Country Lands — Another Opportunity Will be had in a day or two Via Mauritius, whh I propose embracing. I only add, That the Lord Hobart arrived here Safely last Month, but had lost nearly all her Ponies the Property of the Commissioners. I have no doubt ere this reaches you — you will have heard the deplorable accounts as to the Sarah & Elizabeth being discovered at Hobart Town to be quite unseaworthy — the Oil \ & Bone / transhipped to the Seppings and the Mr. Orr waiting instructions from Me whether he should repair New page The Sarah & Elisabeth, or Sell for an Old Hulk — I do not know what instructions to Send and cannot tell You how grieved I am, — Yours Most Affy

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 53 of 173 ______

David McLaren —

New letter Recd 18/10/38 Written in pencil at top right 30 Original Per The “Black Joke” to Launceston. Ansd 24/10/38 South Australian Company Adelaide 22nd. May 1838 Written spaced appropriately along the left hand margin, at right angles to the main body of the letter referring to the contents of the letter: Letter of 18th Inst— Goods Per Trusty Oil Pr Rapid Dear Sir I did myself this pleasure On the 18th. Instt. having written you at some length on the subject of the Country Lands, as Pr Dup. enclosed — The Original was intended for the Bencoolen via Java and thence for Bombay, to be forwarded Per Waghorns despatch — The Bencoolen had sailed from the Harbour, ere the Mail reached it, and I fear I will not get the letter Returned, so that being under cover to Skinner & Co. it will be some time ere You Receive it — In that letter, I mentioned the arrival of the “Trusty” & the “Canton”, and the Receipt of Your several highly esteemed letters by these vessels. I shall now proceed as I can command leisure, morning noon or night to reply to them. 1st The Communication Per Trusty. The Proportion of Goods intended for the Whale Fishery will be landed at Kingscote, orders shall of course be given, to keep the articles furnished by the different makers separate, and those who use them shall be Requested to make a Report as to their comparative qualities, and even before they use them, they Shall be requested to give their Opinion, on that point, but many Orders So given are forgotten, or very inadequately attended to — I shall take measures to have your instructions if possible complied with — I am glad You secured two ports of discharge. Considerable difficulty attaches to the determination of Respective Packages to the Respective places of discharge — from the uncertainty which still attaches to some of our possession and operations, as Other parts of my communications by the opportunity explain. — The difficulty connected with the entering of the Oil, and the Casks Per The Rapid at the Custom house was adverted to, and I thought would have been obviated — Mr. Orr was Requested to clear it Out at Hobart Town, according to the facts of the Case — The Certificate Required, shall be sent in Triplicate — Mr. Giles the Only other Magistrate usually Resident Written faintly at the foot of the page Ed J. Wheeler Esqre New page Written spaced appropriately along the right hand margin, at right angles to the main body of the letter referring to the contents of the letter: Intemperance Prices of Provisions Bank Text continues at Kingscote is here just now — Returns in a few days and will attend to it immediately on his arrival there, the 3 copies of the Certificate shall be sent from that or from this as

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 54 of 173 ______opportunities offer. I shall take the first opportunity of furnishing Mr. Orr in Case of need with a Copy of the general Certificate in case he may have shipped Our Black Oil, without such a document. You Refer to the introduction of the temperance principle by me, last Season — On that Object my heart was set — is set — but the attempt quite failed — it is almost hopeless — and with all Our united desires and efforts — and legislative enactments, Drunkenness is already the Curse of South Australia, and likely in some measure to continue to be so — The Sale of Spirits is the most Profitable trade. — I am much pleased to find, that We have no articled Servants by the Trusty, or Canton, excepting Mr. Strike — I believe the character of those immigrants, who have arrived lately is better than some early importations — but it is not from “London” or any \ large / town, that Sober, Suitable Colonists are to be had — Of the importance of having men & women of established Moral character, and if possible of decided Christian Character, every day furnishes additional evidence. — The prices of provisions quoted by me in mine Per Rapid, may be still considered as current, in the Retail Market, and a great many articles, Potatoes — Vegetables — all articles of clothing — Shoes and culinary utensils — are much more Out of the Way as Compared with the prices at home, than even those I quoted — I hope you will inform intending emigrants, of these prices, that we may be saved here from the annoyance, to which we have been subjected, at the hand of almost every Officer & Servant of the Co., With some of the former, I deferred this subject till I should have your Reply to mine Pr. Rapid. — Your observations as to the impolicy of Our Competing with private traders, have been in a great measure anticipated and I feel much gratified by finding On that, and on Other subjects, that the Views and instructions correspond with the Views and intentions entertained here — The three departments named — The Bank — Fisheries and Flocks & Herds, would, wt the Land, give full employment to all Your funds — I wish to see these prosecuted with Vigour — As to the First, I refer with much pleasure to the accompanying despatch from Mr. Stephens, and the Returns — which show the degree of Vigour that We are disposed to exert in the Bank department — The more I see of this department, and I conscientiously add the more I New page Written in pencil at the top right hand corner 30 Written spaced appropriately along the left hand margin, at right angles to the main body of the letter referring to the contents of the letter: Bank Whale Fisheries Stock Pr Canton No Strike see of the manner in which he conducts the business of the Bank, the more am I confirmed in the Opinion expressed in England, that this is the department which Of all others we ought to prosecute with energy & Vigour. The success which has attended the Operations of the Bank, has excited the envy of that envious — & I may add the Malice of that Malicious Gentleman, Osmond Gilles Esquire, who swears, that We shall enjoy a monopoly no longer, but that HE shall have a Branch of the Union Bank here, or establish a Bank himself, the Operations of Which he says he could conduct with the assistance of One Marine — I pass from this department, referring again to the letter from Mr. S. sent by this Oppry The Fisheries, by which I presume you mean, the Whale fisheries, deserve the most utmost attention, and when well conducted will repay the heavy Cost connected with their

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 55 of 173 ______establishment and prosecution — but I assure you, they, are sufficient to Occupy the undivided attention of an experienced active man — I am very sorry that you the Directors have had no man capable of Superintending them — last Year they were committed in a great measure to Captn Wright — an uneducated — and I think an unprincipled man — who is withal a selfconceited opinionative man — With him I could not cooperate — With neither Mcfarlane nor Harper was I quite satisfied — but they were the best I could command — both seem determined to make a Season — The men, they have got this Season are much superior to what they were last and with Thistle’s Island — Mcfarlane & his party are very much pleased. — There is no danger whatever of our Colony [illegible deletion] experiencing any want of the Necessaries of life, at Kingscote. We want often times some of the more usual Comforts — but at the same time I am pleased that some of the articles Ordered by Mr. Sam. Stephens have been Omitted. — As to the Flocks & Herds, I have little to add, to former communications — excepting the safe arrival of the Stock Pr. The Canton, with the exception of One ram, 3 Sows, and One bitch. — I am sorry to say very great dissatisfaction has been expressed on both sides by Captn Mordaunt & Mr Strike, which would take more time to investigate than I can bestow upon it — especially as the most confident assertions absolutely contradictory are made by the parties, and the obtaining of Evidence is very difficult. The Captn charges him with falsehood and dishonesty — and other Crimes — while he charges the Captn. with having New page Written spaced appropriately along the right hand margin, at right angles to the main body of the letter referring to the contents of the letter Farm let at 10/- Pr Acre. For One Year. Goods Pr Canton Fire Engine Text continues Used the Company’s Hay &ca. for the Ships Stock, & obstructed him in his attention on the Co’s Stock &ca. In the close of Your letter Pr. Trusty, you Refer to the Leasing of Country Lands — On that subject I refer to my letter of the 18th Inst. — and have only now to add that I have leased a portion of land in C District called the Horse Shoe from the peculiar bend of the river there — say about 120 Acres — for One Year — at Ten Shillings Per Acre — Whatever improvement the \ Tenant / makes on the Land, we Reap the advantage of, in the event of the lease not being renewed for whatever permanent buildings he erects with Our sanction, he is to be paid for according to the judgment of 2 arbiters, if he shall leave a Year hence. — The Situation is a Choice One — on the way to Encounter Bay — can be fenced in from \ owing to / the form of the land, at little expense — but when the term of One Year is Considered — that the Ground has to be broken up — that it is Twenty Miles from town — and the Lease to begin On the 1st Proxo. it will explain to You, the uncertainty which attaches to the granting of leases in England and how false a criterion is mere distance from town — While that Section is 20 miles from town there are many, which were included in the preliminary Sections, not 2 miles from town, which owing to the want of Water &ca. are not worth 2/- Pr Acre — II The Communications Pr. Canton. The Goods Pr Canton are in the Course of being delivered that vessel having after landing the Stock, Passengers & Luggage at Holdfast Bay, went round to the Harbour — got safely in without touching the ground, then drawing 14 ft 6

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 56 of 173 ______inches — She is the largest Vessel that was ever in the harbour of Port Adelaide — The “Trusty” is lyeing a little farther up — but both Captains complain of the uncommon delay and expense connected with discharging there — Captn Mordants men were two days in getting One Boat Load Landed — it grounded &ca. I defer my observations generally as to the Stock Pr Canton, till I have had an Opportunity of Seeing Mr Randell & Mr Stuart more particularly as to this subject — Your attention in keeping us supplied with Oil Casks is very gratifying, but they suffer sadly when set up, and exposed to the burning heat of the Sun — This afternoon the SI Fire Engine was received into our Yard here, in capital condition so far as seen — It seems a beautiful engine — but sending it now is premature — and the distance which the town is from the River, owing to the intervention of the Park &ca. will render it, I fear of little actual use — Long may New page Written at the top in pencil 31 Written down the left hand margin at right angles to the text 23 May. Text continues it be ere we Require to try its efficiency in extinguishing any fire. It is well that You did not engage any fireman — as fire engine was sent out early by the Commrs. which has never been worked — has stood without Covering, exposed to all Weathers — we shall take better care of Ours. [In margin 23 May] The Resolutions of the Board as to the purchase of Stock, Occasioned by the heavy losses sustained last Year, shall regulate my conduct till further Orders — I have consequently declined some pressing applications for our purchasing Cattle & Sheep — the only One I entertained, was a proposal from Messrs. Hack, to give us a further share of their Cattle, now at Portland Bay — and my principal reason for entertaining the proposal was the expectation of procuring advantageous employment for One Trip at least, for the Lord Hobart — My first wish was to let the Lord Hobart to Messrs. Hack but this they declined. They then offered to supply us with what number she could carry, deliverable On the beach at Portland Bay at Ten guineas a head assorted as their Stock \ Herd / was, or at what they said [illegible deletion ] \ would / bring out this average, viz 12 Gs. for Bullocks & Cows 3 Years Old & upwards 9 Gs for Heifers & Steers 2 Years @ 3 years 7 Gs. for Heifers & Steers 1 Year @ 2 Years This offer is now before me having been made in writing yesterday, but I mean to decline it — in conformity with the Orders of the Board — from an apprehension that the Lord Hobart cannot be got ready (her rigging requiring to be Overhauled & the Ship Caulked) in time for her getting to Portland Bay, so as to Secure the promised aid of Captn Hart in Shipping the Cattle, and from a wish to avoid drawing on You at present for this object & from Other Considerations. — At the same time, I take the liberty of saying, that in very few cases indeed, is it advisable for the Directors to give absolute directions to their manager here. (I write not personally but officially,) as a thousand Circumstances may exist which may prove indisputably, that he Ought for the interest of the Co to act in Opposition to these directions. — Will you permit me to add, that I do not see the consistency between the Resolution of the board last quoted by You in your letter Pr. “The Canton”, and the Comment you make upon

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 57 of 173 ______it. The terms of the Resolution, are, that “not to purchase any more sheep or cattle, until further Orders, except what may be indispensably necessary Required, for Working purposes”. The Comment is in the following words, “this will not prevent your buying Stock for food or for draught”. The discrepancy seems to me to lye in this, that the comment gives a degree of latitude which the Resolution seems to New page Written down the right hand side at right angles to the text Captn Martin.— Text continues have been intended to withhold — 1st \ particularly / as Respects purchases “for food” — that is, I suppose for fattening for food. and 2nd In the mean time I feel Relieved by the Resolutions of the Directors, from a degree of Responsibility which previously attached to the Office I have the honour to hold — in Reference to which subject, I beg to add, that no relief can be more gratifying to my feelings as the extent — variety — and Weight of Responsibility under which I have lain, since the 16th. October last, is all but Overpowering. — I shall however continue — in all cases to exercise the best of my judgment for the interest of my employers, and in forming that judgment, one of the most material items shall be, the instructions of the Board, and if in any instance, I deviate from them, it shall be only when a clear case Occurs, which falls within the general discretionary powers, with which the Directors have honoured me. — I am happy that the Board wished me to take the earliest opportunity of dispensing with the Services of the Emma. The Copy of Your letter to Captn Martin Pr Canton, I have Read with much attention — He has never yet been settled with by Mr S. Stephens — the part of his answer the documents requisite for the examination of his accounts, were Received by me at Kingscote immediately before Mr S in the end of March last from Mr. Stephens. Immediately thereafter I came Over hither by the John Pirie — Captn Martin, was seized while here while on horseback with a fit of Epilepsy — fell and was seriously injured — he has now recovered — and I intend that he shall go Over Per the Lord Hobart to Kingscote, to bring Over the Sir Charles McCarthy, to be laid up at Port Adelaide, as a Store Ship, which I hope will afford us great facilities for the discharge of Cargoes, & the preservation of our Goods. The extent to which Captn. Martin has trafficked on his own account is could not be sanctioned by me — He and Captn. Wright have enjoyed a degree of confidence under my predecessor, which they were not likely to Retain under me — The investment in the Town lands, by any of the present Officers of the Company, has not been, I think, Other than legitimate, and [illegible deletion] I have no apprehension, that any “speculative jobbing” will ensue, in Regard to these Town lands. — I notice your intention to send a Pile driving machine, so as to enable us to construct a jetty &ca. “at Kingscote or at any Other place, absolutely secured to the Company” — I have all along been grieved at the expenditure — I may say — the unavoidable expenditure — New page Written at the top of the page in pencil 32 Written down the left hand side at right angles to the text Jetty at Kingscote Mr. Mildred and Dock-Yard. Text continues

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 58 of 173 ______at Kingscote — and have deferred Operations there, chiefly because of the uncertainty which attached to the Continued Occupation of Kingscote — and because in the prospect of an town being established there, and the Government claiming as they do, land for Wharfs and Wharfage — declaring all goods liable to be seized which are Landed Otherwise than at the Public Wharf — I thought that it lay with the Government to build Jetties &ca. and not with the Co. I have thus in some measure exhausted the subjects introduced in your esteemed favours Pr The Trusty & Canton, and shall now advert to some Other subjects connected with these and not embraced by any Other letter by this Opportunity — One of the most important Subjects, is the Dock-Yard, a subject which has long been a source of anxiety and difficulty. — I observe you have heard from Mr. Mildred as to the want of accommodation, particularly for Mrs. M. on arrival — I daresay you will hear from him frequently on that & Similar subjects — I do not know if he has had the candour to tell you, that altho’ I had only two rooms, in Mr. Stephens house, for my son and Myself for sitting in, & Sleeping in, (he & I sleeping the One room) I proposed giving up One of them to Mrs. M. during her confinement, provided that Mr. & Mrs. Stephens were agreeable to the arrangement—to this Mr. S objected, and I was afterwards satisfied that he acted properly in doing so — all this Mr. Md knew — did he tell You of it? I should not — had not your reply to him, led me to imagine, that justice to myself rendered it proper — Passing from this personal matter to the Subject of the Dock-Yard, I beg to state briefly what has been done — Mr. Mildred & I examined the two acres at the harbour purchased for a Dock-Yard on the Recommendation of L Col. Light as those which had the deepest Water alongside — We found they would not answer except as for small craft and that as the ground there is frequently under Water, some considerable expense must be incurred in embanking — Some Other Acres, the property of Mr. Strangways, are more suitable, greater depth of Water, & the Water Land not subject to be overflowed — The All the acres On that side of the harbour have only about half an acre length of frontage, so that Mr. Mildred thought We should Require 3 or 4 acres — Mr. Strangways asked £50 for each of 3 contiguous \ acres / which were suitable but two difficulties occurred — besides that of paying £150 for the Site, the government claims a Right of Road at least 66 ft. wide — (which I believe would have been New page Written down the right hand side of the page at right angles to the text No Situation for Dock-yard suitable Schooner Victoria underwater Text continues relinquished in Our favour) and they \ on / consulting the harbour master, as to Our laying down a Slip way at these Acres of Mr. Strangways, whether or not, it would obstruct the Navigation of the harbour — they were given to understand that it would — and that the harbour Master Recommended a place 3 or 4 miles down — higher up than which, it could not be laid — I send You a Copy of the Reply, I had from the Colonial Secretary — Mr. Mildred felt very much disappointed & said, that if it had been his case, he would at Once have got Mr. Strangways acres, and begun operations — and that he was satisfied no interruption would have been offered — The Operations connected with this said Dock-Yard if the Common Slipway, and the Patent Slipway be laid down — the Steam Engine erected and the Saw Mill erected — and the necessary accommodation for the Workmen provided will Cost, according to Mr. Mildreds, general impressions £15,000 — or upwards, and take 3

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 59 of 173 ______or 4 Years to finish — The idea of beginning such Operations, with out the Sanction of the Authorities, who could, any day, issue an injunction against farther proceedings — is Monstrous — and even the idea of beginning them at all, in the present state of the Company’s affairs and finances, is what I cannot sanction — so that the Refusal of the Colonial government is to me very acceptable. — et here is Mr. Mildred fretting constantly at the nonfulfilment of engagements — and at Kingscote are his men drawing high wages & doing little for them — I hoped that he had been so highly qualified professionally — and withal possessed of so much good sense, sound judgment, and Zeal in the Company’s Service, that I should have had nothing to do in the details of that department, (of which I am utterly ignorant) but only to have given my sanction to measures, the propriety of which was quite obvious — & measures of so general a kind, that Reference to me would have required to have been made very seldom. \ Alas, how disappointed. — / Besides having little confidence in his judgement on general subjects — and a poor opinion of his Zeal in the Co’s service, I am afraid his professional skill does not justify the expectations formed by the Board — During my last absence from Kingscote, the \ new / Schooner Victoria was heaved down, to examine her bottom as she had touched On the Sand spit — and while the Operations connected therewith were going On — and Mr. Mildred was there she fell Over — and lay in that state the greater part of her Deck under Water — for 3 or 4 days — Mr. M. pleads the want of suitable Craft at Kingscote at the time for the Operation — the combination of unfavourable circumstances which could not have \ been /anticipated, and among Others, the State of the Wind & tide — the tide not having ebbed a foot for 3 or 4 days, & the Wind such that the men could not go to work — So soon as the Weather moderated, she was got up, & he assured me, she sustained no injury — Considering the im- portance New page Written in pencil at the top right hand corner 33 Written at right angles to the text along the left hand side of the page One of the Directors Wished Out.— Saw Mill Flour Mill [ … ] Sarah and Elisabeth. Text continues -portance of this business, and the contemplated amount of expenditure, with the Certainty, that Mr. Mildred & I will differ in judgment, the Board will not be surprised that I cling to the hope, that I shall by & by have the happiness of seeing either the respected Chairman, or One of the Directors to decide on this and other weighty matters nor will they, I hope be displeased with me re-stating my Conviction that Mr. Angas, or some One of the directors Ought to come — [illegible deletion] Before passing from the subject of the Dock-Yard, I beg to state that the Only thing which I think we can do in the mean time, is to have the Sir Charles brought Over — have her fitted up by Mr. M and his men, as a Store Ship, and there after let him & them build us Some barges or Small craft on our Own acres, doing what Repairing work may be Required, either Our Own Ships or those of Others. Connected with the subject, as those of the Saw Mill and Flour Mill — and Steam Engine — These all are in abeyance — The expense of Sawing is enormous —12/- to 15/- & in some Cases 20/- for 100 ft — but at the same time while the question of the Dock-Yard is undetermined, it would not do, to appropriate the Steam Engine to any Other object. — And from the Size of the Engine it cannot be worked on either, separately, but at a very great

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 60 of 173 ______disadvantage and as to the Saw Mill, all accounts agree in representing it as being so old, as to be not worth putting up, — Another purchase similar to that of the Sarah & Elisabeth — which I am at Once Surprised and vexed, the Directors ever made. — As to the Flour Mill — Mr Randell is very desirous of having the flour Mill set agoing — if by Steam it must be postponed — and no certainty is yet obtained, as to the practicability of having a flour Mill driven by Water. — as to this Mr. Randell proceeds in a day or two to One of our country Sections. — 24th. May I have just referred to the Sarah & Elisabeth. — as to which I presume you will have heard ere this Reaches You, My information is partly defective owing to my having Received only the Dup.of Mr. Orr’s letters of 20 Ultimo. in which he has not enclosed Dup. of the Surveyor’s Report — the defect is partly supplied by a letter which I had from my Son from dated Hobart Town 24th April — from which I have Received the melancholy intelligence, that the Sarah & Elisabeth was found to be quite unseaworthy—a considerable part of her “timbers & Planks, rotten” — her Stern timbers & Stern post particularly, quite decayed. Two Surveys had been held — of the Reports I have not copies — My Son gives me extracts — the whole of the information obtained, I have Communicated to Mr. Mildred and agreeably to his Recommendation, I mean to write Mr Orr by the present Opportunity, that nothing more ought to be done than is absolutely necessary to render her Seaworthy — but even this I presume will infer an ex- New page Written down the right hand side of the page at right angles to the text: Lord Hobart Col. Commissioners Procrastination. Articles Not to be Sent Whale— Caught Tenants’ Claim Text continues penditure of not less than £1000 — And after all, what will she be fit for? How can we make her pay? I am extremely sorry to say, that the Lord Hobart, is so leaky — and has been so neglected, while under Captn. Macintosh, that she cannot be sent to sea, till she be overhauled by Mr Mildred & his men — and the rigging repaired &ca. I noticed her return in the concluding part of my letter of the 18th Instt. — She got very little repairs on the ship at Sydney — the expenditure was for Sails — Stores — Wages to Crew & Labourers & provisions while there — She got on Board 120 Ponies & landed only 7 or 8 — I beg reference to my letter of the 18 April, [illegible deletion] Dup. herewith sent as to my application to Mr Fisher — for partial settlement — that application was received by Mr E S. during my absence — has been made repeatedly by me — or rather application for a complete settlement — and I have got nothing, but shuffling excuses & promises — Birdseye has not yet made his report, Mr Fisher has been so incessantly occupied with the land &ca. I am quite disgusted, but shall put off no longer — Birdseye will report unfavourably — Gilles will refuse to draw — and Legal measures I believe will require to resorted to. — Send no more — Tar — Pitch — Gunpowder — Shot — Butt flags — Roman Cement — Essence of Spruce — Cork — Bricks — Casements — Rosin — Muskets — Guns — Earthenware — Fishing tackle — Cast Iron Stoves & Pipes — till further Orders.— This day I had the pleasure of hearing from Encounter Bay — They had got one large whale, which yielded from 9 to 10 Tuns — The weather had been very bad — The men were on the whole in good spitirs and determined to make a season —

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 61 of 173 ______

I am sorry to say, the Tenants in a body have written me, claiming as their right that they should have the choice of all the Company’s land which is beyond 3 miles from town, and asking me to inform them of all the Sections that we have beyond that boundary — They are I believe instigated & headed by Thomas Wilson Jr. who has no right to complain — For a paltry farm of 67 acres he forsooth must have more than 5 Sections submitted to him — I must take the bull by the horns — In your letter to Mr Sergeant you say the choice New page of “all the unappropriated lands” beyond three miles from town — I fear you have committed us, and from the position of our Country Lands generally — at so much greater distance, I anticipate nothing but dissatisfaction on the part of future tenants and trouble to us in proportion to the number that arrives. — With the most respectful expression of continued devotedness to the interests of the Company —personal attachment to the members of the Board \ to / whom I had the honour of being introduced — and sincere regard for yourself I am, very sincerely Dear Sir Your mo obed St David McLaren Manager The cover page repeats information about the letter: 4. Original D McLaren to Mr Wheeler 22 May 1838 on General business And repeated twice the following: 1838 D McLaren Adelaide 22 May Recd 18 Octr Ansd 24 ″

New letter Written at the top right hand corner in pencil 35 Original. Per Abeona, to Hobart Town. Recd 1/12/38 Private Ansd 4/2/39 South Australian Company Adelaide 31st. May 1838 Edmund, J Wheeler Esquire Manager So An Co. London, Dear Sir Written in the margin beside the text

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 62 of 173 ______

Mr. S. Stephens Text begins My last despatches were made up, on the 25th. Inst. & forwarded from this, Pr Black Joke, of which I now send Duplicates. At that time I really could not command the leisure which was requisite to reply to a letter which though comparatively short, is so important as your private letter of the 9 December, giving me “authority to re-instate Mr. Samuel Stephens as the Agricultural Manager or in any other capacity you (I) may see fit, should you deem such a measure advisable and feel, after a full investigation of all his proceedings anterior to your arrival that justice demands the adoption of this step.” I beg in the first place, to tender the Board my most Respectful thanks, for this renewed proof of their confidence in me, at the same time, I have only to refer to the reply which I formerly made, when the same investigation into ‘all his proceedings anterior to my arrival’ — was suggested by the Board, and I have to express my earnest hope, that the reply then made, will satisfy the Board that such an investigation was impracticable. If I was correct, in taking that view of the case, at the time when I made that reply, most assuredly the events which have occurred, & the manner in which my time and attention have been engaged \ since / confirm the correctness New page Written along the right hand side of the page at right angles to the text: Removal rather premature Cannot co-operate with S. S Text continues of that view. His removal from office must remain the act and deed of the Directors — It was I think premature — it seemed to have been occasioned in part by the want of advices from him — an omission which I am not disposed to extenuate — but of which the extent in the case of Mr. S.S. could not be accurately known, at the time when he was removed from office — owing to the uncertainty which attaches to the transmission of letters from this distant land, especially in the first few months after his arrival here. — and which, however, unpleasant irritating to the feelings of the Directors, would have required to be very flagrant, to have had any influence in removing such an officer, from Office. — Under these impressions, and from a conviction that the measures were calculated to promote the interests of the Co. I made the arrangements with him formerly reported — these arrangements he terminated and till I hear from you, in after the receipt of the information, then transmitted by me, I do not think it would be advisable in me to renew an negotiation with him — and the more especially as his conduct \ since then / in various respects, has been such, that I cannot have confidence in him uniformly maintaining collectedness of mind — nor can I, or other officers of the Company, co-operate with him — These other officers are Mr. E. Stephens, and Mr. Randell — I believe the Board is aware of Mr. Sam Stephens peculiar disposition and temper — he must be first not second — He must have the sole direction of any business in which he is engaged — and can admit \ of / no co-adjutor — The first day I landed in this Colony, altho’ the Sabbath day, I saw this and felt this and notwithstanding all the gratification which New page I have enjoyed in consequence of my appointment to the honourable office I hold, and of my intercourse with the Directors — I say deliberately, that had I known the dissimilarity between the Colonial Manager & myself — and could I have anticipated the difficulties which have arisen from that source alone, I should not have been, in South Australia. —

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 63 of 173 ______

On these grounds then, while I have not changed my opinion of the acuteness of Mr S.S and of the Good which he might have done to the Country Company, I consider it my Duty to decline re-instating him in any Official situation [word missing due to page cut] the Company’s service — In coming to this conclusion I am gratified in knowing, that not-withstanding the existence of strong brotherly affection on the part of Mr. E.Stephens towards Mr. S.S, he approves of the decision, and regards it as the only one to which I could in the faithful discharge of my Duty to the Company come. — I make this communication with regret, on many accounts, but I have no alternative — I am with much respect My Dear Sir Your Mt & Obd St David McLaren Manager The letter is addressed as follows. It was sealed with a wax seal, with some of the red wax remaining in place: Private Edmund, J, Wheeler Esquire, Manager So Australian Co 19 Bishopsgate St. Within London Twice repeated for convenience on the folded document, at different angles: 1838 D McLaren Adelaide 31 May Recd 1 Decr Ansd 4 Feb

New letter Recd 1/12/38 Original Pr. Abeona to Hobart Town Recd 4/2/39 South Australian Co. Adelaide 7 June 1838 Written down the left hand side of the page Arrival of Goshawk Contemplated Seizure Text begins Dear Sir, I had this pleasure on the 22/23d Ulto. and now hand Duplicate of the same. I have since then had the pleasure of Your favour of 1st. Jany Per Goshawk, and am gratified in knowing that you had received my letters of the 4/7 August forwarded from this, Per Africaine. — to which I doubt not, I shall soon have your reply — which I wait with some anxiety — I hand also Dup. of my letter of 18 Apl. In which you will observe I mentioned having months previously to that date, having written to the Colonial Secretary as to the landing of Goods at Kingscote, to which I had got no reply — nor have I yet. — The Goshawk arrived at Kingscote on 14

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 64 of 173 ______

May — No Opportunity having occurred I heard nothing of it, till the 1st. Instt. when I heard from Mr. Gilbert Post-master, that the Goshawk was at Kingscote — In the course of that day I was sent for, by the Advocate General on the ground of a complaint by the Harbour Master, that the Goshawk was discharging at Kingscote, contrary to the Provisions of the “Port Act” — and that all the goods so landed were seizable — The Pelorus Sloop of War having just arrived from the westward and Mr. Stephen (Advocate General) informed me, it was the Governor’s intention to go over to Kingscote on that business — that he (Mr Stephen) & Mr. Stevenson were to accompany him — I said I should be happy to go with them — I afterwards saw the Governor, & learned from him, that they had no intention of seizing the Ship or Cargo, unless it should turn Written at the foot of the above page E.J. Wheeler Esqre Manager So Austn Co London — New page Written along the right hand side, at right angles to the text: Departure of Governor to Kingscote Bad State of Cargo Injurious effects On Whale Fisheries Text continues out that Wines Spirits or Tobacco had been landed — and that one object of his going over, was that he might see for himself, Nepean Bay, in order to declaring Kingscote a Port, a measure which for the last 12 months I have been urging him to adopt. They sailed on the 2nd. Instt. And Mr. Wm Giles Jr. who came over with the despatches &ca. Per Goshawk, returned in the Pelorus — so that I considered it unnecessary to leave my Station here. — W.G. Jr. confirms in all its extent the mournful representations of Mr. Swaine as to the Cargo particularly the Bread, & Flour — After the dreadful loss arising from the bad Condition in which the Bread & Flour Recd Pr Solway — and the dissatisfaction and complaints thence arising were just about being got over, to have such a Cargo brought out as the Goshawks in bad condition is heart-sickening beyond expression. — You cannot imagine the disadvantages & difficulties thus Occasioned — At the risk of being tedious, I shall detail what happened last week as illustrative of this. — Mr. Mcfarlane sent the Victoria from Thistles Island to Kingscote, in consequence of the combined complaints of the Whalers there, of the Provisions — and chose to Submit to all the disadvantages of Cutting in, on the rocks — rather than wt. the Victoria as a Cutting in Ship. — He has got One Whale and had great hopes of making a good season, if the Men’s complaints were removed. — Mr. Harper sent me notice, Overland, from Rosetta fishery that his Men had knocked off Work, because of the inferior provisions. — He had got them to carry On, under the assurance that I would do every thing in my power for their relief. I have sent his letters to Kingscote, that they might send a Supply, & I have sent him 4 Bags good flour by a vessel from this. He, I am happy to say, had got 4 Whales with every prospect of a good season, Were the Men supplied wt Proper provisions — Thus after all Our expense labour, and anxiety, the success of both fisheries, is put in jeopardy, by the State of the Provisions, and at the same time a very large Supply of Provisions, equally bad or Worse arrives — Can any thing be more vexatious? New page Written in pencil at the top right hand corner of the page 38

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 65 of 173 ______

Written along the left hand side of the page at right angles to the text: Discrepancy between the Tender B/L. Pr. Goshawk &c. Difficulties in Landing Cargoes at Pt. Adelaide Text continues Why did not Mr. Swaine Sell the Provisions which he knew were bad & getting worse, & send only that which was good, rather than Ship them On a 5 or 6 mo/ Voyage — As much of the disadvantage was Occasioned by the Goshawk not being at Hambro. on 4th Octr. you surely will not pay freight without Receiving compensation. — The Case has been made a great deal worse, by the blunder of Mr. Swaines clerk who filled up the Bills of Lading for the whole Cargo to be delivered “at the Ships final port of discharge” — In consequence of which as part of the Cargo according to my Orders, left wt. Mr Beare, had been discharged at Kingscote, the Captn. insisted on landing the Whole there — Or getting On Board all that had been landed (some of which Was Consumed) and bringing it all here. — The Real Reason is, he has heard of the uniform practice of Seamen deserting their Ships here, and he is apprehensive he will be detained and lose his freight from Valparaiso. I have written him Pr. W. Giles Jr. insisting on his Complying with the terms of the accepted Tender, leaving at Kingscote what Mr Beare ordered to be landed, and to bring the rest to Port Adelaide — I wonder you did not Observe the discrepancy between the Tender and the B/Lading, if You had the Opportunity of comparing them. — I hope to have it in my power to inform you before I despatch this, of the arrival of the Goshawk here — Application shall be made for the fittings &ca. Those by the Canton, we have not got — It seems they have been \ partially / cut up during the passage — Both the Canton & Trusty complain bitterly of their [illegible deletion] hands running away — and of the delay in discharging — Even the Lord Goderich is here still — I believe fm. want of hands. — The rates of freight are likely to advance — and from the number of Vessels which are laid On in England & the neighbouring Colonies. We will have quite an New page Written along the right hand side of the page at right angles to the text: Arrangements wt. Tenants of Country Lands. Mr. Hillier’s Case — Col Light. Text continues Overstocked Market — On the Other hand, from the number of immigrants is likely to be very great — We think — from the favourable notice of the Colony in various parts of England. & particularly from the state of Canada — and of Course, the consumption will be greatly increased. — I beg reference to my last on Country Lands 18th May Dup. enclosed, — I am happy to say, that by a little management, I have got them Tenants all pleased \ as to the extent of Choice. / Having by mistake, as mentioned in my last hand \ taken / the first three Reserves in district A, I proposed to the Tenants, in addition to 5 Sections (which was a limited enough Choice for 4 ½ Sections) — to give them 2 of these Reserves which was equivalent to giving them the \ choice of the / whole of the Sel unselected Sections in the Map, (about 300) to the extent of 2 Sections — with this they were satisfied — they have made their Selection — all excepting Mr. Gillman, the last, & I should not be Surprised, altho’ he would go home — he is Very much dissatisfied — Today Mr. Hillier offered to give up his lease, if I would place him in the same situation as he was in, when he came to the Colony — that he estimated would be done only by paying him £150 — The money he brought with him, professedly for the

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 66 of 173 ______purpose of expending it on his farm, (but as to which, I recollect, you expressed in his case some doubts) — has been expended in supporting his family — he has done his nothing — his Wife was all but Convicted of Theft and very disreputable accounts obtain as to some of his family — so that I am not surprised of his wishing to leave the colony — I believe it will be advisable to make a compromise with him — Were he to Sell his Lease and we acquiesce in, he would get all he seeks — The Lands laid down in the Map, which had not been chosen by the Preliminary holders, have been divided into 80 acre Sections — and the parties chose their Sections on the 6th. Inst — or Reserved the Choice for the Other districts — On that day a Public Dinner was given to Col. Light — it was numerously and Respectably attended — a very warm attachment to the Colonel pervades almost the whole Community, and a Conviction that amidst great personal Weakness, and bad health, New page Written in pencil at the top right hand corner 39 Written along the left hand margin at right angles to the text Lease of ¼ Acre @ £15 Pr. Acre Sale of Country Sectns by Governor, Mr. Kingston, Text continues and most discouraging circumstances, he has done his part nobly, Wisely and with singular correctness — It is reported that Mr Kingston had spoken disparagingly of the Colonel at home and may perhaps Return, Surveyor General, — if the first part of this Report be true, Kingston must be base indeed — if the Second, the Colony will lose its most serviceable and popular Officer — I am to sorry to say, that none of the Government Party were present at the Dinner, the Most of them are on board the Pelorus not yet Returned — but several of them Were in town — The Governor has had it in his power from his early choice of Country Lands, to inflict a Severe blow on the Town — while he has filled his pockets — and all, under the pretext of benefitting the poor — having had two Sections contiguous to the town, and on the bank of the river, he has disposed of One of them in half acres @ £5- each and the Other Section is in the Market on the same terms. —Thus the labouring population is removed from the natural scene of labour — extensive excresences are formed to the manifest injury of the Capital, and the fundamental principle of the Colony, as Respects Withholding the facility of becoming Land-Proprietors, till after a period of Labour is uprooted. — See No. 1 of the Southern Australian Newspaper — I am surprised and pleased at the mildness of the article on this subject. I have concluded an arrangement wt. a Gentn. for a Quarter of lease of a Quarter of an Acre, nearest the harbour — of a Section chosen by me there — for Seven Years @ £15- Pr. Annum — I do not expect to get so much from any Other tenant, altho’ I should give double the Quantity of land, yet I mention this both for your information and as an evidence of the uncertainty which must attach to granting leases in England — According to the interpretation of the tenants, and Sanctioned by your explanation of the meaning of the term “unappropriated” — \ as stated by Mr. Sergeant — / any of the tenants might have insisted on having a half of this Section — Might have got for One Quarter of an Acre, double the Rent he was to pay for the whole, with pasturage beside and the Right of Purchasing the Whole for £100 — of which the 268th part would have yielded 15% on the purchase price of the Whole —

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 67 of 173 ______

New page Written along the right hand margin at right angles to the text: Acre No 2. Harbour Mr. Fisher’s tardiness in Settling Freight Per Lord Hobart. Corn Mills and farms.— Text continues I am sorry to say, the Question as to the Company’s Acre at the harbour (No 2.) is still undecided wt. the Government — The Matter has been left to be arranged by Mr. Mann as Representing the Co. and Mr. G. M. Stephen Advocate General, as Representing the Government — but owing to the absence of this last named Gentn. nothing definitive has been settled. — With Reference to Dup. of my general letter, 22/23d Ultimo. herewith sent, I beg to say, that my application to Mr. Fisher, for settlement of the Freight Pr. Lord Hobart, has been renewed in a way which brought Out Birdseye’s Report, & Mr. Fisher’s views — which so that the Only point On which he made a Stand, was One which had Nothing to do, with the Charter-party, or the payment of the freight — viz the state of the Water Casks, which I bought from Captn. Macintosh, and sold Mr Fisher — On the faith of Captn. Macintosh’s Representations, both as to quantity and State. — Whatever allowance may be made, on that account, I insisted, on having a Settlement of the freight. I was particularly desirous of Remitting of the Drafts by this Opportunity — but am very doubtful indeed, if I shall succeed. The amount is £1685.1.6. Mr. Randall reports as to One of Our Sections chosen f as a Site for a Corn Mill, that One might be created there with a great Probability of a Supply of Water during the greater part of the Year. From all appearances, there Will be \ little or / no corn grown here, this next Season, so that Our Corn must be imported — and unless I am much mistaken, it will be a considerable time before any farmer in this Colony can grow Corn so as to compete with imported Grain. — And small Capitalists, who come Out a farming New page Written in pencil at the top right hand corner 40 Text continues and devote their attention to the cultivation of the soil, and raising Crops of Wheat Barley or Oats, will I am persuaded make their small Capital, smaller — Messrs Wilson Sleep & Robson, unite Bullock driving, and Wood-splitting &ca. and contemplate planting potatoes &ca. and in this way will do well — D I mentioned some considerable time ago my intention to erect some Cottages & Buildings on some of the Company’s Town Acres. This has been done, agreeably to a plan, drawn Out by Mr. E. Stephens, On Acres 18.19.44 & 45. — a Block of 4 — of which 2 front The North Terrace — and 2 Rundle Street. A street of 40 feet (private) is run between Rundle St. and North Terrace, which I purpose naming “Stephens Place” — these acres are subdivided, so as that We have already built a Store for Mr. John Russell, (a particular friend of mine from Scotland) — The Printing Office of the “Southern Australian” — & Six cottages— \ average Cost about £220 — each / and in the course of erection Other three Cottages — all Brick Buildings — and space for 6 or 8 cottages more — The public float of those will All that have been finished, are let on the terms of 20 Pr Ct on Outlay including the Ground valued at about £50 — Pr Acre. — so that, when completed it will be a beautiful Property — and yield a Sure and handsome Return. — We have — in this Case also a proof of the uncertainty which attaches to Leasing Land in this Colony — About 9 months ago, I let a half of One of these Acres, to a Mr Finlayson, then & still in the Service of the Co. as a Gardener &ca. on a

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 68 of 173 ______

Lease of at least Seven years — (with a promise to extend it, if I could to 14) for £5 5/- Pr an — he building a cottage on it — and paying us 20 Pr Ct on the expense of fencing it — 11 June — Monday — The Governor & Party have Returned — every thing was arranged comfortably at Kingscote as Respects the Goshawk — and measures are to be taken now for declaring it a port — By Hobart Town Newspapers we have New page Written along the right hand margin at right angles to the text: Opening of The Mails by the Governors Orders. — Anticipated change of Governor, Text continues the particulars of the meeting held at the Crown & Anchor, relative to the Recal of the Governor, and the appointment of a Successor — By some seeming fatality, the Governor has incensed the whole mercantile Community against him — by Ordering the Advocate General, while with him On Board the Pelorus, to Open the Mails Recd. from the Barque “Hartley” & the Henry Freeling — both those for this, & for the \ Swan / Swan River!! these last were Opened, because the Captn of the Pelorus supposed that there might be a letter for him, from the Superior Officer on the Station!! A public meeting was has been Called to express the disapprobation of the Colonists — In private, I told the Advocate General , today, that I regarded it, as an Act of felony — and that the more publicly — and the more dese decidedly any person expressed his disapprobation, the kinder a part, did he act to the Governor and his friends, — The Governor Replied Pr Pelorus, to the dispatches, he took the Mails — but she took no Public Mail — I fear Mr. John Hutt is not the man for us — Had Mr. William Hutt being disposed to come, and been appointed, The Colony would have continued rapidly to progress and all classes been pleased — It will be deeply to be Regretted, if the Col Commrs shall continue to keep the Salary so low, as to prevent a man of decided talent accepting the situation of Governor. Come who may, I earnestly hope, that the precise line of that shall mark the Powers & Duties of the Governor, & Resident Commr, will be so plain, as to prevent all misunderstanding & Collision — and that the late absurd Regulations, as to the mode of providing the necessary funds for carrying On the Government, will be rescinded — and more extended discretionary powers committed to the R.t Commr than those Regulations confer, as well as either a Change in the Treasurership or the entire subjugation of that officer to the Orders of the Rt Commissioner Written in pencil at the top right hand corner 41 Written along the left hand margin at right angles to the text: Sarah & Elisabeth. Refusal of Trear. To draw for Freight Pr. Lord Hobart, Public Meeting as to Mail Text continues In my last, 22d/23d Ulto. Per accompanying Duplicate I mentioned the Case of the Sarah & Elisabeth — It was only not till the 8 Inst. That I Received the full particulars of this melancholy Case — I presume You will have been informed of it, by Mr. Orr, or Captn. Wakeling, but I think it proper to Send you the letter which I received by that Opportunity from my Son — a Copy of the Surveyors Reports and of the Reply which I sent Mr. Orr, on the 24th Ulto. after having consulted fully with Mr. Mildred. I cannot venture to give any absolute Orders in the matter — nor can I go thither, as I should most cheerfully have done, could had other engagements permitted — nor even send Mr. Mildred who is engaged at Kingscote wt. the Lord Hobart — & Sir C. McCarthy — Written in the margin as an additional and preface to the paragraph: Saturday Ev.g

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 69 of 173 ______

Text continues 16 June — The Sailing of the Abeona, has been delayed she goes positively On Monday Morning — I briefly resume my narrative — Mr. Gilles has positively Refused to draw On the Commissioners for the Freightage of the Lord Hobart. I shall act according to Mr. Mann’s advice as to Legal form & mode of proceding and according to my best judgment — Mr. Fisher & Others know, that when I consider the interests of the So. Austr. Co. are concerned, — I know no man — I think, an action at Law will Require to be Raised here agt. Mr Fisher and your application to the Commissioners at home for Settlement be based on his not having conformed to the terms of the Charter Party, and that established by the Judgment of the Supreme Court of the Province. — The So Austn. Gazette of this evening publishes in full my Bill for freight — furnished of Course by Mr. Gilles — how base. — I hope the Directors Will approve (if they think it proper to advert to the Case at all) of my having taken the Chair at the Public Meeting as to the Governor opening the Public Mails — On the following day I had a long interview wt. the Governor & advocate General — explaining very Respectfully but plainly my sentiments & motives — and altho they Regret, that I attended they are satisfied that my being in the Chair was of considerable service to the Govr. for whh he thanked me — New page Written in pencil at the top left hand corner of the page 10 Written along the right hand margin at right angles to the text: Death of One Devon Bull Bullock—department & Mr. Randell. 1500 Lambs this Season expected Durham Bull wanted R fishery 50 Tuns Kingscote Text continues I am extremely sorry to say, that both the Devon Yearling Bulls ex Canton have had Cold, and have not thriven as we wished, since they were landed and On Wednesday Evg. One of them died — the Other is now almost quite well— Mr Stuart & Mr. Strike both attended him — I made a minute investigation — and the Consequence is, that I have put the Herds as well as the Flocks, under Mr. Randell — and deeply, as I regret the loss of the Bull, a Bull loss which in present Circumstances cannot be Repaired — am persuaded that from the Change \ to / which it has led in the Managmt. We shall soon be compensated for even that very heavy loss. The Lambs are dropping fast, and from the judicious arrangements made by Mr. R. we have lost very — very few — He expects we shall have of lambs this Season about 1500 or more. — And he hopes to have the Shearing Over this Season, by about the time it began last Season —. Instead of a Sett of Worthless Vagabonds at the Sheep Station, Mr. R is collecting round him, trustworthy men and has very materially Reduced the expenditure — He Will effect both these objects too, in the Bullock department, in a Short time. — He reported Very favourably as to the Stock Pr. Canton but Recommends sending Out a \ Pure / Durham Bull for Our Breeding Stock — The Bull which got the first prize last Year at the Durham show — has gone to Sydney — Pr. Mary Anne — she passed Kingscote about Six weeks ago — all well but short of Water — At Rosetta Fishery Mr. Harper has got 6 Whales. About 50 Tuns of Oil — No further accounts from Thistles’ Island — I purpose Returning next week to Kingscote \ Per Canton, / There I am sorry to learn, the Officers & Men are with very few exceptions quite dissatisfied — private trading very

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 70 of 173 ______considerable — & a general wish to be released from existing engagements — I never Return to it, after the temporary absence, which so frequently New page Written in pencil at the top right hand corner 42 Written along the left hand margin at right angles to the text: Expected Favourable Arrangements. Kingscote— Text continues Occurs, but I find the Settlement in a Worse state than when I left it — and instead of having the difficulty arising from Other quarters alleviated & Soothed by my intercourse with my fellow officers there, these difficulties are aggravated & increased by their dissensions — their neglect of the Co.’s interests and their Selfish attention to their Own interests — What Ought to be done — I cannot say here — perhaps I may not be able to say decidedly, when there. — I am happy to learn that Mr John Germein has found fresh Water, near Point Marsden, about 500 Yards from the Other Well — It is of course kept Secret — I must apologise for the extreme length of my Communication — You have signified repeatedly, the Wish of the Board for particular information — I fear I Overdo it — and shall study greater brevity — Tell me what they wish, and in Any Matter, under my Own Control, I pledge myself their desires shall be gratified — Before actually closing this despatch, I beg to State, — that the Negotiation between us, and the Government, as to the Acre at the harbour — is in a very favourable train, for an immediate & amicable settlement — that I have let another Quarter of an Acre of the Section there for Seven Years, at Fifteen Pounds Per Annum. — and that I have next thing to arranged with Thos. Wilson Farm Tenant, for self & Father to forego their Claims for Compensation for delay &ca. by granting them a Loan in Bullocks &ca. of £250 — for 2 Years @ 15% Pr. Annum — Mr. Hillier will, I hope, be got Managed too — I have offered him £50. on Condition of his giving up his lease — he asks £150 — Other Opportunities of Writing, will Soon Occur, by which I shall at least transmit a Dup. of this lengthy epistle — Till then, & always, I am With Much Respect Dear Sir Your mo Obd St. David McLaren. No intelligence Yet of Lady Mary Pelham!! Enclosed is Certificate as to Oil Pr. Rapid — Should not the Date of Shipment been inserted — ? The Goshawk is coming over from Kingscote — 1838 D McLaren Adelaide 7 June 1838 Recd. 1 Decr. 1838 Ansd. 4 Feby 1839 At right angles to the above: No 8 1838 Original Letter to E. J Wheeler Per Abeona to Hobart Town Adelaide— 7/16 June

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 71 of 173 ______

Additional single page of text of the letter above with date 1/12/38 at top and number in pencil 43 Monday Morning. The Mail closes in an hour or so— 8 June Yesterday I had a letter from Captn Ross. Lady Mary Pelham — dated Port Jackson 5 May. Aaccompanied by a letter from Mr. A.B. Spark enclosing Copy of the Bottomry Bond — Captn. Ross says in Reference to the Surveys Protest & Vouchers of expenses at Sourabaya, — “There is one set gone home to England direct from Sourabaya to Mr. G.F. Angas Chairman to the Co” Mr. Spark says “If the Co appoint old men to command their ships with neither physical nor mental energies sufficient to conduct enterprises involving hardship & danger they need not be surprised at failure.” The two instances I have seen I fear justify the Remark — He adds, “I enclose a Copy of the Bottomry Bond, by which you will see that nearly £1700 is payable on delivery of the Cargo. This Cargo consists chiefly of about 140 Tons of Sugar consigned to Messrs Thos Gore & Co & 9 Tuns of Sperm Oil — the Result of a Long fishing — The Freight of the sugar is £3. Pr. Ton in full, & the balance of the Oil about £58 Pr. Tun showing scarcely £900 Nett — to pay the above amount — ” — He waits instructions from me — The Stern — & One of the Masts Require Repair &ca. Oh how grieved I am, On ac/ of the Directors & the State of the Shipping Department of the Co and On account of the continued & increasing difficulties in which I am involved — The John Pirie having been Ordered to Sydney, We shall have the additional advantage of Captn. Martin’s advice. but I see nothing for us, but discharging the Bottomry Bond which I hope You will Recover, & order her to be Repaired — I shall endeavour to write Mr. Spark by this Opportunity — Another Will be had in a day or two via Hobart Town “The Lord Goderich” — by which the Bank letter must be sent, & present deficiencies made up — I am my Dear sir, Yours Very Truly David McLaren—

New letter Written in pencil at the top right hand corner 44 Duplicate. Recd 4/2/39 Original Pr “Abeona” via Hobart Town. South Australian Compy Adelaide. 7 June 1838 Edmund J Wheeler Manager. Dear Sir I shall devote this letter to the Melancholy Case of the Barque “The South Australian”, Agreeably to my letter of 18 April Original via Launceston, Dup herewith. the \ Nett / proceeds of the sale £404.15.6 were paid unto the Bank here at. Mr. Morphetts suggestion acquiesced in by me rather than “by my orders” for transmission to you on account of those concerned. The importance of the operations connected with the selection of the Country Lands, the necessity of making up the requisite documents &ca. prevented us making that remittance by the “Black Joke” via Launceston

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 72 of 173 ______

I presume the whole of the papers now sent may not be absolutely necessary but I am desirous that every possible facility should be given you in recovering the Amount Presented and as a means therto. that the Underwriters should be satisfied that Good faith has been maintained throughout The Documents now sent consist of No 1. Copies of correspondences preparetory to the Sale ″ 2. Catologues of Sale 23 March 1838 ″ 3. Account of Second Sale 30. March ″ 4. Copy Ac/Sale. & Nett Proceeds &c Bal £404.15.6 ″ 5 Copy Sundry Accts. Deducted from the amt of Gross proceeds by the Agent to Lloyds 231.1.6 ″ 6 Letter from Agent to Lloyds — 16. April — These several documents I hope will be quite satisfactory, The discharges by the Surveyors are still incomplete from the circumstances , that not having Cash with me at the time or some such cause. I gave Captn Duff an order on W. M. Orr Esqre. Hobart Town for the amount and Capt Person charge was passed so far as I recollect to his Credit in a/c Current which was finally settled at Kingscote. As formerly mentioned the Chronometer belonging to the South Australian was given to the Sarah & Elizabeth, I believe it is safe on board of her at Hobart Town, I wrote requesting that it might be retained and sent back hither, under the apprehension that some objection might be made by the underwriters in consequence of its not having been included in the Sale As the matter now stands I presume you will have no difficulty in settling with them for it and I beg further to transmit herewith two other accounts say A & B from Mr. Mann & Mr. Smart, Omitted to be charged to Lloyds Agent say £9.7.8, which should be deducted from the amount chargeable for the Chronometer £13.2 as mentioned in my letter to J W. 4 April think I have not reported to your what I did at the time of the sale. I was very desirous of being present at the sale which from what Mr. Morphett stated as mentioned in my letter to you of 2 Feby I calculated on as being in the end of March or rather beginning of April and under this impression I left this on the 5th Feb, While at Kingscote I was advised by Mr. Edw Stephens that Mr Morphett had fixed the 31. March and advertised accordingly in the Newspapers of the Neighbouring Colonies, but might have the sale a few day’s earlier, I heard nothing more it was not advertised in the Gazette here. Mr. Morphett considering that its Circulation here was so very limited, HandBills and Cata- New page Written in pencil at the top right hand corner 45 Text continues logues were published a few days before the 23rd March but not in time to allow Mr E S to inform me. — Reports were circulated by Capt Wright that the vessel was much injured by lying so long, On shore, that she had drifted further on the beach and was not worth by £200, what she was at first &c. — I sent down Mr. Mildred to examine her — who reported that she was much in the same state as when surveyed — He advised me not to give above £100 or so for her, adding that were he to bid £120 and she to be knocked down to him at that, he might probably regret that he had got her. I asked if £120 then was to be regarded as the Ultimum and if I should not have occasion to regret if I should bid £120 and another Person get her by advancing above that price he said

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 73 of 173 ______he thought I ought on no account to advance beyond £150. Thus instructed I came over, having in the interim been at Thistles Isld &c. and arrived here on the 29. March and learn on landing that she had been sold on the 23. March as P Catalogue £220. I told Mr Morphett very plainly how dissatisfied I was that I had not got previous information &c. he pleaded his right to exercise his own judgment in the time and Circumstances of the Sale and that he had done so in the manner which he thought most likely to promote the interests of all concerned, that on the Score of Courtesy he regretted there had been any disappointment to me. I bought the greater part of the sails on the Second day with the Boat &c. which last the “John Pirie” now has Mr. Pollard the purchaser of the hull previously to my arrival offered to Mr E Stephens to relinquish it in favour of the company for £50. New page after having heard of my arrival he withdrew that offer and asked a bonus of £100 which I declined, He bought the wreck of the Dart too I was very sorry I was not present at the sale of the Solway and that instructions more explicit were not left with Mr Edw Stephens but our experience of the enormous expenses connected with repairing and keeping the Sir Chas McCarthy disinclined us to more of that kind of work and in consequence of Mr E S. giving up bedding at £82 it was knocked down to Cap Wright a £83, I am with much respect My dear Sir Yr most obt Servt Pr. Pro Mr David McLaren Edw. Stephens. Addressed as follows on reverse: 1839 D McLaren 1838 Adelaide 7 June 1839 Recd — Ansd—4 Feby

New letter Written in pencil at the top right hand corner 46 Orig. Expected Pr. Abeona to Hobart Town— South Australian Co. Adelaide 21 June 1838 Morning.— My Dear Sir Yesterday afternoon, I had the pleasure of receiving Your important dispatches Pr Rapid, viz. Your letter of the 9th Febry On Bank affairs. Do of the 13th " On General ″ & Do of the 17th " Recal of Governor. With all the accompanying documents, of part of which, Captn Field, delivered personally, and very early.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 74 of 173 ______

I write at present, merely because I have a Chance, that I may catch the Abeona, for Hobart Town as She had not sailed from the harbour Yesterday — and I take leave to mention, that there is a Chance, that You may get this letter, and not the despatches which are at great length, that I sent off a few days ago. They went Pr the Mail — it was sent to Holdfast Bay, \ on the 18th Instt / in under the supposition that the Abeona had left the Harbour & would come in to the Bay Was put on board a vessel at the Bay, whh was going up to the harbour — The northerly Winds have prevented her — the Mail is to be relanded — The Abeona may not perhaps not put into the Bay — but go Without the Mail — I hope not — to the Copious despatches then sent by me I must refer the Board — Written at the bottom of the page Edmund. J. Wheeler Esqure. New page Text continues I have Read with interest your Correspondence with the Commissioners as to Our position in Kangaroo — it is now Out of date, but I am satisfied, the arrangement finally adopted by You & the Commrs would not have been acceded to, at any Meeting of “the Colonists” — that is of the Owners or Representatives of Owners of the Preliminary Land Orders — here — I consider that the question of the Buildings will not be disputed, as has been virtually conceded by default of the Colonial Commr not having gone Over, as he promised for 12 Months to do, and see the buildings, so as to decide in Regard to them, being, or not being conformable to the Land Order 438. I am greatly Relieved by learning that the Duke of York was fully insured — that You have heard of the disaster of the Lady Mary Pelham, and will I hope Recover the Bottomry Bond — You also that the St Australian was covered to the amt of £3900 which I hope You will Recover, Oh let no Town Lands — Leave that matter, as well as the Country Lands to us — if You please at least in the Mean time — But And send no Farm Labourers I am glad you have declined Sending Out many things which in my first letters I ordered — then I Received my information from Others. — I am highly gratified at the approbation expressed by the board of My Conduct — The difficulties whh. have since beset me have been very New page Great — In the midst of them I have done my best, but that is all, I plead — and My best I will do — in the hope that the Sincerity of My Devotion, and the entire consecration of my energies to the Service of the Co will excuse in the eyes of the Board, any deficiencies or mistakes \ with / of which I may be chargeable — I am ably Supported by Mr E Stephens, who deserves Well of the Board — I am Yours, in haste — But Very Respectful [last three letters not visible] David McLaren[last two letters not visible] The letter bears remnants of stamped red sealing wax, and has been post-marked four times. Two of the stamps are identical and read: INDIA LETTER ROMNEY A third reads ROMNEY SHIP LETTER

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 75 of 173 ______

The date stamp is round, reading as follows: D 7 FE 7 1839 The principal address reads: Recd 7/2/38 Edmund J, Wheeler Esquire Manager, So Austn. Company 19 Bishopsgate St Within London— The letter is also marked twice more, giving the same details of the receipt of and reply: 1839 D McLaren Adelaide 21 June 1838 Recd 6 Feby 1839 Ansd 19 " "

New letter Written in pencil at the top right hand corner 47 Original Per Lord Goderich to Hobart town. Recd 1/12/38 Ansd 4/2/39 South Australian Company Adelaide 28 June 1838. Written along the left hand margin at right angles to the text: Last Letter, Eden Kingscote Text begins My Dear Sir I wrote You at great length, on the 7/18 Instt. Via Hobart Town, as Per Dup. enclosed, and the “Rapid”, having arrived on the 20th. Instt. I took the opportunity of acknowledging Receipt of Your important despatches of the 13 February, on 21st. Instt. which was forwarded by the same Opportunity (The “Abeona”) to Hobart Town. — The Eden arrived on the 24th. and by her, I had your favour of the 16th February, and accompanying despatches including Dup. of Your favour of the 15th. February, Per The Henry Porcher. I beg briefly to state in Reference to Kingscote, that although the Choice of the Country Sections had not been over, the Preliminary Land-Owners, or their Representatives, would not have conceded the privilege you expected — As You have not met, with any favours at the hands of the Commissioners — We have met with none here, at the hand of the Land- Owners — but on every Occasion there, has been displayed by many a spirit of jealousy and envy — and even at the hand of the Colonial Commr. — altho’ he has been traduced & opposed on the ground of favouring the Company, and altho’ he has all along professed great friendship for the Co. We have assuredly Received no favours, — Nothing further has been done, nor will there be any thing further done as to Kingscote for Some time — Written at the bottom of the page: Edmund J. Wheeler Esqure.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 76 of 173 ______

New page Written along the right hand margin at right angles to the text: Retail Stores Fisher Brors. Text continues There is a probability that Govr. Hindmarsh, will, before the arrival of his Successor declare Kingscote a Port, at least he promised to me, to do so, since the Receipt of the despatches Pr “The Rapid” I urged him to do so, lest the Next Governor might consider it necessary, to visit it personally and take as long time to do so as he had done. I shall furnish you with information as to the locality of the buildings &ca. but I fear, the Premium of Insurance agt. fire, will be Very high — I regard with due Respect the Resolution of the Directors, (of which you have sent me a copy) as to “the Keeping of Retail Stores” — but beg to say most Respectfully, that the nature of Our Operations in this particular, seems to have been somewhat Misunderstood — At Kingscote, we employed Mr. Deacon, & some Others, to Keep a Retail Store, because there Were none on the Island almost, but the Servants of the Co. and a Retail-Store, there was absolutely necessary — Here, we have had “No Retail Store” excepting for supplying Our Bullock drivers — Shepherds &ca. with Rations, and of late at the Request of some Others in the Co’s service We have allowed them to purchase some few articles there — And so far from the Co. having keeping a Retail Store here the Origin of the connection with the Messrs Fisher Brors. was, that even the Wholesale Commercial business done by the Co might be done not by the Co. direct, but thro’ the medium of Fisher Brors. as Agents. That Connections was the Work of Mr. Sam. Stephens alone — arranged within a few weeks previously to my arrival in the Colony — mentioned to me by him rather incidentally than Otherwise during my Residence at Kingscote, the first two months, I was there — the terms of which arrangement Were not Reduced to Writing, but had been merely talked Over. Approving of the general object of the arrangement, viz to prevent the Co appearing in their Own name & character as merchants, I got the parties to specify concur in a New page general statement of the terms, several of which Were left to be determined, when it the nature & extent of the business should be ascertained. One of the most important points connected with this arrangement, was the erecting of extensive Stores — as to which I have frequently referred in my Correspondence — That matter I am sorry to say, is at the present moment, very far from being, in a satisfactory state — I beg to refer to the Correspondence, copy of which is enclosed, and in bespeaking the charitable judgment of the Board in this matter, I have Respectfully to Remind them, that I was brought in to finish, what I should have begun differently — that had We known, that in the end the expense would have been so great, the measure Resorted \ to / now, should have been adopted long ago — I beg to add that after all, I hope we shall derive from the expenditure of this part of the Company’s Capital, a return, which in England would be considered handsome, — more than your proposed Rents of Land would Yield on the Real value of the Land — and that by the building of these Stores, the value of the Co’s Property in the neighbourhood, which is Very extensive, & will be greatly enhanced — The arrangements for the future management of the Commercial department, shall be in the Spirit, of the Resolution of the Directors, but at the present moment, I cannot say what these arrangements may eventually be — My chief difficulty arises from the want of any person, sufficiently conversant with mercantile business and with parties here to whom, I can commit

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 77 of 173 ______that important business — I hope so soon as our engagement arrangements with Messrs. Fishers are definitively settled, I shall have it my power, to take measures for carrying into effect, the instructions of the Board. On this head — and anticipating a dissolution of the Connection with Messrs Fishers, at least as Agents for the Sale of Our goods, I have Sounded Messrs Hack, (who manage their business on the Sound principles of Keeping down the amount of expenses and of promptly Realising — ) whether or not, in the event of our requiring to make a new arrangement of that kind, it would be entertained New page Written along the right hand margin at right angles to the text: Bricks — Supplies. — Dock — Yard. — Text continues by them — the application was favourably Received but that, of Course is all, that can be said, in the Mean time. — In Reference to that part of Mr. Fisher’s letter, of the 18th Instt. in which he states his intention to apply for liberty to purchase the Stores, within a Certain period, — when he sends me a Copy of the application as promised, I shall be better able to judge of it — but if he would take them at Cost, and give us good Security for the payment, I should decidedly Recommend letting him have them. — But I fear, this is a mere flourish of trumpets, — I notice the statement of Supplies, [illegible deletion] intended to be sent as Contained in Your favour “Pr Rapid” — If the articles for the Whale Fishery are then mentioned be sent I beg that no more may be sent, till I write for them — and again I say, send no more Roman Cement — Common Muskets, Powder — Shot, Boat axes — Knives — Carpenters or Coopers Tools — Locks — Hinges, Blocks — Rope, Coopers flags — fire bricks — Pitch — Tar— Rosin — or Nails — The Deals & Battens may be safely continued — in consequence of the extremely high price of Sawing Of those Per Canton, I have Sold 100 Deals & Battens deliverable here, @ 10d. for whole Deals — 10.d for Cut Battens and 12d.. for Cut deals — & Could have sold more — From the demand for Bricks here, and the expense of conveying them from this to the Port, I shall be able to sell what of those Pr. Goshawk, we may be inclined to part with at Port Adelaide, at a handsome profit — She has now arrived there and will proceed to discharge. the cargo As to the Dock-Yard I beg to Refer to my letter of 22/23 May, and I hope your Reply to it, when Received Will be decisive, so as to determine the point, which I consider, in the mean time as undecided, viz Whether this Work should be und begun or not on such a Scale, as may involve an expenditure of £15 @ £20,000 — On that point, Mr. Mildred & I are likely to be at issue — as I do not mean, in the present state of finances, to embark in that undertaking, till I have express Orders, in reply to that letter —and I trust that your reply to th it, will either authorise me to proceed, or expressly restrain me from engaging in it. I fear Receiving more Workmen of any Kind, at present, as we find it impossible to New page Written in pencil at the top right hand corner 48 Written along the left hand margin at right angles to the text: Findlay & Cann — Concentration of Operations. Text continues

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 78 of 173 ______employ them profitably, Let the Commissioners do their duty, and you will be Relieved from granting advances which can never be Recovered, & burdening your establishments, with heavy Wages, for which no adequate labour is performed — I send you a copy of the Port Act &ca 2 Copies [illegible deletion] \ shall be / sent of the Gazette, One addressed to the Chairman, and One to You — also 4 Copies of The Southern Australian, One to him, and 3 to You .— I am pleased to learn that the Board approved of my candour in expressing my Opinion of the premature nature of their proceedings, — the Circumstances which led to it are most obvious, — it is somewhat singular, that in the same paragraph, you say, “Now that the plans are being matured & consolidated, and proper officers appointed to each department — let us hope &ca” Alas, that this should Yet be premature, — I am sorry to find that you have extended Findlay’s & Cann’s Monthly Notes — They were paid up to the time of the Stranding of the So Aust.n and Findlay various sums since — I shall endeavour to Recover the Sums Overpaid — but am very doubtful — Findlay having a Wife in England surprises me, and would surprise another party still more. — We can get little or no information On which we can depend as to the Coast or Country from Whalers — I endeavour to collect what information I can from every source, but I must say, that it would Require to be a Very strong case indeed, which would lead me to commence a Settlement, in a locality Westward of Spencer’s Gulf — This idea I have reason to believe, is entertained by Mr. Sam Stephens, and favourably viewed by Mr. Giles, but Concentration not Dispersion ought to be Our Motto, and if this, which from the first might have seen, to be the Wisest Policy of the Co. be not now seen with Our experience at Kingscote, We must be blind indeed — The Recal of Gov.r Hindmarsh was not unexpected, for himself & his family, I feel sorry — New page Written along the right hand margin at right angles to the text: Price of Town Lands &ca — Document B. Plan for Leasing Town Lands. — Text continues & have told them so but I declined subscribing an address to His Excellency, because although it took low ground as to his public character & acts yet gave him Credit for qualities which I have not Seen. No 106 is More valuable than 638 notwithstanding the double frontage — the former is no in the business part of the town — For No 40, £174 was paid last Week sold by public Sale in Quarters — For No 83 £200 or upward, has since been paid privately — sold in Quarters — No 82 is mortgaged to the Bank in security of James Coltman & Co’s Balance, and is to be sold by public Sale next sale Week, and will likely bring from £200 @ £250 — For One half of No 47,that half which fronts King William St. £250 has been Refused and £400 is asked!! On your plan for leasing part of the Town Lands, I refer to a Separate Paper, herewith sent. I am much Relieved by knowing that the lost, and Damaged Ships are all insured, and hope You will Recover the amounts, which I hope you will Retain in your coffers, rather than Replace these Vessels — The space Occupied in Your favour of the 13 Febry. on the subject of Leasing the Town Lands, Requires that I should advert to it, more formally, than is done in the Observations on the Plan.— I approve of the Resolution not to alienate any of the Metropolitan Lands, for the Reason assigned, but I am more than surprised, that with such a conviction, you should have

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 79 of 173 ______proposed a plan, which would have alienated 20 Acres of the Town Lands for 42 Years, for 180 Pounds, Per Annum; & that the Board, after deliberating on the subject, should have advised me, to accept any desirable tenants, who might offer, on that plan — Where would have been the great advantage, of Owning Lands, “of enormous value”, which were leased for £42 Years by Others, for £180 Pr. An. [illegible deletion] I observe, the plan was drawn up, to be attempted in London — I almost trembled when I read the following paragraph: “If no great objection to the scheme be discovered, We shall probably, when possessing more details, make agreements here.” Most fervently do I pray, that nothing of the kind may be done, in London — We will get You 20% On New page Written along the left hand margin at right angles to the text: Document C. Choice of Pasturage. — Perpetuity of Pasturage — Text continues all money expended in building Cottages, and on the value of the Land — \ Other 3 Cottages have been let since I wrote last, & not one of them finished — / I refer to the separate paper entitled “Reports by fellow passengers of Our Servants &ca — I am sorry to say my own impressions of “Strike” are very unfavourable — Mr. Randell is apprised of that Report, and will soon ascertain its truth, by watching the conduct of the parties & will act accordingly. — The emigrants \ Per Eden / I have not seen yet, but I have every reason to place confidence in the Report, made to me — concerning them — On the 26th. Instt. The Owners of Land balloted for in order to determine the Order of Choice of Pasturage. After maturely considering the Subject along with Mr. E. Stephens & Mr. Randell, I resolved to Combine Our chances thus, 20 Sections in 1 Chance about 66 Sqr miles 10 " in " 33 " 30 " in 6 equal. 5. Ea. = 16 ½ " 20 " in 10 2 6 ⅔ " 22 " 22 3⅓ " 102

The whole 437 were reduced to 256 — The Lot was against us, again. Result was — We have, 1st Choice 5th 13th 32nd 34 35 36 37 44 45 58 69 73 74 86 95 &ca 5 Sections 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 1 131st 146 170 186 187 202 257 &ca. 10 Sections 5 20 5 5 5 5 No day was fixed for choosing, nor will it be probable for 6 months — And from the extent of Good Pasture Land the lateness of our choices may not be perhaps much disadvantage — Altho’ we combined as above, we are not obliged to take, for instance, 5 Lots of Pasturage in One Place, for our first choice, we may take them in 5 different places — A most important point however is at present in suspense — viz As to the Perpetuity of the Leases of Pasturage — The Regulations of the Commrs. Original, & modified 1 Octr. 1835,

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 80 of 173 ______give the tenant a [“?] Right of Renewal (in case of purchase by another party) to unsold portions. — ” Does this mean Whereas the Draft of the Lease proposed by the Colonial Commr. to be given to the parties, and which draft was prepared under the instructions of the Colonization Commrs. by Mr. Senior, confines the Right of renewal to “ \ the / unsold portions of the Said Land” — that is, of the Land at first obtained as pasturage. This point may probably be Referred to London, where it will be more ably argued, than it could be here permit me only to Say, that if the proposed draft be admitted, parties may be deprived of their right of pasturage in 3 or 4 months, & that entirely & forever — New page Written along the right hand margin at right angles to the text Perpetuity of Pasturage.— T.Wilson’s claim Settled — Probable Resignation of Col. Light — Text continues — that it is obvious that there is a deviation, in the proposed draft, from the Regulations, because, there is a deviation (though slight, most important) in the language. “Unsold portions” — obviously meaning portions of Land in different parts of the Country — which in the proposed Draft of Lease is unwarrantably Restricted to “the unsold portion of the said Land.” — The Company is entitled to 344 Square Miles of Pasturage, and this at the difference of Rental to them, and to Non proprietors, is upwards of £500 Pr Annum. For a long time, to come, there will be abundance of Pasture, but and little or no revenue will be obtained from this source, but the conditions under which the Preliminary holders bought, cannot now surely be altered. The Claim for compensation with by Mr Tho Wilson is compromised — he gets a Loan, in Bullocks — to the extent of £180 — for 2 years — for whh he pays us 15% Pr Annum, and makes good any loss by accident &ca — I am negociating with Mr. Hillier & Mr. Wilson Senr. for a settlement of their claims, for Compensation — I am extremely sorry to say, that from the terms, in which the Commrs. have written Col. Light and Mr. Fisher for the purpose of being communicated to Col. Light, — and from the absolute nature of their Requirement, relative to Col a running survey of the Country, there is a very great probability, that Col. Light will Resign — In that Case, Mr. Kingston Will succeed as Surveyor General, for which office, I understand he is quite incompetent, and the surveying will either be at a Stand-still, or done in such a manner, as will Require to be done Over again. — The evil genius of Mr Rowland Hill, seems predominant at the Adelphi, and after the specimen we have had of his financial arrangements, which have brought the whole of the Public Officers of the Colony, almost to a Stand-still in Respect of their Salaries and the Public business, into the same state — and \ after / this more Recent specimen of his general management, there is nothing either too injurious to the Colony or too foolish, which he may not concoct, and may not get the Commrs. seemingly to sanction — New page Written in pencil at the top right hand corner 49 Text continues 2 July. Monday Yesterday the Henry Porcher arrived — at Holdfast Bay — the Mail was brought up yesterday afternoon — but no despatches have been Rec.d by me from You — Some private letters I have Received — and have no doubt but I shall Yet Receive your Bag — The Dup. of Your letter Pr. H Porcher I Received Pr. Eden I am happy to say she is arrived quite Safe

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 81 of 173 ______

— but she came by Backstairs Passage, & Was I understand almost on Shore at Encounter Bay — The freak about having the Capital there, Will die a Natural death — Our Fishery there Progresses very satisfactorily — 9 or 10 Fish have been got. — Col. Light has declined to Comply with the Commrs Requirements because he knows they are impracticable and the practicable, Would be [illegible deletion] unavailing — Not One of the Assistant Surveyors will serve under Mr. Kingston — The Whole Survey Department Will be at a Stand Still, and the injury inflicted on the Colony thro Mr Kingstons baseness and self conceited impudence irreparable, — I regret that The Board of Directors added the Weight of their influence to the plan of a running survey — As the boundaries of the Sections are not to be marked and thoe marked Could not be marked accurately no good will be done — the first thing to be done, is to fence in the Ground, New page Which is a Very expensive Process, but Who Would fence on an uncertain boundary? The last mail (No 3) Per The Lord Goderich is to be made up tomorrow Morning early — Other Opportunities via Sydney, or H Launceston will may be had tomorrow or next day — by which I shall probably write as so many important matters press On our Correspondence at Present — I am my Dear Sir, With Sincere devotion to the Company’s interest and Sincere attachment to You Your mo Ob St David McLaren — Manager Addresses and details: 1838 D McLaren @ Adelaide 28 June 1838 Recd. 1 Decr. 1838 Ansd. 4 Febry 1839 Written at right angles to the above: No 2 1838 Orig. Letter 28 June/2 July Written at right angles to the above 1839 D McLaren 1838, Adelaide 28 June, Recd 1 Decr 1839 Ansd 4 Feb

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 82 of 173 ______

Edited version of the correspondence by Chris Durrant

January 1, 2 & 6, 1838 This letter consists of three sheets of full foolscap each folded to make twelve sides of foolscap folio, written on eleven sides. The pages were folded into four across and two lengthwise. The letter was annotated in the London office with the dates of receipt and answer at the top of the first side, and the year, the writer’s name, the place and date of writing, and the dates of receipt and answer on the last side. The latter were repeated at right angles so as to be readable in either orientation: 1838 D. McLaren Encounter Bay 1 January Received 11 June Answered 3 September The second and third sheets have been dated and the first page of the third sheet annotated in a later hand: On last page is a letter of Jan. 6, 1838. Some pages have been numbered in a later hand. Text 1st Sheet. Original. Per John Pirie1 to Hobart Town. South Australian Company, Encounter Bay, 1st January 1838. Edmund J. Wheeler2, Esquire. My dear Sir, I write you under very painful feelings. My last despatches were dated 16th December from Kingscote, forwarded per Hartley3 to Launceston. I then advised you of the stranding of the South Australian4 and of my intention to proceed hither by the Solway5. I arrived here on the 20th ultimo [December]. On the 21st a violent gale from S.E. sprung up, when the Solway, having had 2 bower anchors and with one stream anchor down, from all of which she parted, also went on shore. The John Pirie rode 3½ hours longer than the Solway but, having parted from one bower anchor and slipped another, she was skilfully run by Captain Martin6 at the deepest place across the reef, and run on shore, on a sandy bottom 6 or 7 feet water, near the ill-fated South Australian.

1 Schooner, George Martin master, purchased by South Australian Company from (who paid £902.6.0 for the vessel and stores). Arrived 16 August 1836. She departed Encounter Bay for Hobart on 8 January. 2 Edmund John Wheeler (1814-1890), London Manager of the South Australian Company, appointed for five years on 5 August 1836. The Company had offices at 19 Bishopsgate Street Within and employed a temporary secretary (Edward Hill since October 1835, still?), a bookkeeper (clerk? William Watson Jeffrey January 1836 to August 1836, C Delacour) and a junior clerk, B F Hopkins. 3 Barque, Thomas Fewson owner and master. Arrived from London on 20 October 1837 and left for Launceston on 17 December 1837. 4 Barque, formerly HMS Swallow, purchased by South Australian Company. Arrived with McLaren on 23 April 1837. 5 Ship, Robert Pearson master, chartered by South Australian Company from Graham & Co., London. Arrived 16 October 1837 from Hamburg with German emigrants. 6 George Martin (1778-1842), master of the John Pirie.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 83 of 173 ______

A survey was held on the 22nd (the anniversary of the South Australian sailing from Plymouth), when she and the Solway were condemned and recommended to be sold; and the John Pirie to be lightened, her rudder, which had been injured & unshipped, to be repaired, &c., and another survey to be afterwards held7. On the 23rd Mr Mann8, who had come passenger per John Pirie, set out on foot for Adelaide with the necessary papers, authorised to apply to the Governor9 for a warrant of sale of the South Australian and Solway. I expected him to return yesterday, or previously, but he has not yet returned. By him, I wrote you a few lines with the preceding mournful intelligence and mentioning at the same time the melancholy tidings of the loss of Sir John Jeffcott10 and Captain Blenkinsop11 in coming out of ‘The Murray’ in a whaleboat. I embrace the leisure of New Year’s Day to communicate this Ezekiel’s roll. I say nothing of my feelings but that I am sore distressed and that I hope no recurrence of calamities, so great, so numerous, so unexpected, and withal so perplexing, is awaiting either the Company or myself. My grief and anxiety are heightened by uncertainty as to insurance on the South Australian and on the oil & whalebone shipped per Solway, and any difficulties have been greatly increased by the unaccommodating disposition of Captain Pearson12. These disasters have entirely changed the plan of operations, which, I think, was laid judiciously. The particulars of that plan were: 1st. To transship the beef & pork, which had been left in the Solway for ballast, per the South Australian, which came down here that the oil might be got ready under the superintendence of Captain McFarlane13 & my son14, with which provisions the South Australian was immediately to have proceeded to Hobart Town, from which I had favourable advices as to prices; and thereafter to have been employed in the conveyance of stock, &c., from the neighbouring colonies till the season for the Black15 whaling. 2nd. The Solway, having got on board at Kingscote the oil & bones which were there, was, after having discharged the beef & pork here (as above), to take in the whole of the oil here, proceed to Hobart Town, complete her loading and proceed to London—agreeably to the charter-party16, a subscribed copy of which I send herewith for the information of the Directors. 3rd. The Sarah & Elizabeth17, having, owing to the shameful state of disrepair in which she had been sent out from England, lost the season for Sperm [Whale] fishing on the Middle

7 In the margin alongside the paragraph above: Copy enclosed as to South Australian; that as to John Pirie to be sent by Captain Martin from Hobart Town. 8 Charles Mann (1799-1860), a solicitor. He resigned as Advocate-General in South Australia on 17 November 1837. 9 Captain , R.N., (1785-1860). 10 Sir John William Jeffcott (1796-1837), Judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia. 11 John William Dundas Blenkinsop (?-1837), a mariner and whaler out of Sydney. 12 Robert Pearson, master of the Solway. 13 John Boyd Thorburn McFarlane (1810-1857), a Tasmanian whaler put in charge of the South Australian after the death of her master, Alexander Allan. ‘McFarlane/Mcfarlane’ is the commonest contemporary spelling, though his own letter to Charles Mann in January 1838 was signed ‘Macfarlane’. 14 David McLaren, junior (1810-1849), was employed by the South Australian Company as an ‘engineer’. 15 Southern Right Whale. 16 The deed between owners and merchants for hire of a ship and safe delivery of cargo. 17 Barque, James Wakeling master, purchased as a whaler by South Australian Company. Arrived on 25 April 1837. McLaren used the Scottish spelling Sarah and Elisabeth.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 84 of 173 ______

Grounds18, was to have been dispatched in ballast to Hobart Town, that the repairs might be completed, some sheets of copper being off, &c., and thence as soon as possible to New Zealand for a cargo of timber; whence, it was calculated, she might have returned in time to proceed at the beginning of the Black whaling season to some bay. All these plans are confounded. It will be no small gratification to me to learn, though it be nearly 12 months hence, that they have met with the approbation of the Board of Directors. And I must very respectfully, yet very earnestly, now and in subsequent letters, express my most decided conviction that an officer must be appointed who shall have the immediate superintendence, and personal charge and direction, of the ships belonging to the Company and of the shipping business generally; who may be instructed by the Board, if they think proper, to consult with me, but who shall go from place to place when required by circumstances, and relieve my head, & hands, & shoulders, of the determining of the mode of employing the ships; of the personal superintendence of that department of the company’s business; and of the responsibility connected therewith. Such an officer is essentially necessary, and, although the calamities which have occurred here might have equally occurred under such an officer, yet the appointment of such an officer seems not only a likely means to prevent calamities, but a necessary means to secure the most advantageous employment of the Company’s shipping. Oh! had such an officer been appointed instead of a Superintendent of Flour Mills, Salt Works or even of the Dock-yards & Patent Slip. Such an officer must be a man of experience in that line, of sound judgment, of decision and, above all, a man of principles. It is perhaps enough for me thus to have recommended the appointment. A decided conviction of its absolute necessity has led me to do so. I venture a step further; I take the liberty of saying it is an appointment which I know of none qualified to fill but yourself, and which would give full employment to all your active energies and, if it be intended that you should succeed me in the general management here, I cannot conceive of any more natural & proper way of initiation than your coming out as soon after receipt of this letter as the measures connected with your leaving London will permit, and taking that important department of the Company’s business into your hands19. This proposal I beg very respectfully to submit to the Board, as one by which the interests of the Company will be most materially promoted and one which I must continue to urge. I have detailed the plan which I had laid; it remains that I point out what I what I mean to do now. 1st. The John Pirie is to go to Hobart Town, to be employed as hitherto in the general trade of the colonies; and on board of her, I have got shipped, ex South Australian, 109 provision casks (including 50 tierces20 Cape beef, which were brought out by the Emma21 on her 1st voyage & which have since been allowed to lie at Kingscote), and, ex Solway, 95 casks. It is not thought advisable that she should take more, & more have not yet been got out of the Solway—the tide flows and ebbs in & out of her—& the South Australian.

18 Whaling grounds in the Tasman Sea. 19 Wheeler’s appointment as London Manager was to cease when McLaren returned from South Australia to take up that position. Wheeler then had the option of replacing McLaren as Commercial Manager in South Australia. 20 A tierce was a measure of volume, about 42 gallons or 191 litres. 21 Brig, John Nelson master, chartered by South Australian Company from John Pirie. Arrived 5 October 1836.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 85 of 173 ______

2nd. The Sarah & Elizabeth is to come down here to take in the remainder of provisions, if recovered from the Solway (about 270 or 280 casks), for sale at Hobart Town, and to take in the oil on board the Solway (31 casks, about 36 tuns) and the oil22 on shore here—about 160 tuns—and the bone, of which about 10 tons, the total quantities, were shipped per Solway at Kingscote, & of which about one half has been got out of the Solway and the rest is expected to be got. 3rd. The Sarah & Elizabeth having discharged at Hobart Town, the oil & bone will be sent home on freight. She will have her repairs completed and proceed thereafter to New Zealand for a cargo of timber, which is much wanted in the Colony, and on her return she will proceed to the whaling, according as the season may be. I wrote for Captain Wakeling23, or rather sent him notice of my plan. He came down here in an open boat (as we are obliged, at present, to pass from place to place), was very averse to bring down the Sarah & Elizabeth, but at last agreed; left us this morning by the same conveyance on his return to Kingscote to bring her down, agreeably to the above, and, by peculiar care, in mooring her, &c., I think there is no fear. She is deficient of an anchor; we hope to get one of the South Australian’s weighed before the Sarah & Elizabeth arrives. You have never informed either Captain Wakeling or me whether the insurance done on the Sarah & Elizabeth was confirmed or not, so that on that point all is uncertainty & uneasiness. I hope it is all right. I hope the insurance, as ordered by me from Kingscote when I advised the intended shipment per Solway on oil & bone ‘by ship or ships’, was effected and that any damage sustained by that now in the Solway, or which may not be recovered out of her, will be recovered from the underwriters. I shall send you what papers can be prepared here & as soon as the facts can be ascertained, so as to enable you to recover if insurance has been done. I hope it has. Should it not, I hope you will get it now done—from Nepean Bay, and thence to this; from this to Hobart Town; and thence to London, by ship or ships, according to the facts of the case as I have described them. I am a good deal uneasy about the Lord Hobart24 on the subject of insurance. As it could not be insured in Sydney and I had no information but what was furnished by Mr Spark25 and Captain Hawson26, I fear I could not have got it done in Hobart Town but at a very high premium or by concealing the facts of the case, which would have vitiated the insurance. This question also may involve us in difficulties with the Commissioners27, but I trust her safe return, by & by, will set that question at rest. In the meantime—I expect her in all April and hope we shall be able to make her serviceable—I shall write Mr Orr28 by the present

22 The second sheet starts here, headed: 2nd sheet. 23 James Wakeling (?-1853), master of the Sarah & Elizabeth. 24 Brig, Riley master, purchased by South Australian Company from John McIntosh. Arrived on 9 July 1837 from the Cape of Good Hope. She had been sent under Henry Cowell Hawson to Timor via Sydney to purchase Timor ponies on 25 August 1837. 25 Alexander Brodie Spark (c1791-1856), a shipping agent in Sydney. The agent for the South Australian Company there. 26 Henry Cowell Hawson (1814-1882), former master of the Abeona, now of the Lord Hobart. 27 The Colonization Commissioners of South Australia, chairman Robert Torrens, secretary Rowland Hill, with offices at the Adelphi, London. 28 William Morgan Orr (1804-1843), a merchant and shipping agent in Hobart. He was the agent of the South Australian Company there.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 86 of 173 ______opportunity on the subject of the insurance of the Lord Hobart and shall desire him to advise you what is done. During the last 12 months we have hired the cutter William29 (about 17 tons, I think), commanded by Captain Wright30, who has enjoyed a degree of confidence on the part of Mr Samuel Stephens31 of which I consider him utterly unworthy. The period of engagement expired on 21st December. He asked £300 for her as she stood, in bad order, or £200 (!!) for the use of her for 12 months, he putting her in repair and the manning & provisioning her. I considered both proposals as evincing very clearly a disposition to take advantage of the supposed necessity of the case—a disposition almost universal here—and I declined both. The latter I considered an absolute insult. And Wright having refused to let her on any other terms for any period, Mr Edward Stephens32 applied to him to allow her to come down here for me after the 21st, which he refused; and, so far as I know, she is lying unemployed at Kingscote since and, when I return, I must return in an open boat unless the Government cutter33 come hither as has been reported, & give me a passage. Under these circumstances, I shall write Mr Orr to purchase or hire a cutter. 2nd January. We ought to have been supplied with such by Mr Mildred34 & his men but the want of suitable timber [&] the repairs of the Sarah & Elizabeth, &c., have prevented this, and prevented building the Government cutter which was contracted for, and even prevented our getting a barge or punt to assist in discharging cargoes at Kingscote. With reference to my last despatch via Launceston (16[th] ultimo [December]), I beg to mention that your favour of the 19 August per Navarino35 was received by me here on the 24th ultimo [December] along with the duplicates & accompanying papers, &c. I am happy to observe your intended shipment of oil casks per Royal Admiral36. I hope all the oil casks you send will be of the very best quality. The expense of re-coopering those which came by Solway & such casks is enormous. Whatever is sent hither should be as perfect of its kind as possible. Let no ship ever come again in the state in which the Sarah & Elizabeth was. You cannot be too particular in the selection of your ships’ captains; nor they, in that of their officers & crew. I wish you could actually officer & man a ship with men who would conscientiously adhere to temperance principles. Surely a captain & chief officer of this character may be found. In this Colony, we have no Government to protect the interests of ship owners and to secure the service of seamen if they are dissatisfied and choose to desert their ships, which, from the high wages on shore, almost all do. In the event of a further supply of ‘pork & biscuit’ from Hamburg, I pray that the biscuit may not be packed in such casks as that per Solway; I refer to the certificate of the survey

29 Cutter, William Wright master, arrived in December 1836 from Launceston. 30 William Wright, master of the William, a mariner from Launceston. 31 Samuel Stephens (1808-1840), appointed Colonial Manager of the South Australian Company in Kingscote on 13 October 1835. 32 Edward Stephens (1811-1861), cashier of the Bank of South Australia and brother of Samuel. 33 The Mary Ann, chartered by the South Australian Government first from Oakden & Co and then from Lewis William Gilles of Launceston. 34 Henry Richard Mildred (1795-1877), a shipbuilder employed by the South Australian Company as Superintendent of Docks and Patent Slips. 35 Barque, Christopher Abel Warming master, arrived 6 December 1837 from London. 36 Barque, David Fotheringham master, left London in September 1837 and arrived at Nepean Bay on 16 January 1838.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 87 of 173 ______transmitted by my last despatches from Kingscote, duplicate of which I shall send you by next opportunity. On no account send any more beef. I am thankful that the contemplated shipments by the Board were delayed; and, by the time they arrive, I hope we shall be better prepared to receive them. At the same time, the difference between London prices & Van Diemen’s Land prices is so great that we must have our supplies, as much as possible, from the former, & that, regularly. A vessel with such goods as have been repeatedly specified, once a quarter of a year, or smaller supplies more frequently by such vessels as may be coming, would be most desirable. In the commencement of a business, great disadvantages are sustained from want of system, but the sooner we can get out of the incipient state into the systematic, the better. Amid the distractions of mind which I have experienced here, I have been endeavouring to arrange as to the operations next season in the Black Whale fishing. I have next thing to arrange with Mr John Harper37, one of the most successful of the headsmen engaged here last year, to superintend the establishment here next season, which I think of having as a four-boat fishery & Mr Harper will likely go per the [John] Pirie in a day or two to Hobart Town to engage his headsmen & hands38. May he be more successful than Mr McFarlane was last season. Perhaps the Solway may serve for a cutting-in ship. Thistle Island, in the entry of Spencer’s Gulf, is very favourably spoken of as a suitable place for a shore party. I contemplate sending Mr McFarlane thither and, if I could accompany him, I would go to examine particularly the safety of the anchorage. There is no want of whales on any part of this coast in the winter season, but there is hardly any place known of decidedly land-locked anchorage. And those places which are protected from the prevailing winter winds are exposed to those of summer, which are even more violent than those of winter; no such gale was experienced by the South Australian during the winter as that of the 8[th] ultimo [December]. On Thistle Island, if found39 suitable, I mean to establish a four-boat whale fishery under Mr McFarlane, and, if the accounts I have heard be confirmed by actual inspection, it will afford us an opportunity of rearing stock at very little expense; there are no natives, no fencing and very little tending will be required. It is about 12 miles long, & 1½ or 2 miles broad. The state of the market at home for Black oil offers very little inducement to prosecute that trade vigorously, yet I have ever looked to the whale-trade as one of the chief sources of the Company’s revenue and, under that impression, I am particularly grieved at the disaster which has befallen the Duke of York40 and the South Australian and the state of the Sarah & Elizabeth. No intelligence has yet reached me of the Lady Mary Pelham41. Under that impression too, I feel more deeply than I can express a sense of my incapacity to direct these operations and my regret that there is no man in the service of the Company, excepting Captain Wakeling, who has had almost any experience in the South Sea fishery—

37 John Gordon Harper (c1807-1847), a whaler from Hobart. 38 Written vertically alongside: 6th January. Arranged. 39 The third sheet starts here, headed: 3rd sheet. 40 Barque, Robert Clarke Morgan master, purchased by the South Australian Company from George Fife Angas (who paid £1368.19.1 for the vessel and stores) as a whaler. Arrived on 27 July, left on whaling voyage on 20 September 1836 and wrecked off the Queensland coast on 14 August 1837. 41 Barque, Robert Ross master, purchased by the South Australian Company from George Fife Angas (who paid £904.11.3 for the vessel and stores) as a whaler. Arrived 30 July 1836, left on whaling voyage on 20 September 1836.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 88 of 173 ______no man whom I can appoint over this business. Had Captain Morgan42 come here instead of going to England, he might have been very useful, if sufficiently active, experienced and judicious. Mr Samuel Stephens, in the absence of a better and under a different opinion of the man than I have formed, confided in Captain Wright. The principle of the division of labour enables one individual to superintend the most extended & complicated concerns, but it must be obvious that, in order to bringing this principle into operation, there must be individuals qualified to take charge of the various subdivisions; which, unfortunately with us in reference to some of the most important subdivisions, is not the case. We want such a man in the shipping department and such a man in the whale-fishing department. The former I hope to find, by & by, in you; the latter, I must do my best to find here & make the best use of the materials (persons) I have or can obtain here. On the subject of stock, as that department is still confided to Mr Samuel Stephens, I have not done anything as yet. I expect him here daily. My own opinion is that at present prices of sheep, notwithstanding the fall in wool, that we ought to increase our flocks considerably— adopting some other means than those of last season to ensure the safe transmission of them to the Colony. The purchases of last year were recommended (as per Appendix to 2nd supplement [?]) on the ground of yielding an ‘immediate’ return!—I would make them with a view to the extent and value of the ultimate returns. The whale fishing trade, if successful, affords the prospect of profitable immediate returns, as do the Bank operations, so far as they go; but from the other sources we must be content without immediate returns, if we see a steady, certain, progressive provision made for extensively favourable ultimate results. As to the Bank operations, I am happy to learn that Mr Edward Stephens was to write you from Adelaide by the way of India. I beg to refer to mine of 16th instant43 on this subject, and to confirm my wish for increased remittances in specie—surely these must be on the way. No remittance will pay better when everything is considered. I have thus, my dear Sir, under many disadvantages of circumstances and feeling, communicated my sentiments as to the most of the departments of the Company’s business. I have done so unreservedly. I hope the Directors will receive the communication favourably. I am grieved at having to transmit such accounts; it is a painful duty, which I have thus endeavoured honestly to discharge. I wait Mr Mann’s return to complete the legal part of the business and to despatch the John Pirie. In a subsequent letter by this same packet, I shall advise you what further measures are adopted and in the meantime I beg very respectfully of the Directors to extend to me their sympathy, and to accept of my renewed assurance, of my entire devotion, body and mind—by day and night—to their service. I am, my dear Sir, Yours very affectionately, David McLaren. Of this letter I retain no copy & can, of course, hereafter send no duplicate. I hope it will be duly received. Do not fail, in that case, specially to acknowledge it; the recollection of it, I shall never lose. Encounter Bay—6[th] January/[18]38.

42 Robert Clarke Morgan (1798-1864), master of the Duke of York. After being wrecked, he and the crew took the ship’s boats to Moreton Bay whence they were ferried to Sydney. Morgan returned to London from Sydney to work as a missionary. 43 McLaren means ‘ultimo’, i.e., December.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 89 of 173 ______

Mr Mann has not yet returned from Adelaide. We are uneasy lest some accident has befallen him. The John Pirie must proceed, if the wind be favourable, without him. I wish to get off this afternoon to Kingscote in hope of reaching it before the Sarah & Elizabeth sail[s], and in time to settle with the Lady Emma44. I enclose duplicate of certificate from [the] Colonial Commissioner as to landing emigrants ex Hartley. The papers as to the South Australian’s protest46 expenses, &c., must be sent afterwards. Till Mr Mann’s return, no measures can be taken as to the sales. N.B. I drew on you 1st, 2nd, 3rd [of] exchange47 (No. 2) in favour of George Eaton Stanger [on] 19 December at 60 days sight48 P £60.0.0. (late surgeon Sarah & Elizabeth)49. I do not recollect anything else. D McL

January 5, 1838 This letter consists of a single sheet of full foolscap folded to make four sides of foolscap folio, written on all sides. Appended was a single foolscap folio sheet with a sketch of Encounter Bay on one side and, in McLaren’s hand, on the other: 1838 Sketch of Encounter Bay January 6th The pages were folded into four across and two lengthwise. The letter was annotated in the London office with the dates of receipt and answer at the top of the first side, the date of receipt at the top of the chart page and the year, the writer’s name, the place and date of writing, and the dates of receipt and answer on the other side. The latter were repeated at right angles so as to be readable in either orientation: 1838 D. McLaren Encounter Bay 5 January Received 11 June Answered 3 September The sketch of Encounter Bay annotated in a later hand: Enclosure to despatch of Jan. 5, 1838. There are also geographical locations added and initialled GHP (George Henry Pitt, who worked in the South Australian Archives from 1919 to 1955).

44 Barque, John Witherden Hurst master, owned by R. Betts of London. Arrived 4 December 1837. 45 (1790-1875), the Resident or Colonial Commissioner, with responsibility for managing the sale of land, emigration and the treasury 46 An attested declaration of the circumstances in which a vessel or its cargo suffered damage or in which liability was incurred. 47 Money was transferred by means of bills of exchange. The bill or draft was made out by the drawer and sent to the drawee, authorising the latter to pay a certain sum either the drawer or a third party. If accepted by the drawee, payment was to be made after a nominated period (the number of days sight) after receipt of the bill. Each bill was generally made out in duplicate or triplicate: the first (original) bill, the first of exchange, was forwarded to the drawee by one vessel and the second (copy) by another, as a safety measure. The third might also be sent by yet another vessel or be retained by the drawer. Payment of any one cancelled the others. 48 McLaren writes something like ‘dft’ or ‘d/t’ here and elsewhere where the context implies ‘days sight’. 49 Marginal note made in London: Entd. C.B.B. or Encd. C.B.B. This appears to refer to a bookkeeping entry in the London office, perhaps referring to entry into the Cash Book.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 90 of 173 ______

Text South Australian Company, Encounter Bay, 5[th] January 1838. Edmund J. Wheeler, Esquire, Manager, London. My dear Sir, Since finishing my letter dated 1/2[nd] January, I have been detained here chiefly owing to Mr Mann not having returned from Adelaide, the cause of which we cannot conjecture. It has occurred to me that a more particular statement of the circumstances connected with the disasters which have occurred in this bay than that transmitted in that letter might be acceptable to the Directors. I therefore respectfully send the following. I transmit herewith a sketch of the Bay furnished at my request by Mr Mildred, on which the soundings are marked in feet. The bottom generally is sand & clay—very good holding ground. The soundings were made by Mr Mildred, kindly assisted by Captain Duff50, late of the Africaine51 and Sir Charles McCarthy52, about time of half-tide [empty space] day of the moon’s age. 1st. As to the John Pirie: Her former position, as well as her present, is marked. Had such a gale as that of the 21st ultimo [December] been anticipated, she would no doubt have been anchored further in, although it is obvious she could not have been very much further inshore without coming into comparatively shoal water—more than was supposed to be necessary in the prospect of her remaining only for a few days. Captain Martin is to forward all the necessary documents from Hobart Town after the repairs have been completed and I hope there will be no difficulty in recovering the amount from the underwriters. In the meantime, I send you a copy of the first & second survey on that vessel, duly subscribed by the surveyors and, in case of misapprehension, I mention that at the time of the second survey Captain McFarlane was not here—nor is he yet. I send also an approved and certified account of charges against the vessel, to which those to be incurred in Hobart Town will be added. I am very thankful that the John Pirie is not only afloat but is making no water. The detention here however has been very unfortunate. I hope she will go tomorrow and may she have a prosperous voyage. During the gale, Captain Martin behaved as a good seaman; was cool, watchful, decided and ultimately adopted, I believe, the only course that was left to him for saving the vessel. 2nd. The South Australian: The gale of the 8th December was much more violent than that of the 21st by all accounts. It had continued for several days to blow in the same direction. There was consequently much more sea. She lay near about where the John Pirie is in her first position, when she parted her larboard bower [anchor]. She nearly swung on the Bluff. Sir John Jeffcott’s statement is so satisfactory as to Captain McFarlane’s conduct that I do not blame him at all but on one account—viz. that he did not take up the position which he had found so safe during the

50 John Finlay Duff (1801-1868), owner and master of the Africaine. Master of the Sir Charles McCarthy after the sale of the Africaine. 51 Barque, chartered by and John Brown from Thomas Finlay and John Finlay Duff. Arrived 2 November 1836. Sold by Duff and Finlay to John Griffiths in Launceston in August 1837 and left for London at the end of October. 52 Brig, owned by John Walker, brought by Duff from Launceston. Arrived 8 October, was stranded at Holdfast Bay on 17 October, then purchased for South Australian Company.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 91 of 173 ______winter. It is to be remembered however that the winter winds are generally S.W. and the summer winds (the violent gales) S.E. And he had the prospect of remaining but a short time. Oh, I am grieved to see her lying where she does. I send you a copy of the surveyors’ certificate. They were unanimous. I have not much knowledge in these matters but she does not appear to be very much injured. I am uncertain if she can be got off, uncertain whether means can be had here to repair her but, from the peculiar beauty of the vessel, her suitableness for the trade of these colonies, &c., I am sorry that I am precluded bidding for her for the Company. Her spars & sails, &c., are mostly ashore and I mean to send them to Hobart Town for sale on behalf of those concerned. Did I know as to the fact of her being insured, I should consider myself bound to sell everything. Did I know that she was not insured, I should sell nothing. You see the difficulties of my situation. 3rd. The Solway: Captain Pearson alleges that he has been deceived as to this Bay altogether; he refers I believe particularly to Captains Wright, McFarlane & Martin, &c. He specially excepts me and promised to mention this. He thought his vessel sufficiently moored and certainly he has had a great deal of experience. I send a copy of the charter-party which was entered into between him and me, a copy of the bill of lading for the oil & bone, also for the beef & pork. I send also a copy of a certificate granted by me as to the discharging of the cargo at Kingscote, and of a joint statement by him & me of the circumstances connected therewith that you & Mr Graham53 may settle the matter finally. I annexed a note also to the ship’s manifest that the cargo had been received by me, agreeably to a special certificate granted by me. Since I came here I have been very much annoyed by the want of that friendly co-operation on the part of Captain Pearson, which I had reason to expect. He was extremely disliked by his men on his passage out. While at Kingscote, they reportedly knocked off work; here few of them would work for him. He made little or no exertion to save the cargo. He repeatedly refused us the use of his launch on one silly pretence or another and, contrary to what Mr Mann stated was his duty, he absolutely refused to be at any expense in discharging cargo; stating distinctly that, if he landed it, he should not deliver it to me but sell it, claim a salvage, and give up the remainder of the proceeds. With every disposition to make allowance for the distressing circumstances in which he has been placed, I consider such conduct very improper, especially after we had given him accommodation on shore in our best house [&] largest hut for himself & stores, while Captain McFarlane & my son slept in a small place adjoining, on sails. It is well that the freight of that cargo is payable in London; you & Mr Graham may settle it. The expense of discharging the beef & pork here, including the use of the boats or rather their destruction, will not be less than from £150 to54 £200. 4th. The Sarah & Elizabeth: I expect her here in a few days, previously to which the John Pirie will in all probability have sailed for Hobart. She is waiting a wind & my sailing instructions. I hope to get away to Kingscote tomorrow, though I must take my chance in an open boat. Measures have been taken for getting the Sarah & Elizabeth speedily & safely moored, so that I trust further disasters will be prevented.

53 Probably John Graham, merchant and shipowner of Birchin Lane, Cornhill. 54 McLaren writes a character here somewhat like ‘@’ or ‘∂’ which should probably be read as Latin ‘ad’, i.e., towards.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 92 of 173 ______

As to the Bay itself, I refer you to the accompanying sketch. The space between the Bluff Head & the reefs is so limited that I am satisfied we must in future seasons have either a vessel to come here and load immediately at the close of the whaling season, or have the oil conveyed from this by some small craft and shipped for England elsewhere. I am, my dear Sir, Your most obedient servant, David McLaren, Manager.

Sketch of Encounter Bay on separate sheet, probably in Mildred’s hand A. Western Bluff Encounter Bay B, C. South Australian Company [whaling] stations D. Granite Island E. John Pirie before parting from her anchor Tick line the course taken by the John Pirie after parting F. John Pirie after being got off G. Solway before parting her cable H. Solway’s present position I. South Australian’s position on the rocks K. Rivers with bar entrances L. Blenkinsop’s [whale] fishery station M & N. Two islands O & P. Coral reefs

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 93 of 173 ______

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 94 of 173 ______

January 8, 1838 This letter consists of a single sheet 25 x 40 cm (apparently a cut-down foolscap folio) folded to make four sides 20 x 25 cm, written on the first side only. The last side has at the top in McLaren’s hand: 8 January The pages were folded into three across and two lengthwise. The letter was annotated in the London office with the dates of receipt and answer at the top of the first side, and the year, the writer’s name, the place and date of writing, and the dates of receipt and answer on the last side. The latter were repeated at right angles so as to be readable in either orientation: 1838 D. McLaren Encounter Bay 8 January Received 11 June Answered 3 September The top of the first page has been annotated in a later hand: Jan. 8, 1838. Text Encounter Bay, 8[th] January morning. The [John] Pirie is about to get under weigh for Hobart town. There have been about 100 provision casks shipped ex Solway per [John] Pirie and about 150 casks got on deck out of the hold; total quantity shipped per Solway, undelivered at Kingscote, 376 casks. Of the whale bone, about ¾ has been landed. The whole of the remainder of the provisions [and] of the bone and the oil shipped per Solway, it is expected will be saved. The inland postage on the enclosed foreign letters to be charged to Dr Drescher’s55 account. D McL.

January 15, 1838 This letter consists of a single sheet of full foolscap folded to make four foolscap folio pages, written on all sides. The pages were folded into four across and two lengthwise. The letter was annotated in the London office with the dates of receipt and answer at the top of the first side, and the year, the writer’s name, the place and date of writing, and the dates of receipt and answer. The latter were repeated at right angles so as to be readable in either orientation: 1838 D. McLaren Kingscote 15 January Received 13 July Answered 3 September Text Original. Per Lady Emma56 to Launceston.

55 Julius Drescher (sometimes Dreschler) (?-1860) came out with his family on the South Australian as superintendent of German immigrants for the South Australian Company. 56 She left Port Adelaide on 14 January and called at Nepean Bay on her way to Launceston.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 95 of 173 ______

South Australian Company, Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, 15[th] January 1838. Edmund J. Wheeler, Esquire, Manager, London. Dear Sir, My last mournful dispatches were forwarded from Encounter Bay on the 8th instant [January], and must occasion very unpleasant feelings to the Directors & yourself. I returned hither on that day and purposed proceeding in Captain Pearson’s long-boat, along with him, today to the main[land]. The Lady Emma came in from that quarter yesterday. By her Mr Samuel Stephens meant to have returned but, by some misapprehension as to the time of sailing, he missed his passage. I have had the pleasure of hearing from my son, who went down to Encounter Bay per the Sarah & Elizabeth. She has been got very safely & comfortably moored, with 3 anchors ahead, & one [anchor] was to be astern, and a cable astern made fast to the rocks. He wrote me a few hours after arrival. Of the cargo on board the Solway, they had got 220 provision casks on the deck; from 50 to 60 remained in the hold, which they expected to recover. Nearly the whole of the whalebone was ashore and all, both bone & oil, expected to be got shipped per Sarah & Elizabeth. I am happy to say the Sir Charles McCarthy rides quite right & making little or no water in the Bay here. I have been on board. She has a very roomy hold, which I have no doubt we shall make very useful. I enclose her register & condemnation, with which you will please do the needful. By this present opportunity, though via Launceston, I have written Messrs Dickson, Burnies57 & Co. [of] Cape Town—[a] copy of which letter I shall send you with my next. I have transmitted an order to them to be executed conditionally. The total amount will be, if wholly executed, about £1500.0.0. From our experience in the case of the Emma and of the Hartley, and from what I saw of the difficulties of shipping at the Cape, and from what Mr Giles58 experienced, I am satisfied we must order no stock from the Cape. What I have ordered is chiefly wine, butter, tallow, fruits, onions, tea, &c. You should send us large & regular supplies of London porter, wine, particularly pork, tea, coffee, cheese, hams, candles, slops (Favell & Bousfield59), strong shoes, &c. A ship appeared this afternoon off Point Marsden which I suppose is the Royal Admiral. I sent off a pilot60 but she will not make the anchorage till midnight. I hope however I shall have the opportunity, if my conjecture be right, of replying to your dispatches by the present opportunity. I half-expect she will bring me your reply to my first letter from this, the duplicate of which went from Launceston, 3rd June per Salacia61.

57 Merchants founded by William Dickson and James Nisbet on Heerengracht, Cape Town. After Nisbet’s death in 1833, it was continued by Dickson and Nisbet’s son, James William Burnie, as Dickson, Burnies and Company. They were the agents of the South Australian Company at the Cape. 58 William Giles (1791-1862), came out on the Hartley as superintendent of the general store and farm, i.e., to take charge of the South Australian Company’s station at Kingscote. 59 Slop merchants, Samuel Favell and William Bousfield, traded from St Mary Axe, Cheapside, close by Angas’s offices in Jeffrey’s Court, St Mary Axe. 60 John Germein and Joseph Wright had branch pilot’s licences issued in England. 61 Brig, cleared from Launceston for London on 26 May 1837.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 96 of 173 ______

Having had a triplicate copy of my letter of the 18/25[th] November, I send it herewith. Much of it is now unfortunately of no avail. The importance of the subject of engagements with servants is my chief motive in troubling you with it. I enclose also [a] copy [of a] letter from Mr Beare62 which I meant to have sent per Solway. It serves to confirm the advice I have ventured to give as to engaging servants and also as to the absolute necessity of greater caution as to advances. He died of delirium tremens, occasioned by inveterate, excessive drinking of ardent spirits63. 16[th] January. The Royal Admiral arrived this morning. I have read the original despatches by her [and] have been on board & saw the passengers. Mr Sleep64 is rather unwell, so that I did not see him. Mr & Mrs Beer, son & daughter,65 have come on shore. I purpose going over to the main[land] by the Royal Admiral tomorrow morning instead of by the Solway’s longboat, and shall then determine finally as to Mr Sleep & family [and] Mr Beer & family. The important arrangement with the Colonization Commissioners will place the Bank operations on a new footing with Mr Gilles66. I deeply regret to hear of the irregularity which has attached to the acceptance of the Governor’s drafts, but it is well it is over. The remittance in specie is much less than I anticipated and, from the amount of bank orders, it would have been well that the amount had been greater. I calculate on its being increased by following vessels, especially after receipt of my first dispatches from this. I am happy to understand that Messrs Dickson, Burnies & Co. have agreed to the reduction in the commission and their agents, at least where much business is done, should do the same. Order no beef—there is no consumption for it. I enclose a copy of the survey held here on bread & flour received per Solway, so that I dread a further supply of these articles from Hamburg lest the same mischief should arise from the state of the casks67. Oh, it is lamentable to see such food so destroyed and no redress, I assume, to be got. The quantity of ship bread is unfortunately now too large by a great deal. The quantity of cheese & butter might have been tenfold. By all vessels, we must have tents, although the canvas, instead of being fit for sails, &c., afterwards, do not last half the time that we would need to use them as tents. The sun, rain, &c., destroy the canvas very soon. Yet the weather-boarded houses are not much better. And still we must have shelter for the immigrants. Requesting you to excuse the hurried & abrupt conclusion as the Captain68 is sitting by me, I am, my dear Sir, Yours very respectfully, David McLaren, Manager. P.S. I have drawn on you this date at sixty days sight: No 3. 1, 2 & 3rd [of] exchange in favour of James Padgett69, Esquire, P £50. 0. 0. 4. 1, 2 & 3rd [of] exchange in favour of Messrs Philips Palmer & Co.70 £50. 0. 0. These are on account of Mr W[illiam] Giles & his doctor here, £100. 0. 0.

62 Thomas Hudson Beare (1792-1861), Superintendent of Buildings and Labourers for the South Australian Company, came out with Samuel Stephens on the Duke of York. He was also responsible for bullocks initially. 63 This non-sequitur refers to the death of Jeremiah Calnan, a cooper employed by the South Australian Company, at Encounter Bay on 27 November 1837. 64 Stephen Sleep (c1788-1838), his wife (see letter of 2 February 1838) and children Thomas and Samuel. 65 John Beer, his wife Elizabeth née Williams, and children John, Elizabeth and George Richard. 66 Osmond Gilles (1788-1866), Colonial Treasurer. 67 The last side begins here and is annotated: 1838, David McLaren, 15 January 1838. 68 Hurst of the Lady Emma, which had put into Nepean Bay on 14 January en route from Adelaide to Hobart.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 97 of 173 ______

I drew on you on 19 of December at sixty days sight71: No 2. 1, 2 & 3rd [of] exchange in favour of George Eaton Stanger £60. 0. 0. And on 17 November at thirty days sight: No 1. 1, 2nd [of] exchange in favour of William Huggins72 £10. 0. 0.

January 26, 1838 This letter consists of a single sheet of full foolscap folded to make four foolscap folio sides, written on all sides, and a single foolscap folio sheet, written on one side only. The pages were folded into four across and two lengthwise. The letter was annotated in the London office with the dates of receipt and answer at the top of the first side, and the year, the writer’s name, the place and date of writing, and the dates of receipt and answer on the last side. The latter were repeated at right angles so as to be readable in either orientation: 1838 D. McLaren Adelaide 26 January Received 14 June Answered 3 September Alongside each section the topic has been entered in the margin in faint writing, probably in the London office. The first side of the single sheet has been annotated at the top in a later hand: Jan. 26, 1838. Text Original. Per the Siren73 to Launceston South Australian Company, Adelaide, 26th January 1838. Edmund J. Wheeler, Esquire, Manager, London. Dear Sir, I have to acknowledge receipt of your sundry favours per the Royal Admiral and must beg your indulgence for the defective nature of my reply and the meagre character of this letter. Mr Sleep & family, as well as Mr Beer & family, have come hither, and have been employed in getting tents erected. We cannot do anything else in the meantime, and do not consider ourselves obliged to do this, but have pleasure in doing what we can, although you can hardly imagine how enervating and enfeebling it is to live & work in such tents; and the Bank business is yet done in a tent. In the course of a few weeks we hope to get into a stone house which was originally contemplated as Mr Mildred’s habitation. With Mr Sleep, who is rather in an indifferent state of health, I hope we shall get some arrangement made. Mr Wilson, Junior74, talks of having sustained disadvantage from the

69 James Padgett, unidentified. Perhaps the wine merchant, James Padgett (c1796-1856). 70 The mercantile firm of Palmer, McKillop & Co? George Palmer was a Commissioner. 71 Marginal note made in London before this and the previous line: Entd. C.B.B. 72 William Huggins, unidentified. Perhaps William Thomas Huggins (1779-1856), silk merchant and linen draper in Gracechurch Street, London. 73 Brig, William Bell master, brought stock from Launceston on 19 January and returned in late January. 74 Thomas Granville Wilson (1798-1856) came out with his wife, father John and mother in the Hartley.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 98 of 173 ______want of his land to the extent of £300, which he alleges he could have made by growing vegetables, &c. Recourse to arbitration is stipulated in case of disputes and I presume this must be adopted in his case; and the decision, if unfavourable to the Company, will determine the other cases. With this fact, you will not be surprised that I say most emphatically that I hope no more farm tenants will come out till you have heard from us that we are ready to receive them. The mode of dividing and letting the town acres is so various according to their situation and the purposes to which they are to be applied, that no arrangement of the kind contemplated in your favour of the 18[th] September seem practicable in London. These arrangements must, I am persuaded, be made here, not in London. I am pleased to observe that Messrs Dickson, Burnies & Company have acceded to the proposed reduction in the rate of commission. On the 16[th] instant [January] I transmitted from Kingscote per Lady Emma via Launceston a parcel to your address under cover to L[ewis] W[illiam] Gilles75, containing: No 1. Original letter to you, 15/16[th] instant [January] 2. Triplicate letter to you, 18/25[th] November 3. Copy survey of flour & bread at Kingscote, 14[th] December 4. Copy letter T[homas] H[udson] Beare to me as to Jer[emiah] Calnan, &c. 5. Register of the Sir Charles McCarthy 6. Copy charter-party of Solway, 16[th] December 7. Letter to J[ohn] W[ingate] McLaren76 By the same opportunity, as then mentioned in my letter to you, I wrote Messrs Dickson, Burnies & Company with an order which I shall be happy if they can execute. The principal articles ordered are wine, butter, tea, coffee, candles, fruits, onions, barley, oats & maize. It will assuredly not do to import stock into the Colony from the Cape, and there is little or no consumption for beef. I am alarmed at the thought of getting more provisions—bread & flour, &c.—from Hamburg destroyed by bad casks. I cannot account for the mistake in the invoice of the oars, but I think the difference will be recovered. I observe that the Directors have chartered the Goshawk77, which we look for in the course of next month. The quantity of bread is extreme, that of cheese & butter is limited in the extreme. I can hardly imagine how you thought of ordering only 10 cwt 78butter and 20 cwt cheeses! Oh, send no more bricks. They cost us, when we get them laid down here, about £9 per 1000. We sell at £4 per 1000 at the field, and £5 delivered in town. Since my arrival here, I have made a new arrangement with the Superintendent of the Brickfield79 by which we expect to have from 30 to 40,000 monthly for 3 or 4 months of this season yet; we pay him 40/- per 1000 for making, burning, & loading carts, & furnish him with wood, &c., so that they cost us about 50/- to 54/- per 1000 at the field. Most fervently do I pray that we may have no more German immigrants; the heavy advances to them will never be recovered, and the general character of German labourers seems to be

75 Lewis William Gilles (1796-1884), a banker, merchant and agent of the South Australian Company in Launceston. Younger brother of the Colonial Treasurer,Osmond Gilles. 76 John Wingate McLaren (?-1874), a son of David McLaren who did not accompany him to South Australia. 77 Brig, Robert Laing master, sailed from Hamburg on 9 December 1837 and left Deal on 5 January 1838. 78 A hundredweight (cwt) was 50.8 kg. 79 Perhaps Robert Smith Breeze (c1810-1849), the bricklayer and plasterer who came out on the John Renwick.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 99 of 173 ______indolent, obstinate, suspicious and withal, like all labourers in this Colony, most unreasonable in respect to wages. You are aware that, hitherto, the flocks & herds have been under the charge of Mr Sam[uel] Stephens. I hoped that they would have continued so, & that they would have been managed so as to have, in some measure, compensated for the enormous losses sustained in the importations. I expected to have found him here on my arrival, but I had the mortification that he had sailed the evening before for Kingscote. I avail myself in the meantime of Mr Randell80 & Mr Lillecrapp’s81 knowledge & services. I thank you for the copy of the letters to the other officers of the Company, and shall apprise you of anything of moment which occurs in relation to them. Here, you know how efficiently the Bank is conducted. Several of the other officers have been almost idle. In Kingscote, it is worse. A heavy expenditure, with little prospect of returns; many of the officers dissatisfied with their situation, and with each other; the working classes almost universally desirous of coming over here because of the excessive wages paid here; while the relations between Mr S[amuel] S[tephens] & myself are, you are aware, anything but agreeable and likely to become daily more uncomfortable. I notice the information as to the vessels expected to arrive here, and hope by the continued accession to our population that the price of labour will by & by be reduced. It remains excessive. Joiners get from 10/- to 15/-; bricklayers, blacksmiths, &c., about the same; the most lazy indolent labourer, 5/- per day or upwards; and other classes—trades, &c.— whether on weekly wages or piece work, make at least 10/- per day and upwards, while half work is not done. Dr Imlay82, one of the largest stockholders in New South Wales, whose chief establishment is at Twofold Bay, where he and his two brothers have large flocks & herds, a whaling establishment, a ship building yard, &c., has visited our Colony, having brought in one of his own ships, the Lady of The Lake, rather upwards of 100 horned cattle and about 130 ewes. Having examined them very particularly on board ship in company with Mr E[dward] S[tephens], Mr Randell & Mr C[harles] W[illiam] Stuart83, I bought the whole deliverable at our station here, say 60 bullocks, 2 cows & 40 heifers, & 130 ewes84. For the bullocks & cows I agreed to pay £17.10.0. For the heifers: 3 years old in calf } 15. 0. 0. 2 years old in calf & for the ewes, in lamb & not shorn 2.10.0. Payable by draft on you at 60 days sight. The universal opinion is that in no case has such a cargo, in respect to kinds and condition, been brought to this Colony. Dr Imlay’s brother is expected daily with such another cargo, the first offer of which I have secured. But Dr Imlay’s principal object in visiting us was to endeavour to persuade the

80 William Beavis Randell (1799-1876) came out on the Hartley as Overseer of the Flour Mill and Agricultural Affairs. He became the general stock manager for the South Australian Company. McLaren habitually wrote his name as ‘Randle’. 81 William Lillecrapp (c1816-1881) came out in the Katherine Stewart Forbes in 1837 as assistant superintendent of sheep for the South Australian Company. 82 George Imlay (1794-1846), with his brothers Peter and Alexander, had extensive holdings in the Twofold Bay area of New South Wales. 83 Charles William Stuart (1811-1891) came over from New South Wales in the Truelove in 1836 and was appointed overseer of stock by Samuel Stephens. McLaren wrote ‘W.C. Stuart’. 84 In the margin is a calculation of cost: x 62 = £1085 x 40 = 600 x130 = 325 [total] 2010

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 100 of 173 ______

Company to purchase their establishment at Twofold Bay as their contract expires on 1st April next. He has kindly given me a note of their whole herds & from him I expect to procure much valuable information. Stock is as follows: Males 2860 Cows 3050 Heifers 1150 Calves 500 Bulls, working bullocks, &c. 102 7662 These, he said, were we disposed to go into the proposal, he would let us have deliverable at Twofold Bay at seven pounds overhead85. They hold, I believe, 30 or 40,000 sheep and the produce of their dairy does more than defray all the expenses connected with the herds. Of course, this is a measure which, from its immense magnitude, I could not entertain; and yet in no other way, I am persuaded, can capital be more advantageously invested in this Colony than in flocks & herds. Whilst, on the other hand, the competition between this and the neighbouring Colony in the wool market is all against us in the price of stock & wages. I am, my dear Sir, Yours most respectfully, David McLaren.

January 26, 1838 This letter consists of a single sheet of full foolscap folded to make four foolscap folio sides, written on one and a half sides. The pages were folded into four across and two lengthwise. The letter was annotated in the London office with the dates of receipt and answer at the top of the first side, and the year, the writer’s name, the place and date of writing, and the dates of receipt and answer below the text on the last side. The latter were repeated at right angles so as to be readable in either orientation: 1838 D. McLaren Adelaide 26 January Received 14 June Answered 3 September Alongside the first section the topic has been entered in the margin in faint writing, probably in the London office. Text Original. Per Siren to Launceston. South Australian Company, Adelaide, 26[th] January 1838. Edmund J. Wheeler, Esquire, Manager, London. My dear Sir, By the John Pirie from Encounter Bay I wrote you 1[st]/5[th] January, & sent therewith via Hobart Town:

85 In the sense of ‘applicable to all’, or ‘average’.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 101 of 173 ______

Copy of 1st & 2nd survey on John Pirie Copy of survey on South Australian Copy of charter-party with Solway, of certificate as to landing of cargo, & of joint statement by Captain Pearson & me Copy of bill of lading of oil & bone & beef & pork shipped per Solway. The principal object of my visit to Adelaide at present was to have the protest as to the South Australian extended, & to obtain from the Governor a warrant of sale. I now enclose, No 1. Original protest, South Australian 2. Surveyors certificate The Governor promised immediately to grant the warrant, but I have not yet got it. Captain Pearson is also here and is selling his articles, boats, &c., privately, and will continue to do as he thinks proper, whether he get a warrant or not. I regret I cannot by this opportunity to transmit a note of the expenses connected with the surveying and dismantling of the barque South Australian. They shall be handed with the auctioneer’s bill of sale. I presume the best way will be to sell the sails, &c., here by description—& perhaps the vessel too—as no person almost can be expected to attend a sale at Encounter Bay. My time is gone. I hope you will forgive the abrupt conclusion, and believe me ever yours, David McLaren, Manager.

February 2, 1838 This letter consists of a single sheet of full foolscap each folded to make four sides of foolscap folio, written on two and a half sides. The top and bottom and left and right quarters of the pages were folded in to make a letter with the blank outermost side providing an address panel. It was sealed with the seal of the South Australian Company and addressed to: Edmund John Wheeler, Esquire Manager South Australian Company London And at top left: 1¼ oz86 Per Lady Wellington via Sydney A black circular stamp is indecipherable but was almost certainly the receipt stamp of the Post Office in Adelaide. A rectangular stamp was applied at the port of entry87 DOVER, INDIA LETTER. Finally a circular red duty stamp was applied in London E88, [13 JULY 13], [183]8, and the duty paid 4/4 noted boldly across the address. The letter was subsequently folded into four across and two lengthwise and annotated in the London office with the date of receipt on the address panel, the date of answer at the top of the first side, and the year, the writer’s name, the place and date of writing, and the dates of

86 The weight of the letter. 87 An India Letter was a special postage rate for letters brought from Indian ports by a monthly service. They were stamped at the port of arrival. 88 In addition to the date, this stamp records the table ‘E’ at which the letter was sorted.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 102 of 173 ______receipt and answer around the address panel on the last. The latter were repeated at right angles so as to be readable in either orientation: 1838 D. McLaren Adelaide 2 February Received 13 July Answered 3 September Text Original. Via Sydney per Lady Wellington89. South Australian Company, Adelaide, 2nd February 1838. Edmund J. Wheeler, Esquire, Manager, London. My dear Sir, I wrote you last on the 26th ultimo [January] via Launceston as per duplicate enclosed. Since that time I have been very much occupied and have made some purchases of stock of an unusually large amount, but which have been done after due deliberation and consultation, but which I am satisfied it would have been most unwarrantable in me to have lost the opportunity of doing. I have purchased from Dr Imlay: 25 bullocks, including one team of working bullocks at least at £20 a head 25 steers at £15 50 milch cows at £17.10. 0. 25 3 year old heifers in calf } at 15. 0. 0. 25 2 year old heifers in calf 500 breeding ewes in lamb at £2. 0. 0. 500 wedders at £1. 5. 0. The whole warranted to be from Dr Imlay’s own flocks & herds, and he to be paid only for those delivered at Port Adelaide, &c., in good condition and paid for by drafts of you at 60 days sight90. The superior quality of his stock & the superior condition in which we have reason to expect that stock will be brought to us would have justified us in giving even higher prices; but, at the same time, I endeavoured to make, and consider myself to have made, a very good bargain. Dr Imlay is a highly honourable man and a very fair dealer, which is a rare character in these colonies. I mean to sell a few of our older bullocks in consequence of the purchase from Dr Imlay advised in my last, and expect to get from £50 to £60 per pair at least. Those bought from Dr Imlay at that time cost £35 per pair. I succeeded in getting him to take 40/- for the ewes in consequence of having previously closed a bargain with Messrs Hack91 to bring for us from 600 to 700 ewes warranted from the best flocks in New South Wales, and deliverable in good condition at our bullock station

89 Brig, master Arthur Devlin, purchased in Sydney from Daniel Egan and Company by John Hart on behalf of himself, the Hack brothers and Devlin. She left Adelaide for Sydney via Kangaroo Island on 2 February. 90 Beside each item in the above list is written in the margin, no doubt in the London office, the sum involved: 500, 375, 675, 700, 1000, 625. These are followed by the total: 4125. 91 The merchant brothers, (1805-1884) and Stephen Hack (1816-1894), who arrived in South Australia in February 1837 on board the Isabella via Launceston.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 103 of 173 ______here at 40/- a head. These arrangements free us from the risk of such tremendous losses as we were subjected to last season. Had the South Australian been plying, she was just the vessel for such a trade & should now have been earning handsome freights. But in our present circumstances, I am persuaded no other course is so advisable as that which I am pursuing. Some papers relative to the South Australian were sent per the Siren. Duplicates shall go by another mail, which is to be made this evening for the present vessel, which I hope will be in time. There is to be a meeting of those interested in the sections at the harbour today at 12 o’clock—the hour at which the mail closes. And the hour at which I am thus constrained abruptly to conclude. Deferring to my letter to be written in the evening, I am, with much respect, Dear Sir, Your most obedient servant, David McLaren, Manager.

February 2, 1838 This letter consists of a single sheet of full foolscap folded to make four pages of foolscap folio, written on all sides, and a single foolscap folio sheet of two pages, written on one side only. The pages were folded into four across and two lengthwise. The letter was endorsed in the London office with the dates of receipt and answer at the top of the first side, and the year, the writer’s name, the place and date of writing, and the dates of receipt and answer on the last. The latter were repeated at right angles so as to be readable in either orientation: 1838 D. McLaren Adelaide 2 February Received 13 July Answered 3 September The top of the second sheet has been annotated in a later hand: Feb. 2, 1838. Text Original. Via Sydney, per Lady Wellington South Australian Company, Adelaide, 2nd February 1838. Edmund J. Wheeler, Esquire, Manager, London. My dear Sir, I wrote you this forenoon, and am happy to report that the meeting as to the acre sections at the harbour went off very pleasantly, and, although the Company stood very unfavourably as respected their right of choice92, they now stand in the most advantageous position. The total number of acres at the harbour93 is 29. The Company’s choice was Nos. 1, 22, 24, 26, 27, &

92 This was the order, determined by ballot, in which holders of preliminary land orders who chose not to select an acre in Adelaide itself, could select one at the harbour. 93 The first landing place on the Port River at the end of the Old Port Road and subsequently dubbed Port Misery.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 104 of 173 ______

29. The object of the meeting today was ‘deciding finally upon the spot where such acre sections shall be surveyed’ ‘& fixing a day for making such selection’. An opportunity having occurred of securing the right of the second choice94, I bought it for the company, price £90—bargain concluded & money paid today before the meeting. Having informed myself, through Colonel Light’s95 kind politeness, of the respective merits of the acres and the two sides of the river, I thus secured the best on each side. Differences of opinion obtained as to the proper position of the acres: 1st. Whether on the east or the west side of the river, the former being on the side nearest the town, and the latter having comparatively firm ground to the water’s edge, and six feet there, while on the east side it is mangroves & swamps for 700 to 1500 feet or upwards from the water’s edge. 2nd. Whether those acres on the east side should be in the swamp, with a real water frontage, or on a range of sandhills beyond the boundary of the swamps. Today I proposed, which was agreed to, that the parties present should disclose where they wished their acres surveyed, whether on the west side, the sandhills or the swamp. 15 declared for the west, 10 for sandhills & 4 for swamp. For the Company I took 3 on the west, including the section bought today in my own name, 2 on the sandhills, and 2 in the swamp96. The other 2 in the swamp are in the hands of Mr Gilles97 &, by a private arrangement, we have engaged to divide some of the acres there so as to secure to each both frontage to the canal, now in the course of being cut, and to the river. The whole frontage to the canal, with the exception of a road of 60 feet wide all along the bank and a road at the upper end, is in his & my hands and will soon be made available. The length of the canal is upwards of 600 feet98. I was pressed by some at the meeting to declare for which of my choices I took those in the swamp. I considered the inquiry irrelevant, but I answered it by saying I took them for 27 & 2999—so that I should not be surprised [if the latter], although the very last choice, may turn out to be the very best and most valuable acre. The day for making the selection of the acres is tomorrow week100. It is now midnight, and I purpose starting tomorrow morning for Holdfast Bay to return to Kingscote per the Royal Admiral. Mr Fisher has taken up decided ground as to the claims by the Governor for a number of acres to be reserved for the Government at the harbour. He stated at the meeting that he meant to allow 4 acres at the head of the canal at the opposite side of the canal from that on which the acres on sandhills & swamp have been chosen today but none on the last- mentioned side. Yesterday he received intimation that his Excellency was to be at the

94 Preliminary land order 135 belonged to Nathaniel Alexander Knox, an absentee investor in Ireland. McLaren purchased, in his own name, only the right to a town acre. The accompanying 134 acres of country land went to Young Bingham Hutchinson. The land order cost Knox £81. 95 (1786-1839), the Surveyor General. 96 McLaren’s final choice was one on the west, two in the swamp, two on the sandhills and the last at the end of the canal at the base of the sandhills. 97 Gilles held only one preliminary land order with right of choice at the harbour, the other on the swamp was held by an absentee English investor, John Cortis. Presumably Gilles was the agent for the latter. 98 The Hack brothers were awarded the contract to cut the ‘canal’, actually a cut into the mudbank on the east side of the river, in mid July 1837. Light authorised payment for the completed work on 19 February 1838. 99 McLaren eventually used these choices for acres on the sandhills. 100 10 February 1838.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 105 of 173 ______harbour tomorrow forenoon to select the land for Government purposes. There may, and likely will, be some difficulties to the completion of our work today from the Governor’s visit tomorrow. So much do the authorities act at cross-purposes. Mr Fisher further stated his intention to be to call a meeting of the preliminaries101 in the course of a fortnight at which the order of choice shall be determined. And in the course of 3 months hence, he thinks, as does Colonel Light, that the country land may be selected102. In Colonel Light’s office they have begun to map the country which has been surveyed, which, when completed, will be exhibited for several weeks previously to the day of selection. In connection with the subject of country lands, I am very sorry to say that Mr Sleep, Senior, died this evening. During the voyage he was very poorly. He took his passage in the steerage. The surgeon103 behaved so very ill—frequently drunk, yet reading prayers on Sabbath—that the Commissioner refused to pay him anything. Since the death, I have seen Mrs Sleep104 & family. We shall do what we can with propriety for them, and the oldest son105 is, I believe, a very excellent young man. Since my arrival here I have used every endeavour to obtain settlement from the Colonial Commissioner for the cancelled bargain but the Colonial Treasurer has delayed and has this day refused to draw the same as, he alleges, being contrary to his instructions from the Commissioners106. I therefore insisted that the Commissioner should draw on the Colonization Commissioners and should accompany the drafts with a letter of advice, and should explain fully the circumstances, &c., especially the reason why the Colonial Treasurer did not draw them. I enclose you my special indorsement of the 1st of exchange, viz., J[ames] H[urtle] Fisher, Colonial Commissioner, on the Colonization Commissioners for South Australia, 2[nd] February at 60 days sight £1717.6.6. ‘The letter of advice’, Mr Fisher states, ‘shall be a copy of all the correspondence, on the subject’. I fear it will not be read. I took up this simple principle—‘a bargain is a bargain, & must be fulfilled’. I sincerely hope you will get payment in London, but you see how the wheels of the machine are clogged, and how imperatively necessary it is that the Commissioners abandon the idea of laying down minute regulations as to monetary matters in London, and that the Public Officers should draw together. I embrace this opportunity of sending the duplicate protest in the case of the South Australian, and the last copy which I had of the survey on the John Pirie, and I have to report that the Colonial Secretary, pro temp107, informed me that the Governor’s ‘legal advisers recommended him not to interfere.’ I believe the principal reason was that they did not know

101 Holders of preliminary land orders (PLOs) purchased in England before settlement began. This refers to the selection of the 134 country acres to which each was entitled. The meeting took place in Fisher’s office on 20 February at which it was decided to ballot for order of choice the following week but Strangways took out an injunction to stop the proceedings on 28 February, which was granted on 1 March. 102 The 134-acre sections to which holders of preliminary land orders were entitled. 103 Dr Daniel Gill. 104 Perhaps the widow Elizabeth Sleep who married the widower Charles Brook on 2 January 1842. Brook died on 2 November of 1848, aged 42, but there is no further record of Elizabeth Brook or Sleep. 105 Thomas Proctor Sleep (c1817-1842?). 106 The Colonization Commissioners in London instructed, in minute detail, the Resident Commissioner in his duties. 107 Thomas Bewes Strangways (1809-1859) was the interim Colonial Secretary appointed by Hindmarsh in August 1837 after he had relieved Robert Gouger of his duties

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 106 of 173 ______how to proceed in the regular legal course. I consequently applied to John Morphett108, Esquire, duly appointed agent to Lloyds, to take charge of the sale, which he is to do. He has written to New South Wales & Van Diemen’s Land to advertise the sale, the same to take place here about 2 months hence. I think I have not mentioned to you previously that Dr Imlay, accompanied by a gentleman on horseback & a servant on foot, left this on Saturday last afternoon and returned on Tuesday evening from the Murray109. The Doctor is one of the most competent persons in this, or any of the neighbouring colonies, to form a correct estimate of a country, &c., and, I am happy to say, he gives a highly favourable account. He has not seen in New South Wales so favourable sheep runs as between this & the Murray and, over the second range of hills from this, easterly, there are most extensive fertile plains. He reached the Murray within an hour’s ride of the time he expected to do so, found it a deep broad stream, the water like a canal, beds of reeds sometimes ¼ mile broad on each side, and behind them a belt of trees—all within a steep bank which may at times form the winter bank of the river. They saw no natives, but heard them calling, discovered fires lighted very soon over the country—no doubt as signals. The Doctor found a canoe made of bark, the first seen in the Colony. The Doctor and the 2 others went in to the canoe. It could have contained 6 men. In part of it was a quantity of earth, and a fire burning in the canoe. On leaving it, the Doctor left some fishing lines and fish hooks. He considers the distance from this to Murray about 45 [miles]. He returned by a different road & yet was only 28 hours on the way. He could do it now in 6 or 8 hours. He considers it quite practicable to carry a road for bullock waggons from this to the Murray. He went but a short way along the banks of the river, but saw no place where sheep or herds could be brought over the river. I am, My dear Sir, With much respect, Your most obedient servant, David McLaren

February 14, 1838 This letter consists of two sheets of full foolscap each folded to make eight pages of foolscap folio (the second sheet having at some time been torn in two), written on all sides. The pages were folded into four across and two lengthwise. The letter was annotated in the London office with the dates of receipt: Received 16 July Answered 3 September The word Private has been added at the top of the first side and the topic of each section written (often faintly) alongside in the margin. Where documents are referred to there appears a marginal note of the document number. The second sheet has been annotated at the top in a later hand: Feb. 14, 1838. Text

108 John Morphett (1809-1892) came out on the Cygnet in 1836 as agent of many absentee investors who held preliminary land orders. 109 Imlay was accompanied by an acquaintance from New South Wales named Hill. Imlay published a full report in the Australian of 27 March 1838, which was repeated in the South Australian newspapers.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 107 of 173 ______

Original. Per Sarah & Eizabeth to Hobart Town110—Private & Confidential South Australian Company, Kingscote, 14th February 1838. Edmund J. Wheeler, Esquire, Manager, London. My dear Sir, I wrote you and the Board ‘Privately & Confidentially’ on 2nd/8th November—original via Launceston, duplicate via Hobart Town—with copious accompanying documents, which I hope are nearly home and will be duly received. I am sorry to say that the present state of the Company’s affairs renders it necessary that I should write you again in the same private & confidential strain. I need not say how grieved I am to have to send accounts so unfavourable, but I have no alternative consistently with my pledge (which shall never be violated) that whether the accounts sent by me were favourable or unfavourable, they should be uniformly true. With reference to the above-mentioned letter of the 2[nd]/8[th] November, I beg to advert in the first place to the case of Mr Samuel Stephens. When on the main[land] in November, December & January, he took charge of the bullocks & flocks, &c., but I regret to say occupied himself during part of the time, and some of the servants of the Company, in horse-racing, &c. A considerable degree of dissatisfaction was felt and expressed by Mr Edward Stephens, but nothing particular occurred till the 26[th] December, when Mr E[dward] S[tephens] refused to sanction Mr S[amuel] S[tephens]’s proposed purchases of stock on account of the Company. The sole ground of refusal was the incapacity of Mr S[amuel] S[tephens] for transacting business at that time. Fortunately for the justification of Mr E[dward] S[tephens] and for the satisfaction—the mournful satisfaction—of the Board, the handwriting of Mr S[amuel] S[tephens] at the time remains. I send herewith the letter111 which he subscribed & addressed and delivered to Mr E[dward] S[tephens] on that occasion, in which he resigns all future connection with the Company. I send also a copy of a letter112 received by me when in Adelaide lately from Mr E[dward] S[tephens] on this subject. That, I am sorry to say, was not the only occasion on which, according to Mr E[dward] S[tephens]’s statement to me, Mr S[amuel] S[tephens] had incapacitated himself, before dinner, for business. Under these circumstances, I had no choice as to retaining Mr S[amuel] S[tephens] in the Company’s service. So that, since my return hither, I have informed him that I accept of his resignation and approve of Mr E[dward] S[tephens]’s conduct. Thus terminates the connection between the Company and their late Colonial Manager, whose early appointment, and arrival here, seemed to promise securing advantages to the Company of no ordinary value. He professes himself disposed to give information and advice still, but the relation in which he & we now stand, and the adjustment of accounts which has yet to take place between us, preclude the hope that much assistance can be had from that quarter. When at Adelaide lately, I applied to Colonel Light, explaining the situation in which I was placed as respected Mr S[amuel] S[tephens] and the selection of the country lands and the

110 She left for Hobart on 16 February 1838. 111 Marginal note: Document No. 1. 112 Marginal note: No. 2.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 108 of 173 ______right of special surveys113, &c., when he promised to give me full information. But I hope the Board will duly appreciate the disadvantages under which I have to undertake this labour—a department which might fully occupy the undivided attention of any man between this time and that when the country sections are to be chosen—supposed now, not to exceed 3 months. I lately appointed Mr Randell to the superintendence of the flocks. In visiting the stations, &c., he will have opportunities of seeing the country and, after the portion surveyed and allotted for the preliminary sections has been mapped, some time will be given for examining, which I shall endeavour to have improved as much as possible. This result with Mr S[amuel] S[tephens] supersedes the necessity of all inquiry into those reports and statements which led the Board to withdraw his Power of Attorney, but which, at the same time, led them, and especially the worthy Chairman114, to indulge the hope that Mr S[amuel] S[tephens] might have been retained in the Company’s service and ultimately re- instated in office. I do not know what he intends to do. The probability is he will form a partnership with Captain Wright. But if they do not do better for themselves than they have done for the Company, they won’t make much money. I have applied again, verbally, for a statement of his transactions here as Manager, which he says he is making up but has been prevented writing by a disease in his hand; I am grieved to say another cause, not so innocent, was in operation during my absence and, from the way in which his transactions have been kept in small books and jottings, I am much afraid that I never shall receive a satisfactory account. And yet what can be done? I refer next to the case of the Lady Mary Pelham. After a long period of suspense and anxiety, there was received on 23[rd] January here a letter from Captain Ross115, the original of which I now enclose116. A more deplorable account cannot be imagined117. I was there [on] 23[rd] January at Adelaide. It seems quite obvious to me that the man who wrote that letter has not education sufficient to navigate a ship and I have been told by Mr S[amuel] S[tephens] that the mate of the [Lady Mary] Pelham when she sailed either from this, or from Van Diemens Land, had been recently taken from before the mast. Oh, I am grieved at heart at the failure of so many of the Company’s plans, and I cannot resist the conviction that that failure has been occasioned by the incapacity or unfitness of those who were selected for the different departments. Captain Morgan I have not seen; Captain Ross, [who] appears in the enclosed, is an old man and, Captain Wakeling says, drinks hard; Captain Allan118 incapacitated himself from taking charge of ship, fishing & anything else & hastened his death by intemperance. The Sarah & Elizabeth is an old hulk which should never have been sent a three years’ voyage in the state in which she left England.

113 The 1836 regulations allowed for the selection of 4,000 acres from an area of 15,000 acres designated for special survey if an advance payment of £4,000 was made. 114 George Fife Angas (1789-1879), founder of the South Australian Company and chairman of the Board. 115 Robert Ross, master of the Lady Mary Pelham. 116 Marginal note: Document No. 3. 117 Ross sailed for the South Sea fishery from Hobart on 15 October 1836. After six months he had collected only some 20 tuns of oil. He then struck a reef between Timor and Surabaya in Java and put into Surabaya in September 1837 for repairs, where the crew deserted and Ross had to abandon the whaling voyage. Instead he took on a cargo of sugar and took it to Sydney, where he arrived on 3 May 1838. 118 Alexander Allan (?-1837), master of the South Australian, who had died on board at Encounter Bay on 30 September 1837. The name often appears as ‘Allen’, even in the log book of the South Australian.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 109 of 173 ______

On the 5th instant [February] I received another letter as to the Lord Hobart. I send a copy enclosed119. Most certainly I should never have thought of purchasing that or any vessel of the kind had I not had the opportunity of having her examined by one supposed to be a competent judge. Others I know—and these ship captains, Duff and Pollard120—were desirous of purchasing her at the money we paid & waited only our refusal, but I procured our Mr Mildred’s opinion, which events have proved was most erroneous. I have not yet received particulars of the disbursements (Captain Hawson having trusted to Mr Spark sending them, & Mr Spark, to Captain Hawson) but by Mr Spark’s account current, which I saw on the main[land], they amounted to about eight hundred pounds. And yet she could not be insured but at an extravagant premium; is still uninsured; and, if lost or if any injury be sustained by the livestock on board which may be attributed to the ship, we shall be involved in extreme difficulties with the Commissioner. My anxiety on this hand is extreme. I hope ‘in all March’ to be relieved from this oppressive load, in so far as respects the safety of the Lord Hobart & her cargo, by her arrival at Port Adelaide. In addition to these sources of grief and disappointment, I must add the general state of matters here at Kingscote. I do not wish to magnify the difficulties of my situation; I would rather endeavour to overcome them, but the dissatisfaction and disorganisation which obtain here at present, & which have done so for a considerable period, are very great and almost universal. The utmost prudence, wisdom, and decision must be employed in any attempt to remove them. The first object in a case of the kind is to discover the causes. Unfortunately they are numerous. 1st. The prices of provisions, clothing, &c., so exceedingly different from what the emigrants were told by the Manager, the Chairman, & otherwise (Sutherland’s book121, &c.) in England. 2nd. The want of fresh water and of fresh provisions, of which last little or none has been had since about Christmas excepting a few fish occasionally. 3rd. The want of almost any employment here except in discharging or loading of cargoes and the consequent necessity of working in the water, owing to the broad sandy muddy flat and the irregularity of the tides. 4th. The bad character of some who have come outward as the Company’s servants and of others who have run away from ships, come from whale fisheries, & from the neighbouring colonies. 5th. The high wages paid on the main[land], the supply had there of fresh water & fresh provisions, the encouragements held out by those who have gone thither to those who are here to follow them, and the facilities now had of frequently getting from this to the capital. 6th. Last but not least, the establishment of numerous grog shops, which, for reasons formerly assigned, we have been obliged to connive at, especially as we have not been able to keep up a supply of beer, porter, or even wines. I am pained at heart to think of the enormous outlay of capital at this place, the want of returns and the improbability of their ever being got, so that the alternatives of giving up the

119 Marginal note: Document No. 4. 120 Edward Hutchinson Pollard (1795-1878) came from Mauritius on the Abeona at the end of July 1837. He was appointed master of the Abeona after taking her to Hobart in August. 121 George Sutherland first published an account of Kangaroo Island, which he claimed to have visited in 1819, in the Proposal to His Majesty's Government for founding a colony on the Southern Coast of Australia issued by the ‘Committee of a society established for the purpose of founding a colony on the southern coast of Australia’ in 1831.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 110 of 173 ______establishment altogether, concentrating our shipping operations at Port Adelaide if fresh water can be had there, removing from this to the Pelican Lagoon, or continuing here and expending more money in constructing a jetty, are all subjects for the most mature consideration. Among the officers of the Company, there is no mastermind qualified to decide, by virtue of its own superior judgment, a case of so vast importance. To the Master of the Dock Yard in such a case I should naturally look, but in the soundness of his judgment I have not much confidence & the state of his feelings towards Mr S[amuel] S[tephens] might bias his judgment—his utter selfishness I more than suspect. So that, however singular it may seem, my mind turns to the Chairman of the Board, and I say decidedly that, if his health permit, there is enough in this question and in the present state of the Company’s affairs to justify me in expressing an earnest wish that he were present to determine such a point and to aid by his counsel my endeavours and those of the other officers who are sincerely desirous of promoting the Company’s interests. I should not say so, I assure you, on slight grounds: a conviction of duty leads me to express myself as I have done. [A footnote adds here: and to add that it is my decided conviction that he should as soon as possible come out to this Colony. 12 or 15 months from home will be all.] But, in the meantime, measures must be taken to remove, if possible, the dissatisfaction and the whole system must be revised. One of the difficulties with which I have to cope is that a good many of the officers are engaged in trading here and, from the prices at which articles have been sold in the retail store and the short supplies of some articles, they have found it pay well; & some of them have stated their determination rather to give up their situations in the Company’s service than relinquish their trading, pleading, as the workmen do, the difference of personal & family expenses actually and that previously represented. I hope this will be got remedied so as at least to be brought within permissable122 limits. You shall be advised & the names of the recusants, if any there be, communicated. In consequence of some legal proceedings at the capital against Thomson [Thompson]123, who came out as Salt Worker124 & was imprisoned & fined at the instance of Mr E[dward] S[tephens], I waited on Mr Wigley125, now Public Prosecutor & Resident Magistrate, &c., and was distinctly told by him that, in order to proving in court the agreement with the labourers, &c., it was necessary that the witness or witnesses who saw the individual subscriber should personally appear & declare to that effect!!! He further stated that these agreements would be better without any witness if he could not be produced, that it might be advisable to get each emigrant to subscribe his name in the presence of witnesses, who might produce those signatures, &c., and that this plan should be adopted even in reference to those who could not write but make a mark, &c.!!! So that the Law as thus laid down by the Resident Magistrate, from whose decision there is no appeal, renders almost the idea of establishing any workman’s engagement, at least any German’s—several of whom have clandestinely gone off from this, leaving us to seek them out there and endeavour to recover if we can the advances paid. Send us no more articled servants and, especially, no more Germans. It is in vain to expect that any men will work

122 McLaren used the word ‘permittable’ here. 123 Probably George Robert Thompson (?-1861) who came out on the Lady Katherine Forbes in 1837. He was described as a salt manufacturer in 1845. 124 The extraction of salt from the Kangaroo Island lagoons for use in preserving fish and skins was part of the South Australian Company’s commercial plans. 125 Henry Rudolph Wigley (1794-1876), brought out by the South Australian Company.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 111 of 173 ______under the current rate of wages, and from the extreme indolence of the men, the difference of language, and the expenses connected with their superintendents and interpreters, we have not quarter-work for the pay and a large proportion of the advances will never be recovered. The only other point to which I think it proper to advert in this communication is the relations in which the authorities stand toward each other on the main[land]. It is not in the slightest degree improved since Mr Gouger126 left, whom you will no doubt have seen long ere this comes to hand. With their squabbles I should not trouble you but as it affects the Company & especially the Bank. The Governor and Mr Fisher cannot continue both in office. The trial of strength will be probably at home—Mr Gouger’s presence may affect the result. Colonel Light read to me a letter which he had lately received from Colonel Torrens127, from which it is quite obvious that the Commissioners are determined to resist such interference as the Governor thinks it proper to make as to the land & site of capital. Strong suspicions are entertained that the Colonial Office is not averse to such a state of matters here as will throw the Colony into the hands of the Crown. If the Government prevail & Mr Fisher be thrown out, he (Mr Fisher) has got too much of our money by half. He is poor, speculative [and] extravagant. The relations between him [Fisher] and Mr Gilles as Colonial Treasurer are equally inimical to the regular management of business and, coupled with the regulations received per the Royal Admiral, very likely to bring pecuniary matters among these officials to a standstill. I gave Mr E[dward] S[tephens] instructions on no account to discount any more of their paper till we had other instructions from you. Mr Gilles is enraged at the Bank getting six per cent on his drafts, but it will be seen how much cheaper they have their remittances from V[an] D[iemen’s] Land & Sydney. His feelings towards the Company are, I believe, decidedly hostile and, as matters there are regulated much more by feeling than by judgment, we have been kept out of upwards of £150 of accounts done by the Government for several months, as to some of which I wrote them officially in July, August, September & October and again on 30[th] & 31[st] January. Bef[ore?] the present Judge, Jickling128, nothing can be done. He is quite incompetent: [he] was next thing to dismissed because of incompetence from the subordinate situation of Clerk to the Magistrates. As to his incompetence for which, in my hearing, he proposed (when acting as Clerk) to Mr E[dward] Stephens & Mr Gilbert129—then sitting as Magistrates in the Bank tent, trying a man on a charge of assault—Mr Jickling proposed, when the second witness was called in, ‘reading over to him what the first witness had said.’!!! But the Governor says he is ‘a very learned man.’ I know nothing to the contrary. It is grievous to see all the Public ‘Acts’, which should be prepared by the legal authorities & form the basis of the Colony’s stability & prosperity, indefinitely postponed from mere want of capacity. Mr Wigley has some talent, but stood so low in point of character in Sir John Jeffcott’s opinion that he told the Governor that he would not allow him to practise in his Court, and on that account the Governor declined appointing him Magistrate for Kangaroo

126 Robert Gouger (1802-1846), the original Colonial Secretary, who had returned to England after being dismissed by Hindmarsh. 127 Robert Torrens (1780-1864), chairman of the Colonization Commissioners in London 128 Henry Jickling (1800-1873), a lawyer passed over in favour of Jeffcott when the Colonial Judge was appointed in England. He came out with Fisher as tutor of his children. 129 Thomas Gilbert (1789-1873), a passenger on the Cygnet, was Colonial Storekeeper.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 112 of 173 ______

Island—but he has now made him Resident Magistrate at Adelaide & Public Prosecutor. Into his hands we must come if in court we seek to enforce any workman’s engagement. Were I disposed, I might introduce 20 other subjects, all important and encompassed with difficulty—the sources of loss to the Company and of incessant grief to me—but I forbear. It may be they will pass away, be remedied, mitigated, or the injurious tendency counteracted. A sense of duty brought me here, keeps me here, regulates my conduct, dictates my letters, prevents (in general) despondency, and will, I hope, under the kind providence of God, be ultimately blessed with a moderate degree of success. Should this hope be disappointed, there is one source of consolation of which, I think I may say, I shall never be deprived: there is one point on which, I think I may say, the Directors may have entire confidence: the failure shall not be owing to intemperance, to a vain conceit of my own superiority in talent, to rashness, obstinacy, extravagance, or irritability of temper. These, I hesitate not to say, have already produced much mischief to the Company’s interests. From the continued injurious influence of these, in the person of their Manager, the Company is safe. And by friendly counsel and co-operation, especially with Mr Giles, senior, here and Mr Edward Stephens on the main[land], both of whom are willing to do anything, by night or day, to promote the interests of the Company, I hope under the blessing of God I shall be able to witness, and advise you, of, a progressive improvement, although I do not see any reason to think that it will be immediate. There are so many disagreeables to adjust here, so many points to settle—as to dock yard!!, saw mill, flour mills, whale fishing, &c.—that I anticipate a continuance for some considerable time yet of our unhappy, unproductive state. May the Lord send a speedier deliverance than I anticipate. I beg to be most respectfully remembered to the Board. [I] hope to hear from them by & by with a word of encouragement and sympathy and, in addition thereto, I do hope that ere this time next year I shall be made glad by seeing my highly esteemed friend, the Chairman, in South Australia. With renewed expressions of attachment to yourself, I am, my dear Sir, Your fellow-labourer, In the service of the South Australian Company David McLaren

February 12, 1838 This letter consists of two sheets of full foolscap folded to make eight pages of foolscap, written on all sides. The pages were folded into four across and two. The letter was annotated in the London office with the dates of receipt and answer at the top of the first side. Received 10 July Answered 3 September The topic of each section was written (often faintly) alongside in the margin and where documents are referred to there appears a marginal note. A later hand has added in pencil on the first side Duplicate of copy in book and beside the date of writing 15 in letter book130. Some pages have also been numbered.

130 This must be incorrect because an afterthought later in the letter is dated 13 January.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 113 of 173 ______

Text Original. Per Sarah & Elizabeth to Hobart Town South Australian Company, Kingscote, 12th February 1838. Edmund J. Wheeler, Esquire, Manager, London. Dear Sir, I wrote you last on 2nd. instant [February] from Adelaide per Lady Wellington via Sydney, [the] duplicate of which Mr E[dward] S[tephens] will probably send you by some other vessel. I was happy in having it in my power to send so favourable an account of the proceedings at the meeting held for determining where the acre sections at the Harbour should be surveyed, and when they should be chosen. If the arrangements of that day be carried through, I believe the Company will be better accommodated than there was any reason previously to expect. When I learn that these arrangements have been completed, as I expect to do by the first arrival from the main[land], I shall send you a sketch of the whole. On my return to this, I found the Sarah & Elizabeth returned in safety from Encounter Bay. Pearson of the Solway said deliberately and sincerely, not in joke, that ‘if he could only see the Sarah & Elizabeth lying on the reef alongside the Solway, he should die in peace’!!! Such is the man with whom I have been intimately associated since the 16[th] October; with whom I have had to fight every inch of ground; and who hates me as cordially as I love you, solely, I believe, because I made a good bargain for the Company as to taking home our oil. The expenses connected with the discharging of the cargo, provisions, oil & bone131 at E[ncounter] Bay and transshipping them to the John Pirie and the Sarah & Elizabeth have been most enormous, while, on the other hand, the deficiency of oil through leakage very great & the quantity of provisions tainted and lost very considerable. By the last accounts from the Bay, they had recovered 45 provision casks in addition to those shipped by the S[arah & E[lizabeth], but of these from 15 to 20 were in bad condition. There remained still about 45 in the hold of the Solway. As the season has advanced so far as to render it inadvisable for the Sarah & Elizabeth to proceed to New Zealand from Hobart Town, we have resolved, & Captain Wakeling has agreed, to go home with the oil in the Sarah & Elizabeth. The cargo will have to be restowed at H[obart] Town, but this, I am persuaded, is the least evil in present circumstances, to which therefore we must just submit. The quantity of oil shipped by her does not exceed 160 tuns, and of bone about 8 or 9 tons. If I could have immediately despatched her to H[obart] Town, I should have been happy to have done so, but I have no other means of proceeding to Thistle Island, which from all accounts is the most advisable place for our establishing a shore fishing station for next season. In this matter, I wish to have the benefit of Captain Wakeling’s knowledge and experience, especially as he was there last year in passing. For this purpose I mean to go per the S[arah] & E[lizabeth] to Thistle Island in a day or two, and shall of course report to you the result132.

131 Added by a later hand in pencil: ex Solway. 132 Inserted in the margin at this point: 13 February. Captain Wakeling & Mr Mildred concur in representing it as unsafe to send the S[arah] & E[lizabeth] to Thistle Island; she goes direct to Hobart Town, from which Captain Wakeling will write you.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 114 of 173 ______

By the John Pirie, Mr J. G. Harper, appointed superintendent of Rosetta fishery, went on 8[th] January to Hobart Town to engage hands, and, as I then ordered a cutter to be bought or hired, I expected Mr Harper back by this time, but I have not had any advices from him. Mr McFarlane went from Port Adelaide [at the] end of January, to engage hands, &c., for the proposed fishery at Thistle Island, and I propose taking down with me some hands to prepare, in the event of our fixing there. But had the Company only had a superintendent of this department, who thoroughly understood the business, who knew the men, & was known by them, &c., &c., I should have had more confident hopes of success than I have. Neither McFarlane nor Harper are quite to my mind, but they were the best I could get. I could not go to V[an] D[iemen’s] Land or Sydney. There were none here whom I could send with confidence to engage superintendents or headsman, &c. Captain Wright, whom Mr S[amuel] S[tephens] would have sent, was with Mr S[amuel] S[tephens] then on the main[land]. W[illiam] M[organ] Orr, Esq., is extensively engaged & showed either so little attention or skill in selecting for us a few bullock-drivers, &c., that it would have been madness to have entrusted this matter to him. The whalers are in a measure a separate class, and the trade requires a system of combined operations both in summer & winter so that employment may be provided in summer for those men whom it is of importance to secure for the following winter. By the mournful experience of this season, it is manifest that as the oil is tried out, or, at any rate, immediately at the close of the season, it ought to be removed from the fishery; and had Mr S[amuel] S[tephens] engaged the Emma to have taken home our oil, all our mischiefs might have avoided. He proposed it at the freight I had named, £4.10/-, the freight you agreed conditionally with the Hartley. Captain Nelson133 refused, and thus, I believe, the matter was allowed to drop. How deeply I have regretted that I was then on the main[land], and that favourable opportunity was irrecoverably lost. From Adelaide via Sydney on 2nd instant, I sent [the] duplicate protest of Captain McFarlane of South Australian. I now forward [the] triplicate of protest. I hope you will have no difficulty in recovering from the underwriters the amount covered, yet the disappointment, and the disadvantages incurred by the loss of that vessel, cannot be estimated. I have heard nothing further of the time of sale. That of the Solway takes place tomorrow at Holdfast Bay. I wish you could get her reasonably for a cutting-in ship134, but several parties are looking after her—among [them] Captain Wright of the William. The charges connected with the repairing and getting off the Sir C[harles] McCarthy, which were under Wright’s superintendence have been very heavy, and now she must be hove down here, under charge of Mr Mildred, in order to make her serviceable as a cutting-in ship. The Royal Admiral is here taking in ballast; she goes by the way of Valparaiso. We expect the Lord Goderich daily, and suppose that she may have been detained, or her destination altered in consequence of the arrival of the Rapid135. We are all naturally anxious for replies to those letters which went per Rapid—all from the Governor downwards. The relations between the authorities will then be more definitely marked, and the probability as to future continuance in office or removal from office rendered more apparent. Your despatches to me

133 John Nelson, master of the Emma. 134 A vessel to which dead whales are towed for their blubber to be stripped off. 135 A brig brought out by Light for the survey team. She was sent back to London under William George Field with the Deputy Surveyor General, George Strickland Kingston, to seek more resources for the surveying team, as well as many despatches complaining of the governance of the province, including calls for the recall of Hindmarsh.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 115 of 173 ______also, after receipt of mine per Rapid, originals, and per Salacia, duplicates, I wait with anxiety. I hope these letters of mine would prevent any more contracts with farm tenants, &c. At the same time, you may perhaps have engaged more servants as labourers, &c., for whom we may not have work on their arrival. Were it not for the advances given to such, we should have no difficulty, and, on this subject, I hope these letters would prevent much being done. And, if the character of the emigrants be such as I then described, there will be no harm done. How Mr Swaine136 and the Directors could contemplate men with large families @ 13/-, 14/-, & 15/- weekly wages repaying advances to the extent of £46, £57, in one instance £71, I cannot imagine. I hope most fervently that the Goshawk, may not bring us any more German labourers. If she do, they must have similar advances as those per Solway—a certain source of dissatisfaction & loss. In your favour of the 18[th] September on this head, you state the mode of repayment, viz. ‘small sums weekly so long as honesty & propriety are maintained, but if any dereliction of duty occurs, you can punish them by claiming the whole amount at once.’ Now really, my dear Sir, look at the cases above mentioned and say how either the one alternative or the other can be adopted practically. The various remarks in that letter on the other subjects have my best attention, and the accounts sent therewith; but I regret to say again, that I have not yet got any statement from Mr Stephens of his transactions, and no attempt was made by him or Mr Hare137 to keep a Day-book, Journal, or Ledger previously to my arrival. Each blamed the other. Mr S[amuel] S[tephens] having been here 3 months before Mr H[are]’s arrival and not professing to be an accountant—Mr H[are] professed to be so, but is not—cannot form or keep a set of books. The measures adopted by me on arrival & on going to the main[land] in June last have been detailed already, as has the failure of these measures. Since Messrs Giles arrival, the cash has been kept by Mr Giles, senior, and, in that department, I know all is right, but the appropriation of the sums to the different accounts requires a great deal of time & consideration. Also since that time, Mr W[illiam] Giles, Junior138, has, with my assistance, written Journal & Ledger, but his experience with the London & Westminster Bank, though in large sums, has been very limited as to the nature & variety of mercantile transactions. I have felt, and do feel, very uncomfortable as to the state of the books and accounts, but no person qualified to do the work has been sent. By the present opportunity, I have written Mr W. Orr, Hobart Town, to engage a thorough-bred experienced clerk & book-keeper if such is to be got at a reasonable rate, and, if not, to transmit my application to Mr Spark, Sydney. This I hope will bring us relief, and, for the relief which I should enjoy by having the transactions of the Company regularly entered in a business manner, I should most cheerfully pay of my own proper money fifty pounds a year. Agreeably to your wish, I send you a copy of my letter to Mr Orr139. As the Sarah & Elizabeth does not stand in high favour with the underwriters at home, I have ordered Mr Orr to do the

136 Robert Victor Swaine (1794-1859), agent for the South Australian Company in Hamburg. 137 Charles Simeon Hare (1808-1882) came out in the Emma and worked for the South Australian Company in the store at Kingscote. 138 William Giles (1814-1875), the son of William Giles. 139 Written at right angles to the text at this point: Document No 2.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 116 of 173 ______insurance at Hobart Town or to order it to be done by you, according to circumstances, but by all means to avoid running risk. I have given Captain Wakeling a certificate as to the deviation from the whaling voyage having been according to my orders. I beg to refer you and the Board to Captain W[akeling]. He can give you full information of the state of matters here, and one reason he alleges for agreeing to go home is that he may endeavour to persuade your Chairman to come out. The Sarah & Elizabeth was in a most unfit state to be fitted out for a South Sea voyage. It was a disgrace to Captain Whittle140 to do so. I send you by Captain Wakeling a piece of her timbers which I took out with my hand when the shipwrights were repairing her here. I believe the best thing you can do with her is to sell her. Send no vessel that is likely to need any repairs here. And in the choice of your captains, you must be more select. With the enlarged experience in this line which some of your Directors have, it would be absurd in me to say more. But almost everything as the issue of the voyage depends on the combination of superior qualifications on the part of the captain, and a guinea or two per month additional between a first rate and a second rate ought never to be a consideration. Mr John Allan141, late 2nd mate of the South Australian, returns by the Sarah & Elizabeth. I have given him a bill of exchange, 1st, 2nd and 3rd, this date, on you in his favour at 60 days sight P £26.0.0. and another bill of exchange, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, this date, at 60 days sight to order of the executors of the late Captain Alexander Allan, junior, £94.9.5, which you are requested to pay accordingly. Mr Findlay142, late Chief Officer, is retained here in charge of the Sir Charles McCarthy, &c., & though in a great measure unemployed, I cannot let him go till some decision be come to as to the charge against Mr [Samuel] Stephens in Blenkinsop’s case. Whether the case will ever be brought on or not is uncertain. It hangs over his head. I have requested to Mr E[dward] S[tephens] to demand that the bond for the appearance of his brother be cancelled, or a day fixed for his appearance. Findlay is the only witness retained in his defence. I am sorry to say that there is too apparent a disposition on the part of the Government party to annoy the Company; this is especially the case with Mr George Stevenson143, who guides the movements of the whole party, and all along with the most decided avowals of attachment to the Company, and especially to the Chairman—avowals which I am constrained to regard as false and hypocritical, or at least as inferior impractical—influences to the utter dislike which he has to Messrs S[amuel] Stephens and E[dward] Stephens, and of which, I fear, I am now likely to become in some measure the object. He was unquestionably the writer of the leading article in the 8th number of the Gazette, on which, with some other articles in the same number, I thought it my duty to animadvert. These animadversions have after repeated delays been published in the Gazette, accompanied by severe remarks which are no doubt written by Mr Stevenson. To that paper I shall assuredly make no reply. I presume Mr E[dward] S[tephens] will send you

140 William Whittle (1780-1852), a master mariner who served for many years in vessels owned by the Angas family shipping business. 141 John Allan, the son of the late master, Alexander Allan. 142 John Finlay came out as second mate of the South Australian and was promoted to first mate at Encounter Bay. 143 George Stevenson (1799-1856), Clerk to the Council and editor of the South Australian Gazette & Colonial Register.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 117 of 173 ______a copy as usual of these numbers of the Gazette. The intention of the most offensive article in the 8th number was, I doubt not, to injure Mr Edward Stephens, and that, for his sake & for the sake of the Company, I considered myself called on to counteract. Mr Beer and his two sons were left at Adelaide and will be set to work by Mr [Edward] Stephens. But on the arrival of the Royal Admiral, ere Mr. Beer had disembarked, he was offered 12/- a day & constant work, which some of his fellow passengers got, though far inferior tradesmen. I wrote you from the main[land] in reference to shipments from the Cape we never should order stock. I ordered a cargo similar to that bought from Lord Hobart, but much uncertainty attaches to our getting it—it would pay remarkably well. I confirm former representations as to our having regular supplies of such articles as have been repeatedly specified from you, once a quarter of a year or so, and these supersede our buying these articles in the neighbouring Colonies, where they are double the price. I hope we shall, by & by, have our flocks in an improved & improving condition under Mr Randell, superintendent, and your continued attention. The sheep by Solway arrived in prime order; the intended supply, however, per Goshawk will be very acceptable. The shearing of the sheep, this last season, was in some measure mismanaged by us & by others. It was too late of being begun, was quite too long of being got finished—the consequence was that so much time elapsed between washing & clipping many of the sheep they might as well not have been washed at all, and the wool was chiefly, from the lateness of the clipping, much deteriorated by being mixed with a species of grass. Mr S[amuel] S[tephens] estimated the value of the wool @ £300. But, small as this sum is, I am doubtful if it will be realised—at least I am quite accustomed to see his estimates of revenue fall short, and those of expenditure exceeded. The clip has not been received here yet. Could it have been sent home in the Sarah & Elizabeth, I should have been pleased. I have the pleasure of handing you inventory of the property here144, as taken at the 1st November last, amount £1,2687.7.7. I regret that this statement has been so long of being forwarded, that it exhibits so small an amount, and that, circumstanced as I am & have been, I have not had it in my power personally to examine it; I believe it is correct. From the information received from Captain Wakeling since writing the preceding part of this letter, I have instructed him and Mr Orr to order insurance on the oil & whale bone per the Sarah & Elizabeth to be effected by you, as per my letter to Mr Orr. From Encounter Bay, I took the liberty of recommending that you should come out to take charge of the shipping department. From the present state of the Company’s affairs, &c., I have in my private letter by this opportunity suggested the propriety of my much esteemed friend, the Chairman, coming out. Of course, it would be too much to expect you both. I do expect that Mr Angas & the Board will see the propriety of his doing so. I am, my dear Sir, With the most sincere regard, Your affectionate friend and fellow labourer, David McLaren Manager

144 Written in the margin: Document No 3.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 118 of 173 ______

February 21, 1838 This letter consists of one sheet of full foolscap folded to make four pages of foolscap folio, written on all sides, and a single sheet of foolscap folio, written on one side only. The pages were folded into four across and two lengthwise. The letter was annotated in the London office with the dates of receipt and answer at the top of the first side, and the year, the writer’s name, the place and date of writing, and the dates of receipt and answer on the last. The latter were repeated at right angles so as to be readable in either orientation: 1838 D. McLaren Kingscote 21 February Received 7 September Answered 10 September A later hand has noted in pencil at the top of the first side Duplicate and some pages have been numbered. Text Original. Per Royal Admiral via Valparaiso145 South Australian Company, Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, 21 February 1838. Edmund J. Wheeler, Esquire, Manager, London. My very dear Sir, I wrote to you this day week, original per Sarah & Elizabeth, duplicate herewith per the Royal Admiral. Since that time the disaffection here has increased & led to assault, &c. Mr Giles and I, as Justices of the Peace, were occupied the greater part of the forenoon of the 17th & 19[th] instant in investigating a complaint made by Mr Hare against 3 Germans. He stopped a German near the yard, who was rolling away a cask supposed by Mr H[are] to have been fresh water, but which was salt water. The German struck him in the face, &, with the assistance of another, threw him down, and, there is reason to believe, struck & kicked him when down. Two of them were fined & the third dismissed with a reprimand. Yesterday, almost the whole labourers struck work, chiefly, on account of the grievance of having to pay for water (a penny a gallon). They came up in a body to my house. The officers came up to protect & consult with me, viz., Mr Giles, Mr Beare, Mr Hare & Mr Mildred. The result was that we unanimously (Mr Hare excepted) approved of giving those of them who are in the service of the Company water without charge, at the rate of one gallon per day for each adult & ½ gallon for each child under 12 years of age, and one extra day’s allowance weekly for washing; the water to be served out in the store yard; none on Sabbath, but a double allowance on Saturday; & this arrangement to continue in force while there was no water in the tanks146, but not when there was. And this concession made, and intimated by me to them as having been made, not on the ground of right but of favour. They were in general satisfied, but some of the Germans quite disposed to mix up with this grievance that as to the prices in the retail store and the conduct of Mr Hare. This, of course, I resisted, and the matter ended for the time.

145 The date of sailing of the Royal Admiral is not known. 146 Footnote: When the whole supply is brought from Point Marsden, it is about 1500 gallons weekly.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 119 of 173 ______

The distinction between the Germans and the English in paying for the passage to the Colony, is a source of dissatisfaction, so strong that, although every other grievance were removed, they would not be satisfied while that distinction remained. In other words, I am certain that a great proportion of the money so advanced will never be recovered. When I saw the crowd yesterday collected in the yard, I thought it was the Germans only, and such is my view of the unproductive nature of their employment and of the improbability of the advances being recovered from them, that I was inclined to refuse all concession. Let them seek employment where they might, and take my chance of recovering the advance from their employer, &c. This would have relieved the Company’s funds of a heavy weekly expenditure, which is a constant grief of heart to me. I would say laconically, but respectfully, Send no more articled servants, except in cases of very particular necessity, & let this, if possible, be decided Christian men. Send no more Germans, Tyrolese, or foreigner on any account whatever. Give no more heavy advances. Send no more farm tenants, nor any tenants of town acres, till I advise you of our having got possession of the country sections, &c. Send no more machinery. Send no more whaling ships to this port till they have got as much oil as will prevent the hands running away. Send no more old hulks like the Sarah & Elizabeth, needing repair when they arrive here, nor any vessels under the command of men so illiterate as Captains Ross & Allan, especially if hard-drinkers. Send no more Cashmere goats. Send no more casks for oil made in Hamburg. Our coopers ask 20/. per tun, for making them fit for oil, and, although that money were paid, the wood is very bad—on the outward passage, spoils the bread, &, on the homeward, is likely to spoil the oil. The articles which should be sent have been repeatedly particularised; supplies of which, I hope, are on the way and close at hand. There is no butter, cheese, tea, coffee, crushed or refined sugar, London porter, Scotch ale, port wine, good sherry, calicoes, white jean, prints, bed tick, men’s & women’s cotton stockings & hose, straw hats (men’s & women’s), cloth caps for men and materials for caps & dress for women, ribbons, &c., strong or light men’s shoes, women’s leather shoes, & children’s shoes of all kinds, &c., in the Colony for sale, excepting small supplies brought from V[an] Diemen’s Land or Sydney at extravagant prices. A cargo of such articles from England would pay amazingly, and afford very great & general relief. The propriety of the prudential measures which I considered necessary in regulating the operations of the Bank in July & August, and which accorded completely with Mr E[dward] S[tephens]’s own views and feelings, is beginning to appear very obvious. James Coltman147 & Company, who then owed upwards of £800 on account and whose acceptances we held, with the indorsation of other parties, for a further amount, have failed. Mr E[dward] S[tephens] has advised me, ‘They have assigned over everything to [John Barton] Hack & me for the benefit of creditors. We are very amply safe. The business is to be continued for

147 James Coltman (c1807-1849), on the Africaine, was the Commissioners’ storekeeper at Glenelg before taking a store in Hindley Street with partner Robert Thomas. Their insolvency was announced on 24 March.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 120 of 173 ______the present.’ We were previously secured by the mortgage of their town acres & stores and the delivery of a quantity of goods. Mr E[dward] S[tephens] adds, ‘I like to be cautious, and not to speak rash, but I can see, I think, coming events casting their shadows before. I am satisfied there is here over-trading, over-crediting, over-speculating, over-dealing, over- reaching, &c. I have watched the Colony’s progress some time now with some anxiety as to its monetary arrangements, &c. I suspect it is more rotten than many expect. Let those around do as they like; depend upon me, I will take good care of my charge & keep a close fist.’ Since my last return from the capital, I wrote him, wishing that some more decided measures were adopted for our security, and for determining more explicitly our entire relations with Messrs Fisher, both father and sons. I was extremely sorry to find, when on the main[land] last month, that the arrangement made by me with Mr Fisher, senior, as to his finishing the stores for £1500, as advised in my letter of the 4[th] November, had been, inadvertently on the part of Mr E[dward] S[tephens], departed from inasmuch as Mr Fisher had drawn checks, &c., on the Bank, which had been honoured, to the extent of £1700 while these stores were far from being finished. We arranged with Mr F[isher] that he should send in his accounts of monies expended on these stores that they might be examined by Mr E[dward] S[tephens], which was immediately promised, &c., but which had not been done. Mr E[dward] S[tephens] advises me in his last letter (15[th] instant [February]) that ‘before the receipt’ of mine, mentioned above, he had ‘stopped the checks’. He promises to write me at length on this head per the Water Witch, which I expect every hour148. Mr E[dward] S[tephens] has chartered her, a cutter of 26 tons for a month at £35, the owner to find everything, [and] with liberty to me to extend the charter to six months at same rate, which, if the vessel & Captain149, &c., be to my mind, I intend to do. As next six months, we shall need to have facilities at all times at command for transit to the fishing stations and to the main[land]. On her arrival I mean to go to Thistle Island. I enclose [the] duplicate of a private and confidential letter, of which I sent [the] original per Sarah & Elizabeth to Hobart Town, but I think it probable that you will receive the duplicate before the original, as the former will be sent overland to Buenos Ayres. I take the liberty of referring to the suggestion, which I have ventured to make in it, as to Mr Angas coming out here on a visit. Little did I imagine this day week that I should so soon have had my representations of the state of matters here so soon and lamentably confirmed as they have been. I understand Mr Giles wrote Mr A[ngas] privately to the same effect per Sarah & Elizabeth. The more I reflect on the subject, the more am I satisfied that it is not only advisable but necessary. I am happy to say my health is improved, but, as the reasons for suggesting that very important measure continue & are or likely to continue, alas, too long, I beg to repeat and confirm the suggestion, as likely to be of such service to the Company’s interests as to justify me in making it, and to justify the highly respected Chairman in acting upon it—provided his other arrangements will permit him to do so. I might perhaps plead with him, that I am sure he never intended to place me in a situation of so much difficulty and to subject me to so much grief of heart; but I will not urge any such plea, the measure has suggested itself to my mind on general public grounds and, on such exclusively, do I recommend it.

148 A Hobart-registered cutter, Joseph Smith master, had arrived at Holdfast Bay from Hobart at the beginning of January. 149 Joseph Smith, master of the Water Witch.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 121 of 173 ______

As to the letter from Mr Sam[uel] Stephens, transmitted along with that private letter per Sarah & Elizabeth, it was on account of the signature & address it was sent. No attempt was made to imitate them in the copy. The orthography of the letter from Captain Ross has been preserved in the duplicate. He ought to have been here ere now. I am, my dear Sir, Yours very respectfully, David McLaren

April 4, 1838 This letter consists of two single sheets of foolscap folio (perhaps originally a single folded sheet of full folio) of four pages, written on three sides. The top and bottom and left and right quarters of the pages were folded in to make a letter with the blank outermost side providing an address panel. It was addressed to Edmund John Wheeler, Esquire Manager South Australian Company London and at top left X Per Giraffe, via Launceston, 6 April 1838 It was stamped in Adelaide with a black circular stamp POST OFFICE ADELAIDE, the port of entry stamp INDIA LETTER, HASTINGS and with red stamp S, 10 S[EPTEMBE]R 10, 1838, and the duty paid 1/8. The letter was subsequently folded into four across and two lengthwise and annotated in the London office with the date of receipt on the address panel, the date of answer at the top of the first side, and the year, the writer’s name, the place and date of writing, and the dates of receipt and answer around the address panel on the last. The latter were repeated at right angles so as to be readable in either orientation: The letter was subsequently folded into four across and two lengthwise in the London office. It was then with the date of answer at the top of the first side, and the year, the writer’s name, the place and date of writing, and the dates of receipt and answer on the last. The latter were repeated at right angles so as to be readable in either orientation: 1838 D. McLaren Adelaide 4 April Received 11 September Answered 25 September A much later hand has numbered some pages. Text Original. Per Giraffe150 to Launceston.

150 A London-registered brig, master Hew Burn, had brought livestock from Launceston on 5 March. She cleared for return to Launceston on 7 April. The name of this vessel replaces that of the Hartley, which has been deleted, so the letter apparently missed the sailing of the latter to Launceston a few days earlier.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 122 of 173 ______

South Australian Company, Adelaide, 4 April 1838. Edmund J. Wheeler, Esquire, Manager, London. Dear Sir, I think my last despatches to you were under date the 22nd February, forwarded per the Royal Admiral via Valparaiso. Since which time I have been at Thistle Island and resolved to establish a whale fishery there. I returned to Kingscote, and thence to this, per John Pirie, having arrived here on the 20th ultimo. Several most important matters have since then occupied my attention, to which I shall very briefly advert ere I close this, thus begun after midnight. But the chief reason of writing by the present opportunity is for the purpose of advising my drafts on you and on Messrs Ladbrokes & Company151 since last advices. The amount of these drafts is very heavy. I regret exceedingly they should be necessary. A summary of Mr Orr’s account is subjoined for your satisfaction & that of the Directors. On my arrival here, I found the monetary affairs of the Colonial Commissioner, and those dependent on him, at a standstill, the dilemma anticipated in my letter of the [space left blank] realised in the first quarter’s salaries after the amount which the Colonial Treasurer was entitled to draw for through our Bank was exhausted. They had not a penny, were deep in debt, had no prospect of funds to pay either the officers’ salaries or the labourers’ wages, the former due 1st. April and the latter, weekly. The only practicable way which had occurred to Mr Fisher and a committee of gentlemen, whom he had called to assist him by advice, was for him to draw irrespective of the Colonial Treasurer, the committee certifying the circumstances under which the instructions received from the Colonial Commissioners had been violated. Such drafts the Bank was asked to discount, and the report of the committee was to accompany the drafts. To that plan, I refused to be party. I wished that the Colonial Treasurer should be first applied to, and that, although I was precluded from cashing any more than £3000 in any one year, if he would draw, I should discount. He agreed on condition that we should hold the drafts in our own hands for 2 months. We have transgressed our instructions, but the alternative before us was either do so, or see the Colony bankrupt, the survey stopped, and everything thrown into confusion. In the month of February the Colonial Commissioner sent drafts P £3000 to Montefiore’s house in Hobart Town152. He has heard of their having been received, but no money is forthcoming. The drafts done by us, as mentioned above, amounted to £1,500. Unless subsequent arrivals from England shall bring other instructions on this subject to the Colonial Commissioner, the Colonial Treasurer, & myself, the fearful alternative which we have on the present occasion avoided must befall this Colony.

151 Also known as Ladbrokes, Kingscote and Company. Robert Ladbroke and Henry Kingscote were directors of Ladbroke and Company, then Messrs Ladbroke, Kingscote and Gillman, at 73 Bank Buildings, Cornhill, London. They were bankers for the South Australian Company. 152 Jacob Barrow Montefiore (1803-1893) in partnership with Jacob, his brother in London who was a South Australian Colonisation Commissioner, was a very successful merchant and land dealer base in Sydney. The Hobart branch was Montefiore, Furtado and Company with David Ribeiro Furtado.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 123 of 173 ______

5[th] April, morning. The order in which the country sections are to be chosen has been at last determined by lot153, and, I am sorry to say, the lot has been against us, at least as to the early choices. I send you a list of the Company’s rights of choice, remarking only that we thought it best to take 102 separate chances, as we thought we should even in this way have many consecutive numbers—as it has turned out in several instances—and, as some others who had a few sections were resolved to draw for the whole in one lot, we were confirmed in our intention. The whole 437 sections were thus reduced to 289. The 1st [choice] fell to the lot of Colonel Light—his only one154. 2nd to Mr Morphett, 5 sections for a constituent155. 3[rd to] the Governor, 5 sections for himself. 4[th] to the Company. The day for selection is the 12th May, but individuals may make their selection previously, if all before them have done—Colonel Light & Mr Morphett have. Ther[page cut] no delays. We can get no aid from Mr [Samuel] Stephens in this important matter. His [page cut] feeling towards the Company is unfortunately at present that of the most determined hostility. I am adopting the best measures I can: Colonel Light & Mr Fisher promise me their best advice; Mr Randell goes out today; I mean to return tomorrow per John Pirie to Kingscote & send Mr Giles over by the first opportunity. And I have adopted other measures as to which, and other subjects which I cannot now introduce (as the mail closes at nine a.m.), I mean to write you by another opportunity to Launceston in the course of this day—which will likely go by the same conveyance to London. I am, With much respect, My dear Sir, Your most obedient servant, David McLaren, Manager Enclosure? This possible enclosure consists of a single sheet 25 x 20 cm, written on one side only. The pages were folded into three across and two lengthwise. The page was annotated in the London office with the dates of receipt? 17 September 1838 the top of the first side A page number has been added in a later hand. Text South Australian Company, Adelaide, 5[th] April [18]38. Explanation of the drafts of D McL, Manager, on Edmund J. Wheeler, Esquire, Manager, London Balance of W[illiam] M[organ] Orr’s account October 1837 £965. 2. 5. Cash advances by W[illiam] M[organ] Orr on sundry accounts till January [18]38, say £350. 0. 0. Purchase of schooner Victoria, 29 tons, new almost156, employed to bring down

153 The injunction obtained by Strangways was stayed on 22 March after Fisher proposed revised procedure for selecting from mapped areas or reserving choice of land yet to be surveyed. Holders of multiple preliminary land orders were required in advance to declare whether they would ballot for choice for each individual land orders or as a group. McLaren chose to do the former. 154 The preliminary land order (number147) was purchased in London by Boyle Travers Finniss. 155 Richard Blundell of Hooton, Cheshire. 156 Built at Hobart for George Watson in 1837 and bought by Harper on behalf of the South Australian Company. He sailed form Hobart on 5 February 1838.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 124 of 173 ______whalers, whose passage otherwise would have cost about £300 £640. 0. 0. Additional for Victoria, advance to whalers, &c., say £460. 0. 0. Invoice per John Pirie, present voyage, including commission @ 3%, say £1900. 0. 0. Disbursements of the John Pirie in repairs, &c., after leaving Encounter Bay in January last £840. 0. 0. Sundries £300. 0. 0. £5455. 0. 0.

D McL Drafts, 4 April, at 60 days sight, 10 of £500 each, 2 of £250 = £5500. 0. 0.157 D McL.

April 18, 24 & 26, 1838 This letter consists of three sheets of full foolscap each folded to make twelve sides of foolscap folio, written on nine sides. The last side has: 2. Original letter from D McLaren to Mr Wheeler 18 April 1838 General business The pages were folded into four across and two lengthwise. The letter was annotated in the London office with the dates of receipt and answer at the top of the first side, and the year, the writer’s name, the place and date of writing, and the dates of receipt and answer on the last side. The latter were repeated at right angles so as to be readable in either orientation: 1838 D. McLaren Adelaide 18 April Received 18 October Answered 24 November Alongside each section the topic has been entered in the margin in faint writing, probably in the London office. Some pages have been numbered in a later hand. Text Original. Per Black Joke158 to Launceston—24 May. South Australian Company, Adelaide, 18 April 1838. Edmund J. Wheeler, Esquire, Manager, London. Dear Sir, I did myself this pleasure on the 4 & 5 instant [April] per duplicate enclosed. I left this on the 6th, arrived at Kingscote on 8th, [&] returned to this on 15th, on which day I received your esteemed favours of the 14, 18, 21st October per the Lord Goderich159.

157 Apparently added in the London office above this line: C—16 to 25—£500 each, 26 to 27—£250 each.

158 A brig out of Launceston, owner and master John Miller. She arrived at Adelaide on 17 May, having cleared from Launceston on 28 April, and returned to Launceston on 24 May.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 125 of 173 ______

I was accompanied hither by Mr Giles, agreeably to my last, who is actively employed in examining the country lands in the neighbourhood of Adelaide. As we came along from Kingscote, we landed at Rapid Bay, the description of which by Colonel Light, &c., is substantially correct—but rather highly coloured. The ‘river’ at some small distance from the beach is dry. Above & below there are either pools or a running stream and clear fresh water, and, across the beach, the stream just trickles, in breadth of not more than six inches. Along the beach, within high watermark, are found fresh water springing through the sand. On the subject of the arrangements made by me, when here last, to guide us in the selection of country sections, I refer to my communications by this opportunity entitled ‘Country Lands’. The day previously to my last leaving this, a circumstance occurred of the highest importance to this Colony. Mr Hawdon160 arrived, having brought a herd of cattle, upwards of 300, overland from his station on the Goulburn River, about 145° E. Long. 37° Lat. He crossed the Murray at its junction with the Darling, fording both rivers without any difficulty; was ten weeks on the way; travelled about [blank space]161 miles; lost only 3 or 4 head of cattle; found in general regular supplies of fresh water from falling in with rivers, but crossed some arid plains, the continuance of which for a somewhat longer extent must have occasional great mortality. I have had the pleasure of spending an afternoon and evening with him in company with Mr E[dward] Stephens and Mr Giles and I hope I shall have in some measure the advantage of his knowledge of this country in reference to our country. He states his willingness to go east along with Mr Giles to examine some districts. Mr Hawdon was very desirous that we should purchase his herds, which are in prime condition, but the price he asked, and our late purchases & other considerations, have determined me to decline it. He asked at first £25 per head. Since my arrival, he has intimated his willingness to take £22, but this is entirely out of the question. The importations of stock have been very heavy, much more than there is capital in the Colony to pay for. I think I mentioned in some of the letters about 2nd February Messrs J.B. & S. Hack from New South Wales by the Lady Wellington. When I was here last, the Lady Wellington had returned but brought no sheep as they were not to be got in Sydney when she was there. I claimed damages for non-fulfilment of contract [but] compromised the matter on their agreeing to deliver me 120 head of cattle of those which they had bought deliverable at Portland Bay & which they bring round thence by sea—at cost, which is twelve guineas a head, for a herd consisting of bullocks, cows, heifers & steers. Dr Imlay has now completed the delivery of the stock I bought of him, and yesterday the account was settled: for wedders we paid him 25/- and [we] can buy more at this rate, were we to take 800 or more. Yesterday I sold a butcher 300 deliverable in the course of 3 months at 38/- to 42/-, according to weight. From the same person, we lately got 50/- for 100 wedders. I observe the highly important remark in your esteemed favour of the 14[th] October per the Lord Goderich: ‘We have three grand objects, our fisheries, banks and flocks, and to these we should as much as possible devote our attention’.

159 A barque, master Andrew Smith, arrived from London on 14 April after a voyage of six months occasioned by discord between the captain and the passengers, which was pursued in the courts after arrival. 160 Joseph Hawdon (1813-1871). 161 Nearly 1000 miles.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 126 of 173 ______

The instructions of the Board thus communicated I shall be most happy to obey as far as in my power; considering at the same time that we must continue to have supplies of various articles of merchandise from you, which will yield, I hope, large profits, and also from the neighbouring Colonies & the Cape, &c., by our own vessels or occasionally by others; and understanding, of course, that under the term ‘flocks’ are comprehended ‘herds’, and that both imply one of the most important branches of the Company’s operations, viz., that connected with the land. I am well-pleased that the ribbons, watches, nutcrack[er]s, &c., are not to be sent, but ale, porter & wine ought by all means. For ale & porter (Dunbars & Elliot’s162), we pay in Hobart Town £5.15/-, in Launceston £7.10/- per Hhd163; for bottled, 14/- per dozen in Hobart Town; besides commission charges and freight. For the former, we have got £10, and for the bottles, 21/-. Of London porter, Mr Morphett has 40 Hhds per Lord Goderich. There has been a great want of good port & sherry. For very indifferent wines, 30/- per dozen is paid by us in Hobart town, besides all charges, and for these wines [blank space]164 is had here. And for good port, I believe almost anything would be got which we chose to ask. As to commercial transactions we must not be dependent on Sydney & V[an] D[iemen’s] Land. We will do no good as a Colony in that respect, till we get into the system of having our supplies from the same markets as the merchants in N[ew] S[outh] Wales & V[an] D[iemen’s] Land. And what we have from you of suitable articles will yield us very handsome profits. As repeatedly mentioned, however, I have ever since since my arrival in the Colonies felt that I was fettered in all commercial transactions by the arrangements which were made by Mr S[amuel] Stephens with Messrs Fisher Brothers165 immediately before my arrival. These arrangements, connected as they were with that as to the Stores to be built by the Company for the accommodation of Messrs Fisher, I did not see it to be my duty to refuse to sanction, nor, considering Mr S[amuel] S[tephens]’s former powers, could I have done so legally without cause shown; at the same time these arrangements, in all their parts and in all their practical working, have been very unsatisfactory. And from that circumstance, the probability of excessive importations and some other considerations, I am predisposed to prosecuting the commercial branch with less eagerness than I should otherwise have been inclined to do. The principal considerations alluded to above are that I am satisfied that no department at the Company’s operation ought to be prosecuted with more spirit than the Bank’s, and that, being Bank Manager, the less prominence given to my operations as Commercial Manager, in transactions with the colonists the better. The very trifling percentage of charges on the business done, and the rate of interest, &c., obtained, with the powerful aid thus afforded to the Colony in the general success of which the Company so largely participates, concur in rendering it a matter of the most obvious policy to prosecute with eagerness the business of the Bank—one consideration only restraining Mr E[dward] S[tephens] & myself, viz., that a greater amount of capital will require

162 D. Dunbar and Company, owned by Duncan Dunbar, a wealthy shipowner, were brewers in Limehouse. The Stag Brewery in Pimlico was run by the partners John Lettsom Elliott and James Watney; it was taken over by the Watney family in 1856. 163 Hogshead, the actual quantity varying with the contents. A hogshead of ale was about 245 litres. 164 The South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register of 20 January 1838 quotes Adelaide prices for a dozen bottles of port or sherry as 32/- to 36/-. 165 The Resident Commissioner’s sons, James Fisher (1816-1913) and Charles Brown Fisher (1817-1908).

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 127 of 173 ______to be appropriated by the Board for this department than they may have previously contemplated. As a practical evidence of my feelings and convictions on these points, I take the liberty of mentioning that this day I declined taking a joint interest in Messrs J.B. & S. Hack, in a purchase of wedders at 25/-, chiefly because it would have involved our drawing on you further; and, at the same time, besides giving Messrs Hack 2 drafts on you for goods bought (flour & soap, &c.), I have consented to give them an accommodation to the extent of £1400 by drafts on Ladbrokes, because that latter sum is not only quite secure but will be gradually wiped off by their transactions with the Bank. The commission & interest on their accounts with the Bank from 1st January till 30[th] April will not be less than £120. There has hitherto been very little capital introduced into the Colony, excepting by the Company, and the extensive operations which have been carried on have been in a great measure owing to the facilities afforded by the Bank. The union of liberality and caution with an unfailing regard to security, we wish ever to exemplify. We hope the Board is satisfied of this, and that they will place at the disposal of the Bank a larger amount of capital; that the remittances in specie will be more ample, and bear a greater proportion to the orders upon us, than hitherto. I refer to the letter by this opportunity on Bank affairs for my sentiments on this subject, and, I am happy to say, that they accord completely with those of Mr E[dward] Stephens. My principal object in coming hither on the present occasions was to complete some arrangements connected with the fisheries for this next season. When here lately, I was uncertain as to the propriety of employing the Sir Charles McCarthy, although repaired, as a cutting-in ship. I therefore got an offer of the cutter Water Witch, 26 tons, £300, as she then lay in Holdfast Bay. On returning to Kingscote, it was Mr Mildred’s opinion, as well as Mr Harper, Superintendent at Rosetta Fishery, &c., that, considering the expense & risk, it would be inadvisable to send the Sir C[harles] McCarthy. We were thus shut up in a great measure to buying the Water Witch. I returned by her that I might arrange the matter with the owner, who regrets having offered her so low. I have applied for but not yet got the inventory. I have another in view about 32 tons, at about the same manner. I hope to choose as to the one or the other in a day or two, and then I shall be off again for Kingscote. I hope to find on my arrival there that Mr McFarlane has proceeded with the remainder of the hands to Thistle Island in charge of the schooner Victoria, which I am sorry to say grounded on the sand spit when returning from Thistle Island, but was got off in about half an hour, seemingly without damage. She was to be examined by Mr Mildred during my present absence from Kingscote. All hands are at Rosetta fishery, excepting Mr Harper, superintendent, who has come over with me that he may take back the W[ater] Witch, or whatever cutting-in vessel we purchase. I learned some time ago that some of the parties from V[an] D[iemen’s] Land use large barges, which cost less money and much less exposed to accidents than vessels for cutting- in, but not in time to get any built for this season. I hope Mr Mildred will furnish them for the next. I am highly gratified by the advices per the Lord Goderich of the advance in price of oil, and do feel very anxious as to the success of our establishments this next season. I can say, with the utmost sincerity, that I am not aware of any thing, which I had it in my power to do which seemed advisable, that has not been done to render them successful. Yet there are so many essential concomitant arrangements to make, so great a variety of articles to

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 128 of 173 ______provide and the concurrence of so many individuals to obtain & maintain, many of whom are of the worst character, that with my inexperience & the want of anyone individual to whom I could commit the superintendence, or even in whose judgment I could rely, I have great misgivings of heart that the results may not be so satisfactory as I wish. The whale fishery is a trade in which great losses or great gains may be made, and the grievous results of your whaling ships are not more distressing to any one of the Directors, or to yourself, than to me. Everything almost, depends on the selection of the captain, officers, & crew. Here we have had to labour under great disadvantages in making such selection. This year we are decidedly better off in this respect than we were last season; I hope & pray that the results may prove it. I observe the further supply of oil butts per the Lord Goderich, which is well, but, in all such cases, it is highly desirable that the casks should be landed at Kingscote absolutely, or the ship bound to send them thither, without charge to us. I look daily for the Canton166 and when she comes very great difficulties will be experienced as to her discharging her cargo, owing to her heavy burthen. Port Adelaide is the only declared port [and] more than 15 feet of water at high water cannot be depended on at the entrance, with a very narrow channel for miles. So that she cannot, I am persuaded, attempt to go there. The Governor is determined that Holdfast Bay shall not be declared a port, and, by an Act in Council, goods landed there, or otherwise than at Port Adelaide, without permission from the Harbour Master167 are liable to be seized, & such permission cannot be expected in favour of Holdfast Bay. These particulars I brought under the notice of the Governor in conversation on the 16th instant and that evening I wrote him officially requesting instructions, that I might be prepared; but I have had no reply, nor will I likely, till the arrival of the Canton will necessitate him and his advisors to consider the subject. In consequence of the Act of Council above referred to, I wrote the Colonial Secretary months ago as to goods landed at Kingscote, but no reply. I notice your correspondence with the Colonial Commissioners as to provisions. I assure you there is not much danger of a scarcity of provisions, the high prices which have been paid ensure supplies. As to the cultivation of the tea plant, while the price of labour continues at anything like the present rates, it must be inadvisable. The tea shrub168 on Kangaroo Island will never affect the consumpt[ion] of the Chinese plant. The cultivation of vines is much more probable than that of tea, and both soil & climate, I believe, are favourable for the attempt. Your wishes as to ordering papers from the neighbouring colonies shall be attended to. The South Australian Gazette has, I believe, been regularly sent you, but it is all but defunct. The vile personalities by which it has been characterised, of which the Company and its officers have had their full share, has brought it into general discredit here. Every man in the Printing Office has left it. Robert Thomas169 is insolvent and his interest in the Gazette, &c., (one half)

166 A ship, master John Mordaunt, left Deal on 5 January. At 506 tons, she was somewhat lighter than HMS Buffalo. 167 Thomas Lipson (1783-1863). 168 The Kangaroo islanders prior to settlement made a ‘tea’ by boiling the leaves from a ‘bush tea shrub’ like the tea tree of the mainland, so presumably a species of Melaleuca. 169 Robert Thomas (1781-1860) brought out a press on the Africaine and became the printer and proprietor of the South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register. The Printing Office was in Hindley Street. He was also a partner in James Coltman’s store.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 129 of 173 ______is assigned to Mr Edward Stephens & Mr J.B.Hack as traders for benefit of creditors170. Another paper is just about being published—we have built an office & dwelling house for the editor—of which, when published, you shall have at least two copies regularly sent you171. The irregularity connected with the transmission of letters from this Colony during the first six months are unaccountable. The movement in Calcutta is gratifying, & is, I presume, in part at least owing to the influence of Mr Gouger, whose brother resides there & is in business172. The feeling in favour of the scheme would be confirmed by Captain Chesser173 of the Coromandel on his arrival there174. I earnestly hope neither the Goshawk nor the Canton will bring us out any more articled servants of the Company. In my letters per Rapid, it is true, I particularised many trades, operations in which would find immediate & constant employment. And so, I say, still, but I hope they will not come under engagement, and with advances. And above all, that they will be men of Christian principle, members, if possible, of Christian churches. I was sorry to say that a very great many run-away convicts from the neighbouring Colonies have found their way hither, and consequently, thefts, brawls, and even attempts to murder, are of frequent occurrence. The Assizes are sitting. Two men, tried capitally for an attempt on the life of Mr Smart175, the Sheriff, have been found guilty176. Both men were some time ago in the service of the Company as bullock drivers. Another who was in their service is to be tried. I fear the staves from Hamburg will occasion more expense and trouble than you imagine. I am sorry to think that the Directors should have had one day’s uneasiness arising from the non-receipt of my first dispatches. We are now informed that the Rapid arrived on 6th November, so that in a few days after the date of your last that uneasiness would be removed. Nothing further has been done since my last as to the acre sections at the harbour, excepting that we have got the land grants for our first two choices, one of which is partly claimed by the Government for public purposes so that I fear we shall be brought into direct collision with the Government in asserting our right to that acre. Nothing, you may rest assured, shall be done through factious opposition, nor by violence, but, if the Colonial Commissioner has not authority to grant us a clear and indisputable title to our land irrespective of and in opposition to any claim from any person or persons whatsoever, the fundamental principle of the colony is violated.

170 The notice, dated 23 February 1838, appeared in the South Australian Gazette of 3 March 1838. 171 The Southern Australian first appeared on 2 June 1838. The editor was initially Charles Mann and the office, where it was printed by Archibald Macdougall, was in Rundle Street. 172 This probably refers to a younger brother of Robert Gouger: Alfred Gouger (1807-1885) of Gouger, Jenkins and Company, who was living in Tank Square in the late 1840s. Their elder brother Henry (1799-1861) was an East India merchant who had spent time the East Indies in the 1820s but was then based in Great Winchester Street, London. 173 William Chesser (c1795-1840) brought out the Coromandel in January 1837 and left on the return voyage on 12 March 1837. 174 The ship Coromandel, master William Chesser, was due to call at Calcutta on her return to England on behalf of her owners, the Ridgway brothers of Liverpool. The ‘scheme’ appears to refer to the importation of Indian ‘Hill coolies’ labour. Forty two were brought to New South Wales in December 1837 but the trade was abolished by the British government in India in July 1838. 175 Samuel Smart (c1794-1865), a solicitor from Launceston, was appointed Sheriff in May 1837. 176 Michael Magee and William Morgan were found guilty of shooting at Samuel Smart, whom they had known in Van Diemen’s Land, on 12 and 19 March 1837, respectively. Magee was hanged but Morgan’s sentence was commuted to transportation (back to Van Diemen’s Land).

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 130 of 173 ______

24th April. My principal object in visiting Adelaide, as already mentioned, has been in so far secured by my purchasing for the Company the cutter Mary Ann177 of Launceston, 31½ tons (old178), from 3 to 4 years old, for a cutting-in ship at Rosetta fishery. I am to pay £280. She was the property of Mr L. W. Gilles, Launceston, who advanced £600 on mortgage on her in 1835. She is iron-fastened and the under-part, clinker-built—leaky, & does not sail well, but so was the Water Witch, and much smaller, particularly in the breadth of beam. I hope she will sail from Port Adelaide today, and I mean to go on board at Holdfast Bay, probably tomorrow. On the 22[nd] instant the Lord Hobart arrived at Port Adelaide in 70 days from Timor; she put in at Swan River179. The result as to the ponies put on board is most disastrous: 120 had been shipped and only 8 arrived, of which one is since dead!!! Mr Birdseye180 was with her as supercargo. I have seen him as well as the Captain181. Mr Birdseye is entirely satisfied with the conduct of the Captain throughout, but he hesitated saying anything as to the vessel. I applied to Mr Fisher today for 2 bills of £500 each, to account of freight, chiefly for the purpose of ascertaining his intentions. He has replied, that ‘I have not yet received the report of Mr Birdseye, but I have desired him immediately to let me have it,’ &c. There are various points of difficulty: the disastrous result; the almost absolute certainty that the Colonial Treasurer will not draw on the Treasurer of the Commissioners in England for the freight, &c., as Mr Fisher engaged in the charter party he should do; the detention of the vessel at Sydney which, it is alleged, occasioned the ponies to be shipped at the most unfavourable time of the year, &c. This matter, of course, must form the subject of future correspondence. 26[th] April. Mr Gilles absolutely refuses to draw on England for any portion of freight, &c., due the Lord Hobart and Mr Fisher has said nothing decisive, but is likely to refer the matter to the Commissioners at home. I must leave this, and various other important matters, to be settled by Mr [Edward] Stephens, if he can effect it previously to my return, which must be if possible by the 6th proximo [May] at farthest. The nett proceeds of the sale of the barque the South Australian has been paid in to the Bank by the agent to Lloyds for remittance to you, amount £ [blank space], which will be sent by the same opportunity as this, with all the requisite additional documents, which I must leave Mr Stephens to make up. I am most anxious to hear that the amount insured has been recovered, and would be beyond measure distressed should my inexperience in such matters occasion any demur or disappointment in this matter. I have written to Mr Orr at Hobart Town ordering Captain Wakeling to deliver up to him for the benefit of those concerned the chronometer which was on board the South Australian. If my letter be too

177 Built on the Tamar in 1834 for John Cameron and James Reed and presumably mortgaged to Gilles. She was bought by Henry Hesketh, a friend of the Gilles family, in 1836. David Beatton brought her to Adelaide early in 1838. 178 The ‘old’ method of estimating the cargo capacity of a vessel calculated from external measurements. 179 She had left Nepean Bay on 11 September 1837 for Sydney, where she lay from 18 September to 4 November, before starting for Timor. She paused at King George Sound from 25 November to 8 December and arrived at Copang (now Kupang) in Timor only on 8 January. She left on 18 January 1838. 180 Cornelius Birdseye (c1806-1880), came out in charge of the South Australian Company’s stock on the Lady Mary Pelham. 181 Henry Cowell Hawson.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 131 of 173 ______late, the chronometer may be valued182 & the matter adjusted in London. One or two small vouchers are still at Kingscote but shall be sent. I think I mentioned to you of a claim for about £100 presented at Kingscote by Captain Pearson, late of Solway—a most unjustifiable claim, to which, however, he did not hesitate to append his affidavit. Poor man, I have heard that he has put it in the hands of Mr George Stevenson here for prosecution. I thought I had done with that man, who has been a source of great annoyance, but I fear he will thus continue for some time yet to annoy through one who will, I am sorry to say, carry on this annoyance ‘con amore’. Captain Pearson & Captain Wakeling will probably meet in London. For the character of the former, refer to the latter. The Governor in Council has passed an Act imposing duties on wines, spirits & tobacco, &c., which will increase the alienation between the rival parties and excite very general dissatisfaction. The duty on wine not the produce of the United Kingdom or its Colonies, 15 percent on value; on spirits made in the Colony from grain, 4/- per gallon; on spirits made in the United Kingdom or Colonies, 8/- per gallon; on spirits made in other countries, 12/- per gallon; on tobacco manufactured, 1/6 per lb, on cigars & cheroots, 5/- per lb. The act to take effect from the hour of the Governor signing the same, so that vessels now in the harbour, which have landed any of these articles duty free previously, must pay duty on the remainder of the cargo. With such a coast as we have, and such a community as we have, without the smallest provision made to prevent smuggling or the means of making provision, with grave doubts existing as to the power of the Council as now constituted183— the nominees not of the Crown, but of the Governor (see Section 2nd of the Act founding the colony)—and as to the legitimate appropriation of the produce of all rates, duties & taxes (see Sections 18 & 20th), it does seem very premature to pass such an Act, especially as every day is expected to bring replies to the copious dispatches which went from all parties per Rapid. The necessity of the Government for funds is very urgent and may account for the measure and for the circumstances in which it has been passed, but it is very questionable whether the measure will accomplish the end in view, and actually bring the needed relief. I have arranged with Mr Gilles as to the acres on the swamp by the canal, but as to one which we have agreed to divide & of which we get, by lot, the better half, both he & we come into collision with the Government. I am, My dear Sir, Yours very truly, David McLaren, Manager.

April 18, 1838 This letter consists of a single sheet of full foolscap folded to make four sides of foolscap folio, written on three sides.

182 The chronometer and chain was purchased from [George?] Woolcombe for £31.16.0, SAC 4 November 1836. 183 The Council consisted of the Governor, Resident Commissioner, Colonial Judge, Colonial Secretary, Advocate General and Clerk of the Council. The Judge, Jeffcott, was dead, the Colonial Secretary, Gouger, dismissed by Hindmarsh and the Advocate General, Mann, resigned. All had been replaced by Hindmarsh with interim appointees.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 132 of 173 ______

The pages were folded into four across and two lengthwise. The letter was annotated in the London office with the dates of receipt and answer at the top of the first side: Received 4 February 1839 Duplicate answered 24 November 1838 Some pages have been numbered in a later hand. Text Original. Per Bencoolen184, via Java, Bombay & Waghorn’s185 Despatch186 On Country Lands. South Australian Company, Adelaide, 26th April 1838. Edmund J. Wheeler, Esquire, Manager, London. In my general letter transmitted by this opportunity (as yet unknown), I have referred to one on Country Lands. The importance of that subject justifies a separate letter. I mentioned in my reports of the 4/5[th] instant [April] that the country sections were to be chosen on the 12th proximo [May] and that I was doing what I could to obtain such information as should guide me in the Selection, which I had had no previous reason to suppose would require to be made by me, but would be made by Mr Sam[uel] Stephens. In that same letter, I stated that I had other measures on view. These were for the purpose of securing the advantage of Mr Sam[uel] Stephens[’s] knowledge of the country and judgment of land, &c. In the state of mind in which he then was, any direct application to him for this purpose was almost certain of being refused. I believe I have secured that advantage indirectly, through the medium of Mr Morphett. Mr S[amuel] S[tephens] has been engaged by him for the Company at three guineas per day and expenses, S[amuel] S[tephens] is to make a report in writing to Mr M[orphett], which we are to get. He is to furnish a scale of value of different districts or sections exclusively to us, through Mr Morphett, so that I hope, notwithstanding his state of mind toward the Company, we shall secure the advantage of his services— which, did he know, we should most assuredly be deprived of. As he procured all the information he has of the Country while the Company’s Colonial Manager, and at the Company’s expense, he ought in honour & honesty to give the Company the advantage of it, but this he told me verbally he should not do. I thought it proper when leaving this on the [blank space] instant to request Mr E[dward] S[tephens] to write him on this subject. For a copy of that letter and the reply to it, I refer you to the accompanying documents Nos 1 & 2. These may affect the question of the repayment of his expenses. I beg particularly that you will by first opportunity send me a certified copy of his letter of 26[th] December declining all further connection with the Company. Besides making short excursions in company with Mr Morphett, they set out together about eight days ago for Rapid Bay, Encounter Bay, &c. Mr Giles came over with me, and has been similarly employed with Mr Randell. They set out the day before yesterday for the Murray via Mount Barker, and will return by Encounter Bay, &c.

184 A barque, master James Gilbert, had brought stock from Sydney on 30 April and departed for Java on 8 May. 185 Thomas Fletcher Waghorn (1800-1850) had between 1835 and 1837 set up an overland mail route to India through Egypt. The London agency was in Cornhill. 186 Written in left margin alongside the first four lines of text: Not Sent in case of miscarriage.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 133 of 173 ______

Very great uncertainty, however, must attach to the selection of particular sections. They are not, and cannot be previously to the 12th May, staked out or marked on the ground. Those in the neighbourhood of the town are distinguished on a map, & numbered accordingly, but none even of these are staked out, so that nothing is more likely than that a party, wishing to get 220, may get 225 section. We are still altogether uncertain as to ‘Kingscote’. It is included in the preliminaries. The subdivisions into sections there is not marked even on the map. Mr Fisher has not yet gone over to examine as to the buildings; he talks of doing so previously to 12[th] May, but this is very doubtful. Our opinion is that we should expend our first two choices at least in securing Kingscote; that we should waive our right of choice so as to have two special surveys; & that we should, as much as possible, concentrate the Company’s property. As to the additional special survey which the Directors authorised me to secure, I have delayed doing anything decisive till I have the reports from Mr Giles & Mr S[amuel] S[tephens] because the survey for the preliminary choices has been extended so as to include some of those districts which otherwise we thought of as suitable for a special survey. The resolution of the Directors on this subject was grounded in some measure on the supposition that the purchase money would be paid in our Bank notes. Instead of this, we should have to credit Mr Geo[rge] Barnes’[s] account187, and whatever orders he may send on that account we must of course answer. The probability is that the moiety of the passage money payable to the captains of vessels will be ordered to be paid here by the Bank and, if so, it must be in specie. Under this view of the matter, I certainly feel less disposed to purchase the additional 4000 or 6000 acres, than I should have done had the payment to be made only as the directors supposed. The Directors having done me the honour to give me a discretionary power in this important matter, I shall do my best to exercise it judiciously, and this circumstance as to the mode of payment, I regard as a most material item in the case. Mr Wilson, junior, & I have agreed to refer his claim for compensation owing to delay in the occupation of his farm to arbitration—say to Mr Fisher & Mr Wigley, Resident Magistrate. The Company’s flocks are methodically managed and superintended by Mr Randell, who has dismissed some worthless fellows of shepherds, and will, I hope, gradually bring that important department of our operations into a healthy and profitable state. In that, as in other particulars, much required in the first place to be undone. I ordered monthly returns [and] I send you two as a specimen. The losses by native dogs, &c., form a heavy percentage on that kind of stock, but there is no possibility of avoiding these losses altogether, and the danger of loss from native men is increasing and, consequently, the danger of unfriendly collision with them. I am, With much respect, Dear Sir, Your most obedient servant, David McLaren. P.S. I did not write by any other opportunity than one beginning of this month. Enclosures

187 George Barnes (1773-1858), a wine merchant in Lincoln’s Inn, invested in six preliminary land orders.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 134 of 173 ______

This document consists of a single sheet of full foolscap folded to make four sides of foolscap folio, written on all sides. The pages were folded into four across. The document was annotated in the London office only with the date of receipt: 17 September 1838 Text (Document 1) (Copy) South Australian Company, Adelaide, 6 April 1838. Samuel Stephens, Esquire. Dear Sir, I am instructed by the Manager to apply to you to request you will favor us with statement of the information as to the country which you obtained when Colonial Manager of the Company, calculated to guide in the selection of the Company’s country sections. I have also to enquire whether you are disposed to give your services in examining the Country further [on] account of the Company and, if so, on what terms you would engage to do so. Your early reply will oblige. I am, dear Sir, Yours truly, (signed) Edward Stephens, Pro South Australian Company. Text (Document 2)188 (Copy) Adelaide, 7[th] April 1838. Edward Stephens, Esquire, Bank of South Australia. My dear Sir, I have to acknowledge receipt of your note of yesterday, informing me that you were instructed by the Manager of the South Australian Company to request I would favor you with a statement of the information as to the Country which I obtained when Colonial Manager of the Company calculated to guide you in the selection of the Company’s country sections, and in reply beg you will inform the Manager that I respectfully decline giving the information he desires. In answer to that part of your note in which you enquire whether I am disposed to give my services in examining the country further on account of the Company, and, if so, on what terms I would engage to do so, I will thank you to acquaint the Manager that I had, immediately previous to the receipt of your note, made such arrangements as will prevent my giving to any one (except the individuals to whom I am already engaged) information as to the lands of the Province until after the 12th of May next. If my services can then be of use to the Company, I shall be happy to make an engagement of the kind you mention. I am, Dear Sir, Yours truly, (signed) Samuel Stephens.

188 It is presumed that the replies of both Samuel Stephens and John Morphett formed ‘Document 2’.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 135 of 173 ______

Adelaide, 5 April 1838. Sir, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th April and will have the pleasure of replying to every portion of it in order that there may be no misunderstanding on your part of the way in which I am connected with a matter of such importance to the South Australian Company as the selection of their country sections, premising it, however, by stating the satisfaction I feel at your expressions of confidence in my good feelings towards the Company and the view I take of the relation existing between you as the Company’s Colonial Manager & me in this matter. You, as the South Australian Company’s Colonial Manager, apply to me to assist you in obtaining from Mr S[amuel] Stephens the result of his observations upon the land within the districts open to survey, as you conceive you would not have the power of making any personal agreement with Mr S[amuel] Stephens for this purpose. I beg on my part to assure you that I shall be most happy to lend you every aid in my power, but I incur no responsibility; I do not stipulate to do anything which shall occupy much of my time or take off my attention from the consideration of the interests of my constituents in respect to the country selection; I do not engage to give any opinion of my own upon the subject in question; nor do I receive any benefit from the arrangement. In your letter before referred to, you intimate to me your wish to have in writing the results of his judgment in the form of a list of the scale of value of the different sections, accompanied by a statement in writing of the leading peculiarities of the different sections. This I will stipulate with Mr S[amuel] Stephens, that he shall furnish. You desire, secondly, that I should obtain from Mr S[amuel] Stephens his opinion as to what part of the country you should fix on for one or more special surveys. In reply, I beg to assure you I shall be happy to get him to furnish this information, but, with respect to the hope expressed in the latter part of the paragraph alluded to, viz., that in this particular you shall have the benefit of my judgment (as you are pleased to say) on account of my not having any special surveys to call for for my constituents, I have to inform you that upon mature consideration I have come to the conclusion I cannot make any such engagement, as I think it possible I shall have orders to such effect very shortly. You observe thirdly that you depend upon my communicating to you in writing the result of Mr Stephens’s observations. In reply I beg to state that I shall obtain from the gentleman mentioned every information I possibly can in writing and hand it over to you immediately. You authorise me, fourthly, to pay to Mr Stephens any sum not exceeding 3 guineas per diem from the present time until the first week in May, and state that you will pay what additional expenses I shall be put to in consequence of Mr Stephens accompanying me, it being distinctly understood that he shall not communicate to any person his opinion of the comparative value or quality of the sections. In reply, I have to inform you that I shall request Mr S[amuel] Stephens not to make any such communication to anyone but to me in writing; that I have agreed to pay him 3 guineas per diem, according to my opinion upon the subject expressed to you when you first brought it before my notice, such remuneration to be given for every day from the present time to the first week in May, say the 5th May, unless it shall be advisable that he occupy himself after that period in the manner required, and that I shall only claim from the Company such proportion of my expense as Mr S[amuel] Stephens or any gentleman who might accompany me in my different excursions should think it fair to bear.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 136 of 173 ______

To the last paragraph of your letter I think it unnecessary to make any reply. I beg to hand enclosed the copy of a letter I have addressed to Mr S[amuel] Stephens. And have the honor to be, Sir, Your very obedient servant, (signed) John Morphett.

May 18, 1838 This letter consists of two sheets of full foolscap each folded to make eight sides of foolscap folio, written on six and a quarter sides. The pages were folded into four across and two lengthwise. The letter was annotated in the London office with the dates of receipt and answer at the top of the first side: Received 4 February 1839 Duplicate answered 24 November 1838 Some pages have been numbered in a later hand. Text South Australian Company, Adelaide, 18 May 1838. Edmund J. Wheeler, Esquire, Manager, London. Dear Sir, On my arrival here on the 9th instant [May] from Kingscote, I had the pleasure of receiving

per the Canton Duplicate of your favour 30th November, on Banking originals per } Duplicate of your favour 4th December, General letter Trusty Duplicate of your favour of 11th December, on Banking Duplicate of your favour of 11th December, General letter Duplicate of your favour of 14th December, 2nd on Banking Duplicate of your favour of 9th December, Private with all the accompanying documents. Since then the Trusty189 has arrived and brought the originals of the above, with other papers, &c. The very important business of choosing the country lands, under the Preliminary Orders is now over. In my last on this subject as per original accompanying this, dated 26th April, I mentioned the measures adopted to obtain information as to the country, and, I am happy to say, these measures were upon the whole very successful. I got from Mr Sam[uel] Stephens, unknown to him, two reports, which, though not so full as I expected, were of great service, and, combined with the information obtained from Mr Giles & Mr Randell, enabled me to make such a selection as justifies me in saying that the interests of the Company have not suffered much, if anything, by being in my hands on that very important occasion. The selection occupied three days, 12th, 15th & 17th instant [May]. The lands in the neighbourhood of the town, & down to the Harbour and Holdfast Bay, were surveyed, mapped, & divided into sections of 134 acres—Nos 1 to 515. Besides these, the whole coast

189 Ship, Alexander Jamieson master, arrived from London on 15 May.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 137 of 173 ______from Port Adelaide to Cape Jervis, and thence to Encounter Bay, was declared open to choice, being divided into 6 Districts, A to F, and 20,000 acres in Kangaroo Island in 2 Districts, G & H—G comprehending Kingscote; H, Point Marsden. The choices were agreed to be first made in Nos 1 to 515, the parties choosing having the privilege to ‘reserve’ their right of choice in favour of any District, & being obliged only at the end of the choices from among the numbered sections to declare the District, in which, after it was surveyed, they should choose in the order in which they had reserved. On the 12th instant [May], I chose 28 and reserved 12—100 in all called. On the 15th instant [May], I chose 14 and reserved 18, & waived for special survey 8. On the 17th instant [May], I chose and reserved , & waived for special survey 22. 42 choices 30 reserved 30 waived The boundaries of the preliminaries having been so extended, the value of a special survey was proportionally reduced and that of a common choice advanced. I had thought almost resolved to have 2 special surveys, but that consideration, together the necessity of providing for the tenants, some of whom have waited 7 months, determined me to relinquish the privilege of having two surveys & substituting for one of them 30 reserves. Mr Giles has made a very neat copy of the map exhibited in the Land Office when we made our choices, which shall be sent you soon. In the meantime suffice it to say, that of our 42 sections contained in the map: 7 sections are separated from the town lands of South Adelaide only by the Park. They, however, have no run of water, & getting water by digging is probable, but uncertain190. 9 sections are continuous in two adjoining rows leading from beyond our bullock station towards the mountains and form at present our bullocks’ ordinary run191. 8 sections are on the south bank of the Torrens, northeast of the town—the best land & surest supply of water. One of these includes our brick field, 2 are continuous, [another] 3 continuous & [another] 2 continuous192. 1 [section] on the north bank of the Torrens, same direction from town193. 3 [sections] on the north bank of the Torrens, below the town194. 2 [sections] at the harbour195. 1 [section] at Holdfast Bay196. 2 [sections] on the roads to harbour & Holdfast Bay, 1 on each about middle way197. 2 [sections] at one of our sheep stations198.

190 Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 221, 239 (in order of choice 65, 67, 68, 70, 73, 76), bordering the Park Lands to west and south. 191 Sections 262, 275, 290, 299, 319, 274, 291, 298, 320 (in order of choice 47, 48, 43, 40, 56, 53, 41, 39, 104) from southeast corner of Park Lands across Green Hill Rivulet (First Creek) and Hallett Rivulet (Second Creek). This encompassed the present-day suburbs from Rose Park to Burnside. 192 Sections 256, 281, 282, 306, 307, 308, 349, 350 (in order of choice 6, 14, 15, 28, 29, 33, 105, 107), the brickfield being on 256 next to the Park Lands. 193 Section 509 (in order of choice 114), present-day Dernancourt. 194 Sections 390, 391, 392 (in order of choice 57, 59, 61), present-day Allenby Gardens and Flinders Park. 195 Sections 423, 442 (in order of choice 36, 126) at the end of (Old) Port Road. Morphett had chosen the better-placed central Section 443 for Richard Blundell as part of his second choice in order. 196 Section 204 (in order of choice 17), immediately south of the area reserved for a secondary town at Glenelg. 197 Section 397 (in order of choice 149) on the Port Road and section 104 (order of choice 150) on the Bay Road (Anzac Highway). 198 Sections 78, 79 (in order of choice 34, 113) on the Sturt River around present-day Mitchell Park.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 138 of 173 ______

7 [sections] pretty closely together, where water was had or likely to be had199. 42 In District A, nearest this, we have [the] 1st, 2nd, 3rd, & 5th choices200. In District B, including some of our stations, &c., we have the 1st, 2nd & 5th201. In District C, including Unkaparinga, a grazing country, &c., 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th & 7th202. In District D, including the greatest quantity of good well 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 10th, water and land leading to Encounter Bay 16th, 20th, 22nd, including Rapid Bay, 2nd Valley, Yankylilla, &c. 23rd & 24th203. In District E, including Encounter Bay the 22nd204. In District F, including Cape Jervis &c. 2nd & 6th205. In District G, including Kingscote 2nd, 4th, 6th & 7th206. In District H, including Point Marsden, &c. 2nd207. Your anxiety, and that of the Directors, will be most naturally excited as to Kingscote. It cannot be greater than ours was here. Mr Morphett, for the second choice, as determined by lot of 5 sections for Richard Blundell208, Esquire, ‘reserved’ 2; the Governor, for the third choice, reserved 3. For the fourth choice, I reserved209. The Governor wished me to purchase his first right of choice, for which he asked £1000— saying that, although he would not go to Kingscote & take our buildings, he would sell his right of choice to any man who would give him £1000. At the meeting on 17th, Mr. Morphett declared his first reserve to be in G. I gave public notice of the peculiar rights of the Company there [and] produced the Land Order 438210, which was read aloud by the Advocate General211. It was previously well known by Mr Morphett. The Advocate General acting for the Governor took his 3 reserves in E. I declared my first reserve to be in G. Mr Morphett thereafter took his 2nd in G & 1st in H. I chose next, took the 2nd in H, & thereafter the 4th in G. The first in G, I could not prevent— the lot gave it to him. I did what I could by reserving my first choice and declaring for G. I might have secured the 3rd in G and 1st in H, and have felt very much grieved at having missed the opportunities. I did not suppose more than 2 or 3 would have been taken in G, &

199 Sections 233, 234, 247, 248, 249, 292, 296 (in order of choice 166, 164, 124, 35, 111, 160, 110), the first five around Brownhill Creek, the last two encompassed present-day Linden Park and Beaumont. 200 In order of choice 97, 99, 134, 190. 201 In order of choice 83, 95, 123. 202 In order of choice 81, 86, 91, 121, 181, 182. 203 In order of choice 18, 78, 80, 39, 100, 147, 172, 176, 180. 204 In order of choice 170. 205 In order of choice 154, 208. 206 In order of choice 4, 196, 201, 202. 207 In order of choice 133. 208 Richard Blundell of Hooton, near Chester, who was convicted of embezzlement in 1839 209 During this first round the choices ‘reserved’ were not declared to be in any particular district. The allocations were made at the second round on 17 May. 210 Issued 5 February 1836, this was for four 80-acre sections on Kangaroo Island at 12/- an acre. It allowed selection prior to survey but if the selection later interfered with the rights of selection of other holders of preliminary land orders the land could be exchanged for an equal quantity of land that did not interfere. The Company could, however, retain any occupied buildings and the land on which they stood out to a distance of 60 feet. 211 George Milner Stephen (1812-1894) was appointed by Hindmarsh to replace Charles Mann. He had arrived from Hobart in February 1838.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 139 of 173 ______thought it questionable if any would go to H at all. The small well is there from which we get water at Kingscote; that ought to have been secured. You may be surprised I did not. So am I. I was partly induced to risk it from Mr Giles assuring me that there was no danger, but we would get water easily on other parts of the same beach, which I am persuaded will be found to be the case. But still, it was very far wrong to put so important a matter in jeopardy, when it could have been secured. That I do most freely admit. I saw my mistake when it was too late to remedy it, and my hope is that the well will be found to be within 60 feet of the hut erected there, which will give us another chance for it; and should this hope fail, I trust we shall find the other realised and that water will be got in other places along the beach. Your correspondence with the Commissioners as to Kingscote acquires a melancholy additional interest from the state of matters here, and, as a much greater amount of capital has been expended at Kingscote in consequence of the non-occupation of the country lands, the Directors are entitled in equity to some very considerable recompense. I am afraid I shall not have it in my power to advise you tomorrow, before this requires to be despatched, of any arrangement with the tenants, but that subject is before me for tomorrow. In their protracted deliberations on the subject of leasing farms, the Directors have been influenced by the most commendable motives but, Oh, that they had left that matter in its details to be settled here, especially after receiving the representations mentioned in your favour per the [space left blank] from Mr S[amuel] S[tephens] and myself. I cannot put the impolicy of their measures in a stronger light (they will excuse I hope this expression from a regard to the feeling & motive which dictate it) than by mentioning that Mr Tho[mas] Wilson, junior, claims £300 for having been kept 7 months out of that which he can buy from us any day for £100!! As another view of the matter, I beg to state that Mr Morphett asks, or means to ask, 15/- or 20/- per acre of annual rent for some of his near the town, reserving the timber as well as the minerals, and will not give a longer lease than 5, or at most 7, years—& you have engaged to take 30/- per acre as a price for the fee simple, without right of pasture, &c. Alas, alas. A most serious difficulty occurs as to the location for these tenants. They plead that they ought to have the choice of all the Company’s lands beyond three miles from town, so that nearly all the advantages which the Company might have reaped from their preliminary choices and from the land, the most prosperous part of their multifarious concern[s], are thrown away. On what principle the rates were fixed, I cannot imagine. It could not be with any reference to the current rate of interest here, and the redemption price is still more singular. The estimate you have made of the advantage of the preliminary choices has been very small indeed. I have no doubt but I could sell any of our choices on the map at from £400 to £600, and now we must give them away at £200, & perhaps pay the parties more than this for taking them. Mr Wilson, junior’s, claim for damages is to be referred to the arbitration of Mr Fisher & Mr Wigley. I endeavoured in various ways to get him to abandon that claim, but I could not succeed. It must go to arbitration. Mr Hillier212, on his arrival on the 16th October, agreed to refer his claim to Mr Fisher’s sole judgment. Mr Hillier expects £150. He refers to the expense he has been at supporting his family; Mr Wilson talks of what he might have made had he got possession. From the tenor of your correspondence, I dread a fresh accession of tenants by every ship. I have fixed on 5 sections on the map for the 8 tenants now here, that, come what may of profit or loss, good faith may be kept, and I beg

212 John Hillier, his wife and children arrived on the Katherine Stewart Forbes in October 1837.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 140 of 173 ______that you will note particularly that, thereafter, we have no land which we can let within 12 miles of Adelaide, which, with the exception of Kingscote, is the only town in the Province; but even that land, when we get possession of it, will be worth double purchase money and five times the rental that we shall get for it. You shall be duly apprised of the state of matters in this important department of your business, so that you can give to applicants the latest information, and, in future engagements with tenants, I think you ought to leave the rent and other details to be determined here. The redemption clause should be expunged, and left optional with the Manager here to introduce it or not—unless you think proper to restrict him from introducing it at all, or only to a certain extent, &c. I have been told that Mr Wilson, junior, talked you and the Board into it. He was never so well paid for his talk. Before concluding, I shall submit a few remarks on our position in the other districts besides G & H. In A district, I took 4 choices, 3 of which were for the purpose of securing 3 sheep stations and 1 contemplated as connected with these, as available at the harbour &c. Unfortunately after the selection was over, Mr Giles & Mr Randell discovered that these stations were in district B not A. The difficulty of finding on the ground particular sections, even when laid down in the map, has rendered the whole business of selecting somewhat of a lottery. In B, we secured 3 sections with a view to sheep stations. In C is the District Unkaparinga, which is a very fertile and to which we have been accustomed to send our bullocks. It lies on the direct road from this to Encounter Bay. In D, Mr Sam[uel] Stephens said there was good land & well watered, sufficient for one half of the preliminary, to it I therefore directed my chief attention. In E, I wished to have secured several sections, but the number of choices by the Governor, Mr Strangways & others, previously to my having an opportunity, quite exhausted it. When I took No. 22 choice there, Mr S[amuel] S[tephens] handed a note across (having learned who paid him for his late information) saying that E was quite full, after which I daresay 20 choices were made in that district. In F, I took my choices of two from its proximity to Kangaroo Island, &c., although Mr S[amuel] Stephens reported it all bad. I have only to add, in general, that previously being made, and during the time of the meeting, at which they were made, I received the most cheerful & valuable assistance from Mr E[dward] Stephens, Mr Giles & Mr Randell. The time for making up the mail is almost expired—I must conclude abruptly. It goes from this per the Bencoolen for Java, under cover to our agents at Bombay, whom we wrote requesting them to forward it by Waghorn’s overland despatch. Owing to the risk of miscarriage & expense, I send no duplicate[s] & only my last original on the subject of country lands. Another opportunity will be had in a day or two via Mauritius, which I propose embracing. I only add that the Lord Hobart arrived here safely last month, but had lost nearly all her ponies, the property of the Commissioners. I have no doubt, ere this reaches you, you will have heard the deplorable accounts as to the Sarah & Elizabeth being discovered at Hobart Town to be quite unseaworthy, the oil & bone transshipped to the Seppings213 and Mr Orr waiting instructions from me whether he should

213 A barque that cleared in Hobart for London with the oil and whalebone on 23 May.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 141 of 173 ______repair the Sarah & Elizabeth or sell for an old hulk. I do not know what instructions to send and cannot tell you how grieved I am. Yours most affectionately, David McLaren

May 22, 1838 This letter consists of three sheets of full foolscap each folded to make twelve sides of foolscap folio, written on ten and a half sides. Written on the last side: 4. Original D McLaren to Mr Wheeler 22 May 1838 on General Business and at foot of first page: Ed[ward] J Wheeler, Esquire The pages were folded into four across and two lengthwise. The letter was annotated in the London office with the dates of receipt and answer at the top of the first side and on the last side: Received 18 October 1838 Answered 24 October 1838 Alongside each section the topic has been entered in the margin in faint writing, probably in the London office. Some pages have been numbered in a later hand. Text Original. Per the Black Joke to Launceston. South Australian Company, Adelaide, 22nd May 1838. Dear Sir, I did myself this pleasure on the 18th instant [May], having written you at some length on the subject of the Country Lands, as per Duplicate enclosed. The original was intended for the Bencoolen via Java and thence for Bombay, to be forwarded per Waghorn’s despatch. The Bencoolen had sailed from the harbour ere the mail reached it and I fear I will not get the letter returned, so that, being under cover to Skinner & Company214, it will be some time ere you receive it. In that letter, I mentioned the arrival of the Trusty & the Canton, and the receipt of your several highly esteemed letters by these vessels. I shall now proceed, as I can command leisure, morning noon or night, to reply to them. 1st. The communication per Trusty. The proportion of goods intended for the whale fishery will be landed at Kingscote. Orders shall, of course, be given to keep the articles furnished

214 Jardine, Skinner and Company was founded in Bombay in 1825.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 142 of 173 ______by the different makers separate, and those who use them shall be requested to make a report as to their comparative qualities and, even before they use them, they shall be requested to give their opinion on that point. But many orders so given are forgotten, or very inadequately attended to. I shall take measures to have your instructions, if possible, complied with. I am glad you secured two ports of discharge. Considerable difficulty attaches to the determination of respective packages to the respective places of discharge from the uncertainty which still attaches to some of our possession and operations, as other parts of my communications by this opportunity explain. The difficulty connected with the entering of the oil per the Rapid at the Custom house was adverted to, and I thought would have been obviated. Mr Orr was requested to clear it out at Hobart Town, according to the facts of the case. The certificate required shall be sent in triplicate. Mr Giles, the only other magistrate usually resident at Kingscote, is here just now, returns in a few days and will attend to it immediately on his arrival there. The 3 copies of the certificate shall be sent from that or from this as opportunities offer. I shall take the first opportunity of furnishing Mr Orr, in case of need, with a copy of the general certificate in case he may have shipped our Black oil without such a document. You refer to the introduction of the temperance principle by me last season. On that object, my heart was set—is set—but the attempt quite failed. It is almost hopeless, and with all our united desires and efforts and legislative enactments, drunkenness is already the curse of South Australia, and likely in some measure to continue to be so. The sale of spirits is the most profitable trade. I am much pleased to find that we have no articled servants by the Trusty or Canton, excepting Mr Strike215. I believe the character of those immigrants who have arrived lately is better than some early importations. But it is not from London or any large town, that sober, suitable colonists are to be had. Of the importance of having men & women of established moral character and, if possible, of decided Christian Character, every day furnishes additional evidence. The prices of provisions quoted by me in mine per Rapid may be still considered as current in the retail market, and a great many articles—potatoes, vegetables, all articles of clothing, shoes and culinary utensils—are much more out of the way, as compared with the prices at home, than even those I quoted. I hope you will inform intending emigrants of these prices, that we may be saved here from the annoyance to which we have been subjected at the hand of almost every officer & servant of the Company. With some of the former, I deferred this subject till I should have your reply to mine per Rapid. Your observations as to the impolicy of our competing with private traders have been in a great measure anticipated, and I feel much gratified by finding on that, and on other subjects, that the views and instructions correspond with the views and intentions entertained here. The three departments named—the Bank, Fisheries and Flocks & Herds— would, with the Land, give full employment to all your funds. I wish to see these prosecuted with vigour. As to the first, I refer with much pleasure to the accompanying despatch from Mr [Edward] Stephens and the returns, which show the degree of vigour that we are disposed to exert in the Bank department. The more I see of this department, and, I conscientiously add, the more I see of the manner in which he conducts the business of the Bank, the more am I

215 Edward Strike (1785-1873) came out with his wife and family on the Canton.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 143 of 173 ______confirmed in the opinion, expressed in England, that this is the department which of all others we ought to prosecute with energy & vigour. The success which has attended the operations of the Bank, has excited the envy of that envious, & I may add the malice of that malicious gentleman, Osmond Gilles, Esquire, who swears that we shall enjoy a monopoly no longer, but that HE shall have a branch of the Union Bank here, or establish a Bank himself, the operations of which he says he could conduct with the assistance of one marine. I pass from this department, referring again to the letter from Mr [Edward] S[tephens] sent by this opportunity. The fisheries, by which I presume you mean the whale fisheries, deserve the utmost attention, and, when well conducted, will repay the heavy cost connected with their establishment and prosecution. But, I assure you, they are sufficient to occupy the undivided attention of an experienced active man. I am very sorry that the Directors have had no man capable of superintending them. Last year they were committed in a great measure to Captain Wright—an uneducated and, I think, an unprincipled man, who is withal a selfconceited opinionative man. With him, I could not cooperate. With neither McFarlane nor Harper, was I quite satisfied; but they were the best I could command. Both seem determined to make a season. The men they have got this season are much superior to what they were last and, with Thistle Island, McFarlane & his party are very much pleased. There is no danger whatever of our Colony [illegible deletion] experiencing any want of the necessaries of life at Kingscote. We want often times some of the more usual comforts, but at the same time I am pleased that some of the articles ordered by Mr Samuel Stephens have been omitted. As to the Flocks & Herds, I have little to add to former communications, excepting the safe arrival of the stock per the Canton, with the exception of one ram, 3 sows, and one bitch. I am sorry to say very great dissatisfaction has been expressed on both sides by Captain Mordaunt216 & Mr Strike, which would take more time to investigate than I can bestow upon it, especially as the most confident assertions, absolutely contradictory, are made by the parties, and the obtaining of evidence is very difficult. The Captain charges him with falsehood and dishonesty and other crimes, while he charges the Captain with having used the Company’s hay, &c., for the ship’s stock & obstructed him in his attention on the Company’s stock, &c. In the close of your letter per Trusty, you refer to the leasing of country lands. On that subject, I refer to my letter of the 18th instant [May], and have only now to add that I have leased a portion of land in C District called the Horse Shoe from the peculiar bend of the river there—say about 120 acres—for one year at ten shillings per acre. Whatever improvement the tenant makes on the land, we reap the advantage of in the event of the lease not being renewed; for whatever permanent buildings he erects with our sanction, he is to be paid for according to the judgment of 2 arbiters, if he shall leave a year hence. The situation is a choice one—on the way to Encounter Bay [and] can be fenced in owing to the form of the land at little expense. But when the term of one year is considered, that the ground has to be broken up, that it is twenty miles from town, and the lease to begin on the 1st proximo [June], it will explain to you the uncertainty which attaches to the granting of leases in England and how false a criterion is mere distance from town. While that section is

216 John Mordaunt, master of the Canton.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 144 of 173 ______

20 miles from town, there are many, which were included in the preliminary sections, not 2 miles from town, which owing to the want of water, &c., are not worth 2/- per acre. II [2nd] The communications per Canton. The goods per Canton are in the course of being delivered. That vessel, having after landing the stock, passengers & luggage at Holdfast Bay, went round to the harbour [and] got safely in without touching the ground, then drawing 14 feet 6 inches. She is the largest vessel that was ever in the harbour of Port Adelaide. The Trusty is lying a little farther up, but both Captains complain of the uncommon delay and expense connected with discharging there. Captain Mordaunt’s men were two days in getting one boat-load landed—it grounded, &c. I defer my observations generally as to the stock per Canton, till I have had an opportunity of seeing Mr Randell & Mr Stuart more particularly as to this subject. Your attention in keeping us supplied with oil casks is very gratifying, but they suffer sadly when set up and exposed to the burning heat of the sun. This afternoon the fire engine was received into our yard here, in capital condition, so far as seen. It seems a beautiful engine, but sending it now is premature. And the distance which the town is from the river, owing to the intervention of the Park [Lands], &c., will render it, I fear, of little actual use. Long may it be ere we require to try its efficiency in extinguishing any fire. It is well that you did not engage any fireman. A fire engine was sent out early by the Commissioners which has never been worked [and] has stood without covering exposed to all weathers. We shall take better care of ours. 23 May217 The resolutions of the Board as to the purchase of stock, occasioned by the heavy losses sustained last year, shall regulate my conduct till further orders. I have consequently declined some pressing applications for our purchasing cattle & sheep. The only one I entertained, was a proposal from Messrs Hack to give us a further share of their cattle now at Portland Bay, and my principal reason for entertaining the proposal was the expectation of procuring advantageous employment, for one trip at least, for the Lord Hobart. My first wish was to let the Lord Hobart to Messrs Hack, but this they declined. They then offered to supply us with what number she could carry, deliverable on the beach at Portland Bay at ten guineas a head, assorted as their herd was, or at what they said would bring out this average, viz. 12 guineas for bullocks & cows, 3 years old & upwards 9 guineas for heifers & steers, 2 years to 3 years 7 guineas for heifers & steers, 1 year to 2 years This offer is now before me, having been made in writing yesterday, but I mean to decline it—in conformity with the orders of the Board—from an apprehension that the Lord Hobart cannot be got ready (her rigging requiring to be overhauled & the ship caulked) in time for her getting to Portland Bay so as to secure the promised aid of Captain Hart218 in shipping the cattle, from a wish to avoid drawing on you at present for this object, & from other considerations. At the same time, I take the liberty of saying that in very few cases indeed is it advisable for the Directors to give absolute directions to their manager here, (I write not personally but officially), as a thousand circumstances may exist which may prove indisputably that he ought, for the interest of the Company, to act in opposition to these directions. Will you permit me to add that I do not see the consistency between the

217 Inserted in the margin. 218 John Hart (1808-1873), former master of the Isabella, had chartered the Hope in Sydney to ferry the Hacks’ stock brought overland to Portland Bay around to Adelaide.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 145 of 173 ______resolution of the Board last quoted by you in your letter per the Canton and the comment you make upon it. The terms of the resolution are ‘not to purchase any more sheep or cattle, until further orders, except what may be indispensably required for working purposes’. The comment is in the following words, ‘this will not prevent your buying stock for food or for draught’. The discrepancy seems to me to lie in this, that the comment gives a degree of latitude which the resolution seems to have been intended to withhold, particularly as respects purchases ‘for food’—that is, I suppose, for fattening for food. In the meantime I feel relieved by the resolutions of the Directors from a degree of responsibility which previously attached to the office I have the honour to hold. In reference to which subject, I beg to add that no relief can be more gratifying to my feelings as the extent, variety and weight of responsibility under which I have lain, since the 16th October last, is all but overpowering. I shall, however, continue in all cases to exercise the best of my judgment for the interest of my employers, and, in forming that judgment, one of the most material items shall be the instructions of the Board, and, if in any instance I deviate from them, it shall be only when a clear case occurs which falls within the general discretionary powers with which the Directors have honoured me.— I am happy that the Board wished me to take the earliest opportunity of dispensing with the services of the Emma. The copy of your letter to Captain Martin per Canton, I have read with much attention. He has never yet been settled with by Mr S[amuel] Stephens. Part of the documents requisite for the examination of his accounts were received by me at Kingscote in the end of March last from Mr Stephens. Immediately thereafter, I came over hither by the John Pirie. Captain Martin was seized here while on horseback with a fit of epilepsy, fell and was seriously injured. He has now recovered and I intend that he shall go over per the Lord Hobart to Kingscote to bring over the Sir Charles McCarthy, to be laid up at Port Adelaide as a store ship, which I hope will afford us great facilities for the discharge of cargoes & the preservation of our goods. The extent to which Captain Martin has trafficked on his own account could not be sanctioned by me. He and Captain Wright have enjoyed a degree of confidence under my predecessor which they were not likely to retain under me. The investment in the town lands by any of the present officers of the Company has not been, I think, other than legitimate, and I have no apprehension that any ‘speculative jobbing’ will ensue in regard to these town lands. I notice your intention to send a pile-driving machine, so as to enable us to construct a jetty, &c., ‘at Kingscote or at any other place absolutely secured to the Company’. I have all along been grieved at the expenditure—I may say, the unavoidable expenditure—at Kingscote, and have deferred operations there, chiefly because of the uncertainty which attached to the continued occupation of Kingscote, and because, in the prospect of a town being established there and the Government claiming, as they do, land for wharfs and wharfage, declaring all goods liable to be seized which are landed otherwise than at the public wharf, I thought that it lay with the Government to build jetties, &c., and not with the Company. I have thus in some measure exhausted the subjects introduced in your esteemed favours per the Trusty & Canton, and shall now advert to some other subjects connected with these and not embraced by any other letter by this opportunity. One of the most important subjects is the dock-yard, a subject which has long been a source of anxiety and difficulty. I observe you have heard from Mr Mildred as to the want of

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 146 of 173 ______accommodation, particularly for Mrs M[ildred]219, on arrival. I daresay you will hear from him frequently on that & similar subjects. I do not know if he has had the candour to tell you that although I had only two rooms in Mr [Samuel] Stephens[’s] house for my son and myself for sitting in & sleeping in (he & I sleeping in the one room), I proposed giving up one of them to Mrs M[ildred] during her confinement, provided that Mr & Mrs Stephens220 were agreeable to the arrangement. To this Mr S[tephens] objected, and I was afterwards satisfied that he acted properly in doing so. All this Mr M[ildred] knew. Did he tell you of it? I should not, had not your reply to him led me to imagine that justice to myself rendered it proper. Passing from this personal matter to the subject of the dock-yard, I beg to state briefly what has been done. Mr Mildred & I examined the two acres at the harbour purchased for a dock-yard on the recommendation of Colonel Light as those which had the deepest water alongside. We found they would not answer except for small craft and that, as the ground there is frequently under water, some considerable expense must be incurred in embanking. Some other acres, the property of Mr Strangways, are more suitable—greater depth of water & the land not subject to be overflowed. All the acres on that side of the harbour have only about half an acre length of frontage, so that Mr Mildred thought we should require 3 or 4 acres. Mr Strangways asked £50 for each of 3 contiguous acres which were suitable, but two difficulties occurred. Besides that of paying £150 for the site, the government claims a right of road at least 66 feet wide (which I believe would have been relinquished in our favour) and on consulting the Harbour Master, as to our laying down a slipway at these acres of Mr Strangways, whether or not it would obstruct the navigation of the harbour, they were given to understand that it would and that the Harbour Master recommended a place 3 or 4 miles down, higher up than which, it could not be laid. I send you a copy of the reply I had from the Colonial Secretary. Mr Mildred felt very much disappointed & said, that if it had been his case, he would at once have got Mr Strangways[’s] acres and begun operations, and that he was satisfied no interruption would have been offered. The operations connected with this said dock-yard, if the common slipway and the patent slipway be laid down, the steam engine and the saw mill erected, and the necessary accommodation for the workmen provided, will cost, according to Mr Mildred’s general impressions, £15,000 or upwards, and take 3 or 4 years to finish. The idea of beginning such operations without the sanction of the authorities, who could, any day, issue an injunction against farther proceedings, is monstrous, and even the idea of beginning them at all in the present state of the Company’s affairs and finances is what I cannot sanction, so that the refusal of the Colonial government is to me very acceptable. Yet here is Mr Mildred fretting constantly at the nonfulfillment of engagements, and at Kingscote are his men drawing high wages & doing little for them. I hoped that he had been so highly qualified professionally, and withal possessed of so much good sense, sound judgment, and zeal in the Company’s service, that I should have had nothing to do in the details of that department (of which I am utterly ignorant), but only to have given my sanction to measures, the propriety of which was quite obvious, & measures of so general a kind that reference to me would have required to have been made very seldom. Alas, how disappointed [I am]. Besides having little confidence in his judgment on general subjects, and a poor opinion of his zeal in the Company’s service, I am afraid his professional skill does not justify the expectations formed by the Board. During my last

219 Elizabeth Sarah née Bowyer (1798-1869). 220 Samuel Stephens had married Thomas Hudson Beare’s daughter Charlotte Hudson on board the John Pirie shortly after their arrival in Nepean Bay

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 147 of 173 ______absence from Kingscote, the new schooner Victoria was heaved down to examine her bottom, as she had touched on the sand spit, and while the operations connected therewith were going on—and Mr Mildred was there—she fell over and lay in that state, the greater part of her deck under water, for 3 or 4 days. Mr Mildred pleads the want of suitable craft at Kingscote at the time for the operation, the combination of unfavourable circumstances which could not have been anticipated, and, among others, the state of the wind & tide—the tide not having ebbed a foot for 3 or 4 days & the wind such that the men could not go to work. So soon as the weather moderated, she was got up & he assured me she sustained no injury. Considering the importance of this business, and the contemplated amount of expenditure, with the certainty that Mr Mildred & I will differ in judgment, the Board will not be surprised that I cling to the hope that I shall by & by have the happiness of seeing either the respected Chairman, or one of the Directors, to decide on this and other weighty matters. Nor will they, I hope, be displeased with me re- stating my conviction that Mr Angas, or some one of the directors, ought to come. Before passing from the subject of the dock-yard, I beg to state that the only thing which I think we can do in the meantime is to have the Sir Charles [McCarthy] brought over, have her fitted up by Mr M[ildred] and his men as a store ship, and thereafter let him & them build us some barges or small craft on our own acres, doing what repairing work may be required either our own ships or those of others. Connected with the subject, are those of the saw mill flour mill and steam engine. These all are in abeyance. The expense of sawing is enormous—12/- to 15/-, & in some cases 20/-, for 100 feet. But at the same time, while the question of the dock-yard is undetermined, it would not do to appropriate the steam engine to any other object. And, from the size of the engine, it cannot be worked on either, separately, but at a very great disadvantage. And, as to the saw mill, all accounts agree in representing it as being so old as to be not worth putting up—another purchase, similar to that of the Sarah & Elizabeth, which I am at once surprised and vexed the Directors made. As to the flour mill, Mr Randell is very desirous of having the flour mill set agoing. If by steam, it must be postponed, and no certainty is yet obtained as to the practicability of having a flour mill driven by water. As to this, Mr Randell proceeds in a day or two to one of our country sections. 24th May. I have just referred to the Sarah & Elizabeth, as to which I presume you will have heard ere this reaches you. My information is partly defective owing to my having received only the duplicate of Mr Orr’s letters of 20[th] ultimo [April], in which he has not enclosed [the] duplicate of the surveyor’s report. The defect is partly supplied by a letter which I had from my son, dated Hobart Town, 24th April, from which I have received the melancholy intelligence that the Sarah & Elizabeth was found to be quite unseaworthy—a considerable part of her ‘timbers & planks, rotten’, her stern timbers & stern post, particularly, quite decayed. Two surveys had been held—of the reports I have not copies, my son gives me extracts. The whole of the information obtained, I have communicated to Mr Mildred and, agreeably to his recommendation, I mean to write Mr Orr by the present opportunity that nothing more ought to be done than is absolutely necessary to render her seaworthy. But even this I presume will infer an expenditure of not less than £1000. And, after all, what will she be fit for? How can we make her pay?

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 148 of 173 ______

I am extremely sorry to say, that the Lord Hobart is so leaky, and has been so neglected while under Captain McIntosh221, that she cannot be sent to sea till she be overhauled by Mr Mildred & his men, and the rigging repaired, &c. I noticed her return in the concluding part of my letter of the 18th instant [May]. She got very little repairs on the ship at Sydney—the expenditure was for sails, stores, wages to crew & labourers & provisions while there. She got on board 120 ponies & landed only 7 or 8. I beg reference to my letter of the 18[th] April, duplicate herewith sent, as to my application to Mr Fisher for partial settlement. That application was received by Mr E[dward] S[tephens] during my absence, has been made repeatedly by me—or rather application for a complete settlement—and I have got nothing but shuffling excuses & promises. Birdseye has not yet made his report. Mr Fisher has been so incessantly occupied with the land, &c. I am quite disgusted, but shall put off no longer. Birdseye will report unfavourably, Gilles will refuse to draw, and legal measures, I believe, will require to resorted to. Send no more tar, pitch, gunpowder, shot, butt flags, Roman cement, essence of spruce, cork, bricks, casements, rosin, muskets, guns, earthenware, fishing tackle, cast-iron stoves & pipes, till further orders. This day I had the pleasure of hearing from Encounter Bay. They had got one large whale, which yielded from 9 to 10 tuns. The weather had been very bad. The men were on the whole in good spirits and determined to make a season. I am sorry to say the tenants in a body have written me, claiming as their right that they should have the choice of all the Company’s land which is beyond 3 miles from town, and asking me to inform them of all the sections that we have beyond that boundary. They are I believe instigated & headed by Thomas Wilson, junior, who has no right to complain. For a paltry farm of 67 acres he forsooth must have more than 5 sections submitted to him. I must take the bull by the horns. In your letter to Mr Sergeant222, you say the choice of ‘all the unappropriated lands’ beyond three miles from town. I fear you have committed us, and, from the position of our country lands generally at so much greater distance, I anticipate nothing but dissatisfaction on the part of future tenants and trouble to us in proportion to the number that arrives. With the most respectful expression of continued devotedness to the interests of the Company, personal attachment to the members of the Board to whom I had the honour of being introduced, and sincere regard for yourself, I am, very sincerely, Dear Sir, Your most obedient servant, David McLaren, Manager.

May 31, 1838 This letter consists of one sheet of full foolscap folded to make four sides of foolscap folio, written on three sides. The top and bottom and left and right quarters of the pages were folded in to make a letter with the blank outermost side providing an address panel. It was sealed and addressed:

221 John McIntosh, the former owner of the Lord Hobart. McLaren spells his name ‘Macintosh’. 222 Perhaps William Foster Sergeant (1801-1858), who came out with his family on the Canton.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 149 of 173 ______

Private Edmund John Wheeler, Esquire Manager South Australian Company London There were no postal stamps. The pages were folded into four across and two lengthwise. The letter was annotated in the London office with the dates of receipt and answer at the top of the first side, and the year, the writer’s name, the place and date of writing, and the dates of receipt and answer on the last side: 1838 D. McLaren Adelaide 31 May Received 1 December Answered 4 February 1839 Alongside each section the topic has been entered in the margin in faint writing, probably in the London office. Some pages have been numbered in a later hand. Text Original. Per Abeona, to Hobart Town. Private South Australian Company, Adelaide 31st May 1838 Edmund J Wheeler, Esquire, Manager, South Australian Company, London. Dear Sir, My last despatches were made up on the 25th instant [May] & forwarded from this per Black Joke, of which I now send duplicates. At that time I really could not command the leisure which was requisite to reply to a letter which, though comparatively short, is so important as your private letter of the 9[th] December, giving me ‘authority to re-instate Mr Samuel Stephens as the Agricultural Manager or in any other capacity you (I) may see fit, should you deem such a measure advisable and feel, after a full investigation of all his proceedings anterior to your arrival that justice demands the adoption of this step.’ I beg, in the first place, to tender the Board my most respectful thanks for this renewed proof of their confidence in me. At the same time, I have only to refer to the reply which I formerly made, when the same investigation into ‘all his proceedings anterior to my arrival’ was suggested by the Board, and I have to express my earnest hope that the reply then made will satisfy the Board that such an investigation was impracticable. If I was correct in taking that view of the case at the time when I made that reply, most assuredly the events which have occurred & the manner in which my time and attention have been engaged since confirm the correctness of that view. His removal from office must remain the act and deed of the Directors. It was, I think, premature: it seemed to have been occasioned in part by the want of advices from him—an omission which I am not disposed to extenuate—but of which the extent, in the case of Mr S[amuel] S[tephens], could not be accurately known at the time when he was removed from office, owing to the uncertainty which attaches to the transmission of letters from this distant land, especially in the first few months after his arrival

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 150 of 173 ______here, and which, however irritating to the feelings of the Directors, would have required to be very flagrant to have had any influence in removing such an officer from office. Under these impressions, and from a conviction that the measures were calculated to promote the interests of the Company, I made the arrangements with him formerly reported. These arrangements he terminated and, till I hear from you after the receipt of the information then transmitted by me, I do not think it would be advisable in me to renew an negotiation with him, and the more especially as his conduct since then in various respects has been such that I cannot have confidence in him uniformly maintaining collectedness of mind. Nor can I, or other officers of the Company, co-operate with him. These other officers are Mr E[dward] Stephens and Mr Randell. I believe the Board is aware of Mr Sam[uel] Stephens[’s] peculiar disposition and temper: he must be first, not second. He must have the sole direction of any business in which he is engaged, and can admit of no co-adjutor. The first day I landed in this Colony, although the Sabbath day, I saw this and felt this and notwithstanding all the gratification which I have enjoyed in consequence of my appointment to the honourable office I hold, and of my intercourse with the Directors, I say deliberately that, had I known the dissimilarity between the Colonial Manager & myself and could I have anticipated the difficulties which have arisen from that source alone, I should not have been in South Australia. On these grounds then, while I have not changed my opinion of the acuteness of Mr S[amuel] S[tephens] and of the good which he might have done to the Company, I consider it my duty to decline re-instating him in any official situation the Company’s service. In coming to this conclusion, I am gratified in knowing that, notwithstanding the existence of strong brotherly affection on the part of Mr E[dward] Stephens towards Mr S[amuel] S[tephens], he approves of the decision and regards it as the only one to which I could, in the faithful discharge of my duty to the Company, come. I make this communication with regret on many accounts, but I have no alternative. I am with much respect, My dear Sir, Your most obedient servant, David McLaren, Manager

June 7, 1838 This letter consists of three sheets of full foolscap each folded to make twelve sides of foolscap folio, written on eleven sides. On the last was written: No 8 1838 Original Letter to E J Wheeler Per Abeona to Hobart Town Adelaide 7/16 June The pages were folded into four across and two lengthwise. The letter was annotated in the London office with the dates of receipt and answer at the top of the first side, and the year, the writer’s name, the place and date of writing, and the dates of receipt and answer on the last side:

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 151 of 173 ______

1838 D. McLaren Adelaide 7 June 1838 Received 1 December 1838 Answered 4 February 1839 Alongside each section the topic has been entered in the margin in faint writing, probably in the London office. The sheets have been dated and the pages numbered in later hands. Some pages have been numbered in a later hand. Text Original. Per Abeona to Hobart Town South Australian Company, Adelaide, 7[th] June 1838. Dear Sir, I had this pleasure on the 22/23rd ultimo [May] and now hand duplicate of the same. I have since then had the pleasure of your favour of 1st January per Goshawk, and am gratified in knowing that you had received my letters of the 4/7[th] August forwarded from this per Africaine, to which, I doubt not, I shall soon have your reply—which I wait with some anxiety. I hand also duplicate of my letter of 18[th] April, in which, you will observe, I mentioned having months previously to that date written the Colonial Secretary as to the landing of goods at Kingscote, to which I had got no reply—nor have I yet. The Goshawk arrived at Kingscote on 14[th] May. No opportunity having occurred, I heard nothing of it till the 1st instant [June], when I heard from Mr Gilbert, Post-master, that the Goshawk was at Kingscote. In the course of that day, I was sent for by the Advocate-General on the ground of a complaint by the Harbour Master that the Goshawk was discharging at Kingscote contrary to the provisions of the ‘Port Act’, and that all the goods so landed were seizable. The Pelorus223, sloop-of-war, having just arrived from the westward and Mr Stephen (Advocate-General) informed me it was the Governor’s intention to go over to Kingscote on that business [and] that he (Mr Stephen) & Mr Stevenson were to accompany him, I said I should be happy to go with them. I afterwards saw the Governor & learned from him that they had no intention of seizing the ship or cargo, unless it should turn out that wines, spirits or tobacco had been landed, and that one object of his going over was that he might see for himself Nepean Bay, in order to declaring Kingscote a port—a measure which for the last 12 months I have been urging him to adopt. They sailed on the 2nd instant [June] and Mr W[illiam] Giles, junior, who came over with the despatches, &c., per Goshawk, returned in the Pelorus, so that I considered it unnecessary to leave my station here. W[illiam] G[iles], Junior, confirms in all its extent the mournful representations of Mr Swaine as to the cargo, particularly the bread & flour. After the dreadful loss arising from the bad condition in which the bread & flour received per Solway, and the dissatisfaction and complaints thence arising were just about being got over, to have such a cargo brought out as the Goshawk’s in bad condition is heart-sickening beyond expression. You cannot imagine the disadvantages & difficulties thus occasioned. At the risk of being tedious, I shall detail what happened last week as illustrative of this.

223 A brig-sloop, Captain Francis Harding, arrived at Port Adelaide from Calcutta via Western Australia on 31 May.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 152 of 173 ______

Mr McFarlane sent the Victoria from Thistle Island to Kingscote in consequence of the combined complaints of the whalers there of the provisions, and chose to submit to all the disadvantages of cutting-in on the rocks, rather than with the Victoria as a cutting-in ship. He has got one whale and had great hopes of making a good season, if the men’s complaints were removed. Mr Harper sent me notice, overland, from Rosetta fishery that his men had knocked off work because of the inferior provisions. He had got them to carry on, under the assurance that I would do everything in my power for their relief. I have sent his letters to Kingscote that they might send a supply, & I have sent him 4 bags good flour by a vessel from this. He, I am happy to say, had got 4 whales, with every prospect of a good season were the men supplied with proper provisions. Thus after all our expense, labour, and anxiety, the success of both fisheries is put in jeopardy by the state of the provisions, and, at the same time, a very large supply of provisions, equally bad or worse, arrives. Can anything be more vexatious? Why did not Mr Swaine sell the provisions which he knew were bad & getting worse, & send only that which was good, rather than ship them on a 5 or 6 month voyage. As much of the disadvantage was occasioned by the Goshawk not being at Hamburg on 4th October, you surely will not pay freight without receiving compensation. The case has been made a great deal worse by the blunder of Mr Swaine’s clerk, who filled up the bills of lading for the whole cargo to be delivered ‘at the ship’s final port of discharge’, in consequence of which, as part of the cargo, according to my orders left with Mr Beare, had been discharged at Kingscote, the Captain224 insisted on landing the whole there, or getting on board all that had been landed (some of which was consumed) and bringing it all here. The real reason is, he has heard of the uniform practice of seamen deserting their ships here, and he is apprehensive he will be detained and lose his freight from Valparaiso. I have written him per W[illiam] Giles, junior, insisting on his complying with the terms of the accepted tender, leaving at Kingscote what Mr Beare ordered to be landed, and to bring the rest to Port Adelaide. I wonder you did not observe the discrepancy between the tender and the bill of lading, if you had the opportunity of comparing them. I hope to have it in my power to inform you, before I despatch this, of the arrival of the Goshawk here. Application shall be made for the fittings, &c. Those by the Canton, we have not got. It seems they have been partially cut up during the passage. Both the Canton & Trusty complain bitterly of their hands running away, and of the delay in discharging. Even the Lord Goderich is here still, I believe from want of hands. The rates of freight are likely to advance, and, from the number of vessels which are laid on in England & the neighbouring Colonies, we will have quite an overstocked market. On the other hand, the number of immigrants is likely to be very great, we think, from the favourable notice of the Colony in various parts of England & particularly from the state of Canada, and, of course, the consumption will be greatly increased. I beg reference to my last on country lands, 18th May, duplicate enclosed. I am happy to say that, by a little management, I have got the tenants all pleased as to the extent of choice. Having by mistake, as mentioned in my last, taken the first three reserves in district A, I proposed to the tenants, in addition to 5 Sections (which was a limited enough choice for 4½ sections), to give them 2 of these reserves, which was equivalent to giving them the choice

224 Robert Laing, master of the Goshawk.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 153 of 173 ______of the whole of the unselected sections in the map (about 300), to the extent of 2 sections. With this they were satisfied. They have made their selection, all excepting Mr Gillman225, the last, & I should not be surprised although he would go home—he is very much dissatisfied. Today Mr Hillier offered to give up his lease if I would place him in the same situation as he was in when he came to the Colony; that he estimated would be done only by paying him £150. The money he brought with him, professedly for the purpose of expending it on his farm, (but as to which, I recollect, you expressed in his case some doubts), has been expended in supporting his family. He has done nothing, his wife226 was all but convicted of theft and very disreputable accounts obtain as to some of his family, so that I am not surprised of his wishing to leave the colony. I believe it will be advisable to make a compromise with him. Were he to sell his lease, and we acquiesce in [it], he would get all he seeks. The lands laid down in the map which had not been chosen by the preliminary holders have been divided into 80 acre sections, and the parties chose their sections on the 6th instant [June], or reserved the choice for the other districts. On that day a public dinner was given to Colonel Light. It was numerously and respectably attended. A very warm attachment to the Colonel pervades almost the whole community, and a conviction that amidst great personal weakness, bad health, and most discouraging circumstances, he has done his part nobly, wisely and with singular correctness. It is reported that Mr Kingston227 had spoken disparagingly of the Colonel at home, and may perhaps return [as] Surveyor General. If the first part of this report be true, Kingston must be base indeed. If the second, the Colony will lose its most serviceable and popular officer. I am sorry to say that none of the Government party were present at the dinner, the most of them are on board the Pelorus, not yet returned, but several of them were in town. The Governor has had it in his power from his early choice of country lands, to inflict a severe blow on the town while he has filled his pockets, and all under the pretext of benefitting the poor. Having had two sections contiguous to the town, and on the bank of the river, he has disposed of one of them in half acres at £5 each and the other section is in the market on the same terms. Thus the labouring population is removed from the natural scene of labour, extensive excrescences are formed, to the manifest injury of the capital, and the fundamental principle of the Colony, as respects withholding the facility of becoming land proprietors till after a period of labour, is uprooted. See No 1 of the Southern Australian newspaper. I am surprised and pleased at the mildness of the article on this subject. I have concluded an arrangement with a gentleman for a lease of a quarter of an acre, nearest the harbour, of a section chosen by me there—for seven years at £15 per annum. I do not expect to get so much from any other tenant, although I should give double the quantity of land. Yet I mention this, both for your information and as an evidence of the uncertainty which must attach to granting leases in England. According to the interpretation of the tenants, and sanctioned by your explanation of the meaning of the term ‘unappropriated’, as stated by Mr Sergeant, any of the tenants might have insisted on having a half of this section, might have got, for one quarter of an acre, double the rent he was to

225 Edward Gillman, another passenger on the Canton. 226 Jane Hillier. 227 George Strickland Kingston (1807-1880), the Deputy Surveyor-General, who had been sent back to England in the Rapid to argue for more resources for the survey team.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 154 of 173 ______pay for the whole, with pasturage beside and the right of purchasing the whole for £100; of which the 268th part would have yielded 15% on the purchase price of the whole. I am sorry to say the question as to the Company’s acre at the harbour (No 2) is still undecided with the Government. The matter has been left to be arranged by Mr Mann, as representing the Company, and Mr G[eorge] M[ilner]. Stephen, Advocate-General, as representing the Government, but, owing to the absence of this last named gentleman, nothing definitive has been settled. With reference to duplicate of my general letter, 22/23rd ultimo [May], herewith sent, I beg to say that my application to Mr Fisher for settlement of the freight per Lord Hobart has been renewed in a way which brought out Birdseye’s report & Mr Fisher’s views, so that the only point on which he made a stand was one which had nothing to do with the charter-party or the payment of the freight, viz., the state of the water casks which I bought from Captain McIntosh and sold Mr Fisher on the faith of Captain McIntosh’s representations, both as to quantity and state. Whatever allowance may be made on that account, I insisted on having a settlement of the freight. I was particularly desirous of remitting the drafts by this opportunity, but am very doubtful indeed if I shall succeed. The amount is £1685.1.6. Mr Randell reports, as to one of our sections chosen as a site for a corn mill, that one might be created there with a great probability of a supply of water during the greater part of the year228. From all appearances, there will be little or no corn grown here this next season, so that our corn must be imported—and, unless I am much mistaken, it will be a considerable time before any farmer in this Colony can grow corn so as to compete with imported grain. And small capitalists, who come out a-farming and devote their attention to the cultivation of the soil, and raising crops of wheat, barley or oats, will, I am persuaded, make their small capital smaller. Messrs Wilson, Sleep & Robson229 unite bullock driving and wood-splitting, &c., and contemplate planting potatoes, &c., and in this way will do well. I mentioned some considerable time ago my intention to erect some cottages & buildings on some of the Company’s town acres. This has been done, agreeably to a plan drawn out by Mr E[dward] Stephens, on acres 18, 19, 44 & 45—a block of 4, of which 2 front the North Terrace and 2 Rundle Street. A street of 40 feet (private) is run between Rundle Street and North Terrace, which I purpose naming ‘Stephens Place’. These acres are subdivided, so as that we have already built a store for Mr John Russell230 (a particular friend of mine from Scotland), the Printing Office of the Southern Australian, & six cottages, average cost about £220 each, and, in the course of erection, other three cottages—all brick buildings—and space for 6 or 8 cottages more231. All that have been finished, are let on the terms of 20 per cent on outlay, including the ground valued at about £50 per acre. So that, when completed, it will be a beautiful property and yield a sure and handsome return. We have, in this case, also a proof of the uncertainty which attaches to leasing land in this Colony. About 9 months ago, I let a half of one of these acres to a Mr Finlayson232, then & still in the service of the Company as a gardener, &c., on a lease of at least seven years (with a promise to extend it,

228 On the in section 256 (Hackney). 229 Robert Moss Robson and his family came out on the Canton. 230 John Russell arrived in South Australia by unknown means. His address was Rundle Street. 231 Kinston’s plan showing Adelaide as of 1 January 1842 depicts four similar cottages along the west side of Stephens Place and two others on the east side. The Printing Office was on the western corner of Rundle Street and Stephens Place 232 William Finlayson arrived with his wife on the John Renwick in February 1837. He may have occupied the western half of acre 18.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 155 of 173 ______if I could, to 14) for £5 per annum—he building a cottage on it and paying us 20 per cent on the expense of fencing it. 11 June, Monday. The Governor & party have returned. Everything was arranged comfortably at Kingscote as respects the Goshawk, and measures are to be taken now for declaring it a port. By Hobart Town newspapers we have the particulars of the meeting held at the Crown & Anchor relative to the recall of the Governor233 and the appointment of a successor. By some seeming fatality, the Governor has incensed the whole mercantile community against him by ordering the Advocate-General, while with him on board the Pelorus, to open the mails received from the barque Hartley & the Henry Freeling234, both those for this & for Swan River235!! These last were opened because the Captain236 of the Pelorus supposed that there might be a letter for him from the superior officer on the station!! A public meeting has been called to express the disapprobation of the colonists. In private, I told the Advocate-General, today, that I regarded it as an act of felony, and that the more publicly, and the more decidedly, any person expressed his disapprobation, the kinder a part did he act to the Governor and his friends. The Governor replied per Pelorus to the dispatches he took [from?] the mails, but she took no public mail. I fear Mr John Hutt237 is not the man for us. Had Mr William Hutt238 being [been] disposed to come, and been appointed, the Colony would have continued rapidly to progress and all classes been pleased. It will be deeply to be regretted if the Colonial Commissioners shall continue to keep the salary so low as to prevent a man of decided talent accepting the situation of Governor. Come who may, I earnestly hope that the precise line that shall mark the powers & duties of the Governor & Resident Commissioner will be so plain as to prevent all misunderstanding & collision, and that the late absurd regulations as to the mode of providing the necessary funds for carrying on the Government will be rescinded and more extended discretionary powers committed to the Resident Commissioner than those regulations confer, as well as either a change in the Treasurership or the entire subjugation of that officer to the orders of the Resident Commissioner. In my last, 22nd/23rd ultimo [May] per accompanying duplicate, I mentioned the case of the Sarah & Elizabeth. It was not till the 8[th] instant [June] that I received the full particulars of this melancholy case. I presume you will have been informed of it by Mr Orr or Captain Wakeling, but I think it proper to send you the letter which I received by that opportunity from my son, a copy of the surveyors’ reports, and of the reply which I sent Mr Orr on the 24th

233 The meeting, held at the Crown and Anchor in London’s Strand on 2 January 1838 and chaired by Raikes Currie, was called to discuss the appointment of a new governor in the event of the recall of Hindmarsh. 234 A schooner, William Morris master, from Sydney via Port Phillip, called at Nepean Bay before putting into Port Adelaide on 14 June. 235 On the way back from Encounter Bay in HMS Pelorus the Governor and his party met the Hartley, returning from Lauceston, and the Henry Freeling in Nepean Bay on 8 June. Their mail bags for South Australia and the Swan River were taken on board the Pelorus, which sailed immediately for Adelaide. The mails were opened on 9 June, government business letters extracted and the re-sealed bags delivered at Adelaide later that day. McLaren chaired the protest meeting at the Adelaide Tavern on 13 June. 236 Francis Harding (1779-1875) commanded HMS Pelorus on the East India station and Australia from 1837 to 1839. 237 John Hutt (1795-1880), formerly in the service of the , had been superintendent of emigration for the South Australian Colonization Commission in London. He sought the governorship of South Australia in 1838 but was appointed Governor of Western Australia instead. 238 William Hutt (1801-1882), John’s brother, was MP for Hull and a member of the Colonization Commission. He was also unsuccessful in his bid for the governorship of South Australia.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 156 of 173 ______ultimo [May], after having consulted fully with Mr Mildred. I cannot venture to give any absolute orders in the matter, nor can I go thither, as I should most cheerfully have done had other engagements permitted, nor even send Mr Mildred, who is engaged at Kingscote with the Lord Hobart & Sir C[harles] McCarthy. Saturday evening239, 16[th] June. The sailing of the Abeona has been delayed. She goes positively on Monday morning. I briefly resume my narrative. Mr Gilles has positively refused to draw on the Commissioners for the freightage of the Lord Hobart. I shall act according to Mr Mann’s advice as to legal form & mode of proceeding and according to my best judgment. Mr Fisher & others know that, when I consider the interests of the South Australian Company are concerned, I know no man. I think an action at law will require to be raised here against Mr Fisher, and your application to the Commissioners at home for settlement be based on his not having conformed to the terms of the charter party, and that established by the judgment of the Supreme Court of the Province. The South Australian Gazette of this evening publishes in full my bill for freight , furnished, of course, by Mr Gilles— how base. I hope the Directors will approve (if they think it proper to advert to the case at all) of my having taken the chair at the public meeting as to the Governor opening the public mails. On the following day I had a long interview with the Governor & Advocate General, explaining very respectfully, but plainly, my sentiments & motives, and, although they regret that I attended, they are satisfied that my being in the chair was of considerable service to the Governor, for which he thanked me. I am extremely sorry to say that both the Devon yearling bulls ex Canton have had cold, and have not thriven as we wished since they were landed and on Wednesday evening. One of them died, the other is now almost quite well. Mr Stuart & Mr Strike both attended him. I made a minute investigation, and the consequence is that I have put the herds as well as the flocks under Mr Randell, and deeply as I regret the loss of the bull, a loss which in present circumstances cannot be repaired, am persuaded that, from the change to which it has led in the management, we shall soon be compensated for even that very heavy loss. The lambs are dropping fast, and from the judicious arrangements made by Mr R[andell] we have lost very, very few. He expects we shall have of lambs this season about 1500 or more. And he hopes to have the shearing over this season by about the time it began last season. Instead of a set of worthless vagabonds at the sheep station, Mr R[andell] is collecting round him trustworthy men, and has very materially reduced the expenditure. He will effect both these objects too in the bullock department in a short time. He reported very favourably as to the stock per Canton but recommends sending out a pure Durham bull for our breeding stock. The bull which got the first prize last year at the Durham show has gone to Sydney per Mary Ann240; she passed Kingscote about six weeks ago, all well but short of water. At Rosetta Fishery Mr Harper has got 6 whales, about 50 tuns of oil. No further accounts from Thistle Island. I purpose returning next week to Kingscote per Canton. There, I am sorry to learn, the officers & men are with very few exceptions quite dissatisfied, private trading very

239 Added in margin. 240 The bull took first prize at the show at Richmond, Yorkshire, and was imported by George Hill of Pitt Street, Sydney. The Mary Ann arrived there on 5 May.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 157 of 173 ______considerable, & a general wish to be released from existing engagements. I never return to it after the temporary absence, which so frequently occurs, but I find the settlement in a worse state than when I left it. And, instead of having the difficulty arising from other quarters alleviated & soothed by my intercourse with my fellow officers there, these difficulties are aggravated & increased by their dissensions, their neglect of the Company’s interests and their selfish attention to their own interests. What ought to be done, I cannot say here. Perhaps I may not be able to say decidedly, when there. I am happy to learn that Mr John Germein241 has found fresh water near Point Marsden, about 500 yards from the other well; it is of course kept secret. I must apologise for the extreme length of my communication. You have signified repeatedly the wish of the Board for particular information. I fear I overdo it and shall study greater brevity. Tell me what they wish, and, in any matter under my own control, I pledge myself their desires shall be gratified. Before actually closing this despatch, I beg to state that the negotiation between us and the Government as to the acre at the harbour is in a very favourable train for an immediate & amicable settlement; that I have let another quarter of an acre of the section there for seven years, at fifteen pounds per annum; and that I have next thing to arranged with Thomas Wilson, farm tenant, for self & father to forego their claims for compensation for delay, &c., by granting them a loan in bullocks, &c., of £250, for 2 years at 15% per annum. Mr Hillier will, I hope, be got managed too: I have offered him £50, on condition of his giving up his lease—he asks £150. Other opportunities of writing will soon occur, by which I shall at least transmit a duplicate of this lengthy epistle. Till then, & always, I am with much respect, Dear Sir, Your most obedient servant, David McLaren. No intelligence yet of Lady Mary Pelham!! Enclosed is certificate as to oil per Rapid. Should not the date of shipment been inserted? The Goshawk is coming over from Kingscote.

June 7, 1838 This is an extra sheet, written on one side. On the last page was written: No 8 1838 Orig. Letter to E.J. Wheeler Per Abeona to Hobart Town Adelaide 7/16 June The pages were folded into four across. The letter was annotated in the London office at the top of the first side: London, 1/12/38; and the year, the writer’s name, the place and date of writing, and the dates of receipt and answer on the last side, once only:

241 John Germein (c1812-1879), the eldest of the three brothers brought out as fishermen on the South Australian.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 158 of 173 ______

1838 D. McLaren Adelaide 1 June 1838 Received 1 December 1838 Answered 4 February 1839 Alongside each section the topic has been entered in the margin in faint writing, probably in the London office. Some pages have been numbered in a later hand. Text Monday morning. The mail closes in an hour or so. 8[th] June Yesterday I had a letter from Captain Ross, Lady Mary Pelham, dated Port Jackson, 5[th] May, accompanied by a letter from Mr A[lexander] B[rodie] Spark enclosing copy of the bottomry bond242. Captain Ross says, in reference to the surveys, protest & vouchers of expenses at Sourabaya, ‘There is one set gone home to England direct from Sourabaya to Mr G[eorge] F[ife] Angas, Chairman to the Company’. Mr Spark says, ‘If the Company appoint old men to command their ships with neither physical nor mental energies sufficient to conduct enterprises involving hardship & danger, they need not be surprised at failure.’ The two instances I have seen I fear justify the remark. He adds, ‘I enclose a copy of the bottomry bond, by which you will see that nearly £1700 is payable on delivery of the cargo. This cargo consists chiefly of about 140 tons of sugar consigned to Messrs Tho[ma]s Gore & Company243 & 9 tuns of sperm oil, the result of a long fishing [voyage]. The freight of the sugar is £3 per ton in full, & the balance of the oil about £58 per tun, showing scarcely £900 nett to pay the above amount’. He waits instructions from me. The stern & one of the masts require repair, &c. Oh, how grieved I am on account of the Directors & the state of the shipping department of the Company, and on account of the continued & increasing difficulties in which I am involved. The John Pirie having been ordered to Sydney, we shall have the additional advantage of Captain Martin’s advice, but I see nothing for us but discharging the bottomry bond, which I hope you will recover, & order her to be repaired. I shall endeavour to write Mr Spark by this opportunity. Another will be had in a day or two via Hobart Town, [by] the Lord Goderich, by which the Bank letter must be sent & present deficiencies made up. I am my dear Sir, Yours very truly, David McLaren.

June 7, 1838 This letter consists of a single sheet of full foolscap folded to make four sides of foolscap folio together with a single sheet of foolscap folio, written on three and a half sides. The pages were folded into four across and two lengthwise. The letter was annotated in the London office with the date of answer at the top of the first side, and the year, the writer’s name, the place and date of writing, and the dates of receipt and answer on the last side. The latter were repeated at right angles so as to be readable in either orientation:

242 A contract whereby a loan is made to a master or owner to finance a voyage, the vessel itself being security. 243 Merchants of Spring Street, Sydney, established by Thomas Goodall Gore in 1836. His uncle ran the London house of the family business, John Gore & Company.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 159 of 173 ______

1839 D. McLaren Adelaide 7 June 1838 Received 1839 Answered 4 February 1839 The pages have been numbered in a later hand. Text Duplicate. Original per Abeona via Hobart Town244. South Australian Company, Adelaide, 7[th] June 1838. Edmund J. Wheeler, Manager. Dear Sir, I shall devote this letter to the melancholy case of the barque the South Australian. Agreeably to my letter of 18[th] April, original via Launceston, duplicate herewith, the nett proceeds of the sale, £404.15.6, were paid unto the Bank here at Mr Morphett’s suggestion—acquiesced in by me rather than ‘by my orders’—for transmission to you on account of those concerned. The importance of the operations connected with the selection of the country lands, the necessity of making up the requisite documents, &c., prevented us making that remittance by the Black Joke via Launceston. I presume the whole of the papers now sent may not be absolutely necessary, but I am desirous that every possible facility should be given you in recovering the amount presented and, as a means thereto, that the underwriters should be satisfied that good faith has been maintained throughout. The documents now sent consist of No 1. Copies of correspondences preparatory to the sale No 2. Catalogues of sale, 23[th] March 1838 No 3. Account of second sale, 30[th] March No 4. Copy [of] accounts [of] sale & nett proceeds, &c., balance £404.15. 6 No 5. Copy [of] sundry accounts deducted from the amount of gross proceeds by the agent to Lloyds, £231. 1. 6 No 6. Letter from agent to Lloyds, 16[th] April These several documents I hope will be quite satisfactory. The discharges by the surveyors are still incomplete from the circumstances that, not having cash with me at the time or some such cause, I gave Captain Duff an order on W[illiam] M[organ] Orr, Esquire, Hobart Town, for the amount and Captain Pearson’s charge was passed so far as I recollect to his credit in account current, which was finally settled at Kingscote. As formerly mentioned, the chronometer belonging to the South Australian was given to the Sarah & Elizabeth. I believe it is safe on board of her at Hobart Town. I wrote requesting that it might be retained and sent back hither under the apprehension that some objection might be made by the underwriters in consequence of its not having been included in the sale.

244 This letter was signed by Edward Stephens. It contains many spelling and grammatical mistakes.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 160 of 173 ______

As the matter now stands, I presume you will have no difficulty in settling with them for it, and I beg further to transmit herewith two other accounts, say A & B, from Mr Mann & Mr Smart, omitted to be charged to Lloyds’ agent, say £9.7.8, which should be deducted from the amount chargeable for the chronometer, £13.2.0, as mentioned in my letter to J W, 4[th] April245. I think I have not reported to you what I did at the time of the sale. I was very desirous of being present at the sale, which, from what Mr Morphett stated as mentioned in my letter to you of 2[nd] February, I calculated on as being in the end of March or rather beginning of April, and under this impression I left this on the 5th February. While at Kingscote I was advised by Mr Edw[ard] Stephens that Mr Morphett had fixed the 31[th] March, and advertised accordingly in the newspapers of the neighbouring colonies, but might have the sale a few days earlier. I heard nothing more. It was not advertised in the Gazette here. Mr Morphett considering that its circulation here was so very limited, handbills and catalogues were published a few days before the 23rd March, but not in time to allow Mr E[dward] S[tephens] to inform me. Reports were circulated by Captain Wright that the vessel was much injured by lying so long on shore, that she had drifted further on the beach and was not worth by £200 what she was at first, &c. I sent down Mr Mildred to examine her, who reported that she was much in the same state as when surveyed. He advised me not to give above £100 or so for her, adding that, were he to bid £120 and she to be knocked down to him at that, he might probably regret that he had got her. I asked if £120 then was to be regarded as the ultimum and if I should not have occasion to regret if I should bid £120 and another person get her by advancing above that price. He said he thought I ought on no account to advance beyond £150. Thus instructed, I came over, having in the interim been at Thistle Island, &c., and arrived here on the 29[th] March and learn[t] on landing that she had been sold on the 23[th] March as per catalogue, £220. I told Mr Morphett very plainly how dissatisfied I was that I had not got previous information, &c. He pleaded his right to exercise his own judgment in the time and circumstances of the sale and that he had done so in the manner which he thought most likely to promote the interests of all concerned; that on the score of courtesy he regretted there had been any disappointment to me. I bought the greater part of the sails on the second day, with the boat, &c., which last the John Pirie now has. Mr Pollard, the purchaser of the hull previously to my arrival, offered to Mr E[dward] Stephens to relinquish it in favour of the company for £50. After having heard of my arrival, he withdrew that offer and asked a bonus of £100, which I declined. He bought the wreck of the Dart too246. I was very sorry I was not present at the sale of the Solway and that instructions more explicit were not left with Mr Edw[ard] Stephens, but our experience of the enormous expenses connected with repairing and keeping the Sir Charles McCarthy disinclined us to more of that kind of work, and in consequence of Mr E[dward] S[tephens] giving up bidding at £82, it was knocked down to Captain Wright at £83,

245 J.W. remains unidentified. No mention of the chronometer was made in McLaren’s letter to Wheeler on 4 April. 246 A brig, John Potton master, arrived with Pollard as supercargo from Sydney on 25 February 1838. She left for King George’s Sound on 22 March but was wrecked on Troubridge Shoal on 29 March.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 161 of 173 ______

I am with much respect, My dear Sir, Your most obedient servant, Per pro Mr David McLaren Edw. Stephens.

June 21, 1838 This letter consists of a single sheet of full foolscap folded to make four sides of foolscap folio, written on two and a half sides. The top and bottom and left and right quarters of the pages were folded in to make a letter with the blank outermost side providing an address panel. It was sealed with the seal of the South Australian Company and addressed: Edmund J. Wheeler, Esquire Manager, South Australian Company 19 Bishopsgate Street Within London It was stamped at the port of entry: INDIA LETTER ROMNEY (twice in red) ROMNEY SHIP LETTER (once in black) and a circular duty stamps D 7 FE 7 1839 and a duty of 1/- The pages were folded into four across and two lengthwise. The letter was annotated in the London office with the date of answer at the top of the first side, and the year, the writer’s name, the place and date of writing, and the dates of receipt and answer on the last side. The latter were repeated at right angles so as to be readable in either orientation: 1839 D. McLaren Adelaide 21 June 1838 Received 7 February 1839 Answered 19 February 1839 At the bottom of the first page: Edmund J. Wheeler, Esquire Some pages have been numbered in a later hand. Text Original. Expected per Abeona to Hobart Town. South Australian Company, Adelaide, 21[st] June 1838. Morning. My dear Sir, Yesterday afternoon, I had the pleasure of receiving your important dispatches per Rapid, viz. Your letter of the 9th February on Bank affairs Your letter of the 13th February on general affairs Your letter of the 17th February on recall of Governor.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 162 of 173 ______

With all the accompanying documents, part of which Captain Field247 delivered personally and very early. I write at present merely because I have a chance that I may catch the Abeona for Hobart Town, as she had not sailed from the harbour yesterday, and I take leave to mention that there is a chance that you may get this letter and not the despatches, which are at great length, that I sent off a few days ago. They went per the mail. It was sent to Holdfast Bay on the 18th instant [June] under the supposition that the Abeona had left the harbour & would come in to the Bay, was put on board a vessel at the Bay which was going up to the harbour. The northerly winds have prevented her. The mail is to be relanded. The Abeona may perhaps not put into the Bay, but go without the mail. I hope not. To the copious despatches then sent by me I must refer the Board. I have read with interest your correspondence with the Commissioners as to our position in Kangaroo [Island]. It is now out of date, but I am satisfied the arrangement finally adopted by you & the Commissioners would not have been acceded to at any meeting of ‘the Colonists’—that is, of the owners or representatives of owners of the preliminary land orders—here. I consider that the question of the buildings will not be disputed, as has been virtually conceded by default of the Colonial Commissioner not having gone over, as he promised for 12 months to do, and see the buildings, so as to decide in regard to them, being, or not being conformable to the land order 438. I am greatly relieved by learning that the Duke of York was fully insured, that you have heard of the disaster of the Lady Mary Pelham, and will I hope recover the bottomry bond. Also that the South Australian was covered to the amount of £3900, which I hope you will recover. Oh, let no town lands. Leave that matter, as well as the country lands to us if you please, at least in the meantime. And send no farm labourers. I am glad you have declined sending out many things which in my first letters I ordered. Then I received my information from others. I am highly gratified at the approbation expressed by the board of my conduct. The difficulties which have since beset me have been very great. In the midst of them I have done my best, but that is all I plead, and my best I will do in the hope that the sincerity of my devotion, and the entire consecration of my energies, to the service of the Company will excuse in the eyes of the Board any deficiencies or mistakes with which I may be chargeable. I am ably supported by Mr E[dward] Stephens, who deserves well of the Board. I am yours, in haste, But very respectful, David McLaren248

June 28, 1838 This letter consists of three sheets of full foolscap each folded to make twelve sides of foolscap folio, written on nine and a half sides. The pages were folded into four across and two lengthwise. The letter was annotated in the London office with the dates of receipt and answer at the top of the first side, and the year,

247 William George Field (1807-1850), a lieutenant in the Royal Navy, was second-officer to Light on the outward voyage of the Rapid and took command after arrival in South Australia. 248 The final letters of the last two lines were cut away with the seal.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 163 of 173 ______the writer’s name, the place and date of writing, and the dates of receipt and answer on the last side. The latter were repeated at right angles so as to be readable in either orientation: 1839 D. McLaren Adelaide 28 December 1838 Answered 4 February 1839 Added on the last side: No 2 1838 Original letter 28 June/2 July and at the bottom of the first page: Edmund J. Wheeler Esquire. Alongside each section the topic has been entered in the margin in faint writing, probably in the London office. Some pages have been numbered in a later hand. Text Original. Per Lord Goderich to Hobart town. South Australian Company, Adelaide, 28[th] June 1838. My dear Sir, I wrote you at great length on the 7/18[th] instant [June] via Hobart Town, as per duplicate enclosed, and, the Rapid having arrived on the 20th instant [June], I took the opportunity of acknowledging receipt of your important despatches of the 13[th] February on 21[st] instant [June], which was forwarded by the same opportunity (the Abeona) to Hobart Town. The Eden249 arrived on the 24th and by her I had your favour of the 16th February and accompanying despatches, including duplicate of your favour of the 15th February per the Henry Porcher250. I beg briefly to state in reference to Kingscote that, although the choice of the country sections had not been over, the preliminary land-owners, or their representatives, would not have conceded the privilege you expected. As you have not met with any favours at the hands of the Commissioners, we have met with none here at the hand of the land-owners; but on every occasion there has been displayed by many a spirit of jealousy and envy, and even at the hand of the Colonial Commissioner—although he has been traduced & opposed on the ground of favouring the Company, and although he has all along professed great friendship for the Company—we have assuredly received no favours. Nothing further has been done, nor will there be any thing further done, as to Kingscote for some time. There is a probability that Governor Hindmarsh will, before the arrival of his successor, declare Kingscote a port, at least he promised to me to do so. Since the receipt of the despatches per the Rapid I urged him to do so, lest the next Governor might consider it necessary to visit it personally and take as long time to do so as he had done. I shall furnish you with information as to the locality of the buildings, &c., but I fear the premium of insurance against fire will be very high.

249 Barque, master William Detmar Cook, arrived from London on 24 June. 250 Barque, master John Hart (but not the John Hart of the Isabella and Hope), carrying the original document, departed from London on 12 February, the day before the Eden sailed, but arrived at Port Adelaide only on 1 July, a week after the Eden with the duplicate. See below.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 164 of 173 ______

I regard with due respect the resolution of the Directors, (of which you have sent me a copy), as to ‘the keeping of retail stores’, but beg to say most respectfully that the nature of our operations in this particular seems to have been somewhat misunderstood. At Kingscote, we employed Mr Deacon251, & some others, to keep a retail store because there were none on the Island almost but the servants of the Company, and a retail-store there was absolutely necessary. Here, we have had ‘no retail store’ except for supplying our bullock drivers, shepherds, &c., with rations, and of late, at the request of some others in the Company’s service, we have allowed them to purchase some few articles there. And so far from the Company keeping a retail store here, the origin of the connection with Messrs Fisher Brothers was that even the wholesale commercial business done by the Company might be done not by the Company direct, but through the medium of Fisher Brothers as agents. That connection was the work of Mr Samuel Stephens alone, arranged a few weeks previously to my arrival in the Colony [and] mentioned to me by him rather incidentally than otherwise during my residence at Kingscote the first two months I was there. The terms of which arrangement were not reduced to writing, but had been merely talked over. Approving of the general object of the arrangement, viz. to prevent the Company appearing in their own name & character as merchants, I got the parties to concur in a general statement of the terms, several of which were left to be determined when the nature & extent of the business should be ascertained. One of the most important points connected with this arrangement was the erecting of extensive sores, to which I have frequently referred in my correspondence252. That matter, I am sorry to say, is at the present moment very far from being in a satisfactory state. I beg to refer to the correspondence, copy of which is enclosed, and, in bespeaking the charitable judgment of the Board in this matter, I have respectfully to remind them, that I was brought in to finish what I should have begun differently. That had we known that in the end the expense would have been so great, the measure resorted to now should have been adopted long ago. I beg to add that, after all, I hope we shall derive from the expenditure of this part of the Company’s capital a return, which in England would be considered handsome—more than your proposed rents of land would yield on the real value of the land—and that by the building of these stores the value of the Company’s property in the neighbourhood, which is very extensive, will253 be greatly enhanced. The arrangements for the future management of the commercial department shall be in the spirit of the resolution of the directors, but at the present moment I cannot say what these arrangements may eventually be. My chief difficulty arises from the want of any person sufficiently conversant with mercantile business and with parties here to whom I can commit that important business. I hope, so soon as our arrangements with Messrs Fisher are definitively settled, I shall have it my power to take measures for carrying into effect the instructions of the Board. On this head, and anticipating a dissolution of the connection with Messrs Fisher, at least as agents for the sale of our goods, I have sounded Messrs Hack (who manage their business on the sound principles of keeping down the amount of expenses and of promptly realising) whether or not, in the event of our requiring to make a new arrangement of that kind, it would be entertained by them. The application was favourably received, but that, of course, is all that can be said in the meantime. In reference to that part of Mr Fisher’s letter of the 18th instant [June], in which he states his intention to

251 William Archer Deacon (1789-1866), on the Africaine. 252 In margin: Correspondence enclosed. 253 McLaren inserted an unnecessary `&’ before this.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 165 of 173 ______apply for liberty to purchase the stores within a certain period, when he sends me a copy of the application as promised I shall be better able to judge of it. But if he would take them at cost, and give us good security for the payment, I should decidedly recommend letting him have them. But I fear this is a mere flourish of trumpets. I notice the statement of supplies intended to be sent, as contained in your favour per Rapid. If the articles for the whale fishery then mentioned be sent, I beg that no more may be sent till I write for them. And again I say, send no more Roman cement, common muskets, powder, shot, boat axes, knives, carpenters’ or coopers’ tools, locks, hinges, blocks, rope, coopers’ flags254, fire bricks, pitch, tar, rosin or nails. The deals & battens may be safely continued; in consequence of the extremely high price of sawing of those per Canton, I have sold 100 deals & battens, deliverable here, at 10d for whole deals, 10d for cut battens and 12d for cut deals, & could have sold more. From the demand for bricks here and the expense of conveying them from this to the Port, I shall be able to sell what of those per Goshawk we may be inclined to part with at Port Adelaide at a handsome profit. She has now arrived there and will proceed to discharge As to the dockyard I beg to refer to my letter of 22/23[rd] May, and I hope your reply to it, when received, will be decisive, so as to determine the point which I consider in the meantime as undecided, viz., whether this work should be begun or not on such a scale as may involve an expenditure of £15 to £20,000. On that point, Mr Mildred & I are likely to be at issue, as I do not mean, in the present state of finances, to embark in that undertaking till I have express orders in reply to that letter. And I trust that your reply to it will either authorise me to proceed or expressly restrain me from engaging in it. I fear receiving more workmen of any kind at present, as we find it impossible to employ them profitably. Let the Commissioners do their duty, and you will be relieved from granting advances which can never be recovered & burdening your establishments with heavy wages, for which no adequate labour is performed. I send you a copy of the Port Act, &c., 2 copies shall be sent of the Gazette, one addressed to the Chairman and one to you, also 4 copies of the Southern Australian, one to him and 3 to you. I am pleased to learn that the Board approved of my candour in expressing my opinion of the premature nature of their proceedings; the circumstances which led to it are most obvious. It is somewhat singular, that in the same paragraph, you say, ‘Now that the plans are being matured & consolidated, and proper officers appointed to each department, let us hope, &c.’ Alas, that this should yet be premature. I am sorry to find that you have extended Findlay’s & Cann255’s monthly notes. They were paid up to the time of the stranding of the South Australian and Findlay various sums since. I shall endeavour to recover the sums overpaid, but am very doubtful. Findlay having a wife in England surprises me, and would surprise another party still more. We can get little or no information on which we can depend as to the coast or country from whalers. I endeavour to collect what information I can from every source, but I must say that it would require to be a very strong case indeed which would lead me to commence a settlement in a locality westward of Spencer’s Gulf. This idea, I have reason to believe, is entertained by Mr Sam[uel] Stephens and favourably viewed by Mr Giles, but concentration, not dispersion, ought to be our motto and, if this, which from the first might have seen to be

254 Material used to seal between the staves of a barrel. 255 John Cann, the carpenter from the South Australian.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 166 of 173 ______the wisest policy of the Company, be not now seen with our experience at Kingscote, we must be blind indeed. The recall of Govenor Hindmarsh was not unexpected. For himself & his family, I feel sorry & have told them so, but I declined subscribing an address to His Excellency because, although it took low ground as to his public character & acts, yet [it] gave him credit for qualities which I have not seen. No 106 is more valuable than 638 notwithstanding the double frontage—the former is in the business part of the town256. For No 40, £174 was paid last week sold by public sale in quarters257. For No 83, £200 or upward has since been paid privately—sold in quarters258. No 82 is mortgaged to the Bank in security of James Coltman & Company’s balance and is to be sold by public sale next week, and will likely bring from £200 to £250259. For one half of No 47, that half which fronts King William Street260, £250 has been refused and £400 is asked!! On your plan for leasing part of the town lands, I refer to a separate paper, herewith sent261. I am much relieved by knowing that the lost and damaged ships are all insured and hope you will recover the amounts, which I hope you will retain in your coffers rather than replace these vessels. The space occupied in your favour of the 13[th] February.on the subject of leasing the town lands requires that I should advert to it more formally than is done in the observations on the plan. I approve of the resolution not to alienate any of the metropolitan lands for the reason assigned, but I am more than surprised that, with such a conviction, you should have proposed a plan which would have alienated 20 acres of the town lands for 42 years for £180 per annum; & that the Board, after deliberating on the subject, should have advised me to accept any desirable tenants who might offer on that plan. Where would have been the great advantage of owning lands ‘of enormous value’ which were leased for 42 years by others for £180 per annum? I observe the plan was drawn up to be attempted in London. I almost trembled when I read the following paragraph: ‘If no great objection to the scheme be discovered, we shall probably, when possessing more details, make agreements here.’ Most fervently do I pray that nothing of the kind may be done in London. We will get you 20% on all money expended in building cottages and on the value of the land—[the] other 3 cottages have been let since I wrote last & not one of them finished. I refer to the separate paper262 entitled ‘Reports by fellow passengers of our servants, &c.’ I am sorry to say my own impressions of ‘Strike’ are very unfavourable. Mr Randell is apprised

256 Town acre 106 (on the corner of Grenfell Street and Gawler Place) was purchased by Gouger but title taken by Edward Stephens. Town acre 638 (on the corner of King William Street and Gilbert Street) was selected by the South Australian Company but title taken by Gouger. 257 Town acre 40 (on the north side of Rundle Street just west of ) was purchased by Coltman but title transferred to McLaren. 258 Town acre 83 (on the south side of Rundle Street between Hindmarsh Square and Gawler Place) was bought by Robert Cock but title transferred first to Gouger and then McLaren. It was reported in the Southern Australian as being sold for £200 in July. 259 Town acre 82 (on the corner of Rundle Street and Gawler Place) was purchased by Robert Thomas. The auction took place eventually on 11 July. Morphett bought a quarter-acre and another quarter-acre was sold in October for £210. 260 On the corner of Hindley Street, selected by the absentee proprietor Samuel Payne. 261 Written in margin: Document B. 262 Written in margin: Document C.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 167 of 173 ______of that Report and will soon ascertain its truth by watching the conduct of the parties & will act accordingly. The emigrants per Eden I have not seen yet, but I have every reason to place confidence in the report made to me concerning them. On the 26th instant [June] the owners of land balloted to determine the order of choice of pasturage. After maturely considering the subject along with Mr E[dward] Stephens & Mr. Randell, I resolved to combine our chances thus, 20 sections in 1 chance, about 66 square miles 10 sections in 1 chance, about 33 square miles 30 sections in 6 equal [chances] of 5, about 16½ square miles 20 sections in 10 equal [chances] of 2, about 6 ⅔ square miles 22 sections in 22 [chances] of 1, about 3⅓ square miles 102 The whole 437 were reduced to 256. The Lot was against us again. Result was: we have 1st choice 5th 13th 32nd 34th 35th 36th 37th 44th 45th 58th 69th 73rd 74th 86th 95th &c. 5 Sections 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 1 131st 146th 170th 186th 187th 202nd 257th &c. 10 Sections 5 20 5 5 5 5 No day was fixed for choosing, nor will it be probable for 6 months. And from the extent of good pasture land, the lateness of our choices may not be perhaps much disadvantage. Although we combined as above, we are not obliged to take, for instance, 5 lots of pasturage in one place for our first choice [but] we may take them in 5 different places. A most important point, however, is at present in suspense, viz., as to the perpetuity of the leases of pasturage. The Regulations of the Commissioners, original & modified 1[st] October 1835, give the tenant a ‘Right of Renewal’ (in case of purchase by another party) to unsold portions. Whereas the draft of the lease proposed by the Colonial Commissioner to be given to the parties, and which draft was prepared under the instructions of the Colonization Commissioners by Mr Senior263, confines the right of renewal to ‘the unsold portion of the said land’, that is, of the land at first obtained as pasturage. This point may probably be referred to London, where it will be more ably argued than it could be here. Permit me only to say that, if the proposed draft be admitted, parties may be deprived of their right of pasturage in 3 or 4 months, & that entirely & forever. That it is obvious that there is a deviation in the proposed draft from the Regulations, because there is a deviation (though slight, most important) in the language: ‘unsold portions’ obviously meaning portions of land in different parts of the country, which in the proposed draft of lease is unwarrantably restricted to ‘the unsold portion of the said land.’ The Company is entitled to 344 square miles of pasturage and this, at the difference of rental to them and to non-proprietors, is upwards of £500 per annum. For a long time to come there will be abundance of pasture and little or no revenue will be obtained from this source, but the conditions under which the preliminary holders bought cannot now surely be altered. The claim for compensation by Mr Thomas Wilson is compromised; he gets a loan, in bullocks, to the extent of £180 for 2 years, for which he pays us 15% per annum and makes good any loss by accident, &c. I am negotiating with Mr Hillier & Mr Wilson, senior, for a settlement of their claims for compensation.

263 Probably Nassau William Senior (1790-1864), a political economist and government adviser.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 168 of 173 ______

I am extremely sorry to say that, from the terms in which the Comm[issione]rs have written Mr Fisher for the purpose of being communicated to Colonel Light and from the absolute nature of their requirement relative to a running survey of the country, there is a very great probability that Colonel Light will resign. In that case, Mr Kingston will succeed as Surveyor General, for which office I understand he is quite incompetent, and the surveying will either be at a standstill or done in such a manner as will require to be done over again. The evil genius of Mr Rowland Hill264 seems predominant at the Adelphi, and after the specimen we have had of his financial arrangements, which have brought the whole of the Public Officers of the Colony almost to a standstill in respect of their salaries, and the public business into the same state, and after this more recent specimen of his general management, there is nothing either too injurious to the Colony or too foolish, which he may not concoct and may not get the Comm[issione]rs seemingly to sanction. 2[nd] July. Monday Yesterday the Henry Porcher arrived at Holdfast Bay. The mail was brought up yesterday afternoon, but no despatches have been received by me from you. Some private letters I have received and have no doubt but I shall yet receive your bag. The duplicate of your letter per H[enry] Porcher I received per Eden. I am happy to say she is arrived quite safe, but she came by Backstairs Passage & was, I understand, almost on shore at Encounter Bay. The freak265 about having the capital there will die a natural death. Our fishery there progresses very satisfactorily: 9 or 10 fish [whales] have been got. Colonel Light has declined to comply with the Commissioners’ requirements because he knows they are impracticable, and the practicable would be unavailing. Not one of the Assistant Surveyors will serve under Mr Kingston. The whole Survey Department will be at a standstill and the injury, inflicted on the Colony through Mr Kingston’s baseness and self- conceited impudence, irreparable. I regret that the Board of Directors added the weight of their influence to the plan of a running survey. As the boundaries of the sections are not to be marked, and those marked could not be marked accurately, no good will be done. The first thing to be done is to fence in the ground, which is a very expensive process; but who would fence on an uncertain boundary? The last mail (No 3) per the Lord Goderich is to be made up tomorrow morning early. Other opportunities via Sydney or Launceston may be had tomorrow or next day, by which I shall probably write, as so many important matters press on our correspondence at present. I am my dear Sir, With sincere devotion to the Company’s interest and sincere attachment to you, Your most obedient servant, David McLaren

Index starts on next page

264 Rowland Hill (1795-1879), secretary of the Colonization Commission in London. 265 In the sense of a capricious whim.

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 169 of 173 ______

dissatisfaction of emigrants, 100, 110, A 116, 119, 157 Abeona, 86, 150, 152, 157, 160, 162, 163, dissension in government, 106, 112, 115, 164 156 Africaine, 91, 152 Drescher, Julius, 95 Allan, Alexander, 84, 109, 117, 120 Duff, John Finlay, 91, 110, 160 Allan, John, 117 Duke of York, 88, 89, 97, 163 Angas, George Fife, 83, 88, 109, 110, Dunbar and Company, 127 111, 113, 117, 118, 121, 148, 159, 166 E appointments, failings, 87, 109, 111, 117, 129, 159 Eden, 164, 168, 169 Emma, 85, 96, 115, 116, 146 B Encounter Bay, 83, 88, 91, 93, 115, 128, Barnes, George, 134 131, 149, 153, 157, 169 Beare, Thomas Hudson, 97, 99, 119, 153 F Beer, John, 97, 98, 118 Bencoolen, 133, 141, 142 Favell & Bousfield, 96 Birdseye, Cornelius, 131, 149, 155 Field, William George, 115, 163 Black Joke, 125, 142, 150, 160 Findlay, David, 117, 166 Blenkinsop, John William Dundas, 84, 93, Finlayson, William, 155 117 Fisher Brothers (James & Charles Brown), Blundell, Richard, 139 121, 127, 165 Breeze, Robert Smith, 99 Fisher, James Hurtle, 90, 105, 106, 110, bricks, 99, 166 112, 121, 123, 124, 127, 130, 131, 134, business, Bank, 89, 97, 98, 106, 112, 120, 140, 149, 155, 156, 157, 163, 164, 165, 121, 123, 127, 128, 134, 143 168, 169 business, shipping, 85, 89, 118 G C German emigrants, 99, 111, 116, 119, 120 Calnan, Jeremiah, 97, 99 Germein, John, 158 Cann, John, 166 Gilbert, Thomas, 112, 152 Canton, 129, 137, 142, 143, 144, 145, Giles, William, 96, 97, 113, 116, 119, 121, 146, 153, 157, 166 124, 126, 133, 134, 137, 138, 140, 141, Cape, The, 96, 99, 118 143, 166 Chesser, William, 130 Giles, William, junior, 116, 152, 153 Colonial Office, 112 Gill, Daniel, 106 Colonization Commissioners, 86, 97, 106, Gilles, Lewis William, 99 112, 123, 129, 131, 140, 141, 145, 156, Gilles, Osmond, 87, 97, 99, 105, 106, 112, 157, 163, 164, 166, 168, 169 123, 131, 132, 144, 149, 157 Coltman, James, 120, 167 Gillman, Edward, 154 Coromandel, 130 Giraffe, 122 goods & trade, 88, 96, 99, 111, 118, 120, D 127, 128, 143, 146, 149, 163, 165, 166 Dart, 161 Goshawk, 99, 116, 118, 130, 152, 153, Deacon, William Archer, 165 156, 158, 166 Dickson, Burnies & Co., 96, 97, 99 Gouger, Robert, 91, 106, 112, 130, 132

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 170 of 173 ______

Graham, John, 92 L Ladbroke & Company, 123, 128 H Lady Emma, 90, 95, 96, 97, 99 Hack, John Barton, 103, 120, 130 Lady Mary Pelham, 88, 109, 131, 158, Hack, John Barton & Stephen, 103, 105, 159, 163 126, 128, 145, 165 Lady of The Lake, 100 Hack, Stephen, 103 Lady Wellington, 102, 103, 104, 114, 126 Hamburg, 83, 87, 97, 99, 116, 120, 130, Laing, Robert, 153 153 land improvements, 155 Harding, Francis, 156 land, country, 106, 108, 124, 133, 134, Harper, John Gordon, 88, 115, 124, 128, 135, 137, 138, 140, 141, 153, 154 144, 153, 157 land, harbour, 104, 105, 114, 130, 132, Hart, John, 145 147, 155, 158 Hartley, 83, 90, 96, 98, 100, 115, 122, 156 land, town, 99, 167 Hawdon, Joseph, 126 Light, William, 105, 106, 108, 112, 115, Hawson, Henry Cowell, 86, 110, 131 124, 126, 147, 154, 169 Henry Freeling, 156 Lillecrapp, William, 100 Henry Porcher, 164, 169 Lipson, Thomas, 129, 147, 152 Hill, Rowland, 169 Lord Goderich, 115, 125, 126, 127, 128, Hillier, Jane, 154 129, 153, 159, 164, 169 Hillier, John, 140, 154, 158, 168 Lord Hobart, 86, 87, 110, 118, 131, 141, Hindmarsh, John, 84, 97, 102, 105, 106, 145, 146, 149, 155, 157 112, 115, 124, 129, 132, 139, 141, 152, 154, 156, 157, 162, 164, 167 M Hobart, 84, 85, 88, 91 Mann, Charles, 84, 89, 90, 91, 92, 130, Huggins, William, 98 132, 139, 155, 157, 161 Hurst, John Witherden, 97 Martin, George, 83, 84, 91, 92, 146, 159 Hutt, John, 156 Mary Ann, 87, 131, 157 Hutt, William, 156 McFarlane, John Boyd Thorburn, 84, 88, 91, 92, 115, 128, 144, 153 I McIntosh, John, 149, 155 Imlay, George, 100, 103, 107, 126 McLaren, David, junior, 84, 92, 96, 147 insurance, 86, 91, 92, 117, 118 McLaren, John Wingate, 99 Mildred, Elizabeth Sarah, 147 J Mildred, Henry Richard, 87, 91, 93, 98, Jardine, Skinner and Company, 142 110, 111, 114, 115, 119, 128, 146, 147, Jeffcott, John William, 84, 91, 112, 132 148, 149, 157, 161, 166 Jickling, Henry, 112 Montefiore, Jacob Barrow, 123 John Pirie, 83, 84, 85, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, Mordaunt, John, 144, 145 93, 95, 101, 102, 106, 114, 115, 123, Morgan, Robert Clarke, 88, 89, 109 124, 125, 146, 159, 161 Morphett, John, 107, 124, 127, 133, 137, 138, 139, 140, 160, 161 K N Kingscote, 134, 139, 140, 146, 152, 158, 163, 164 Navarino, 87 Kingston, George Strickland, 154, 169 Nelson, John, 85, 115 New Zealand, 85, 86, 114

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 171 of 173 ______newspapers, 118, 129, 154, 155, 157, Sir Charles McCarthy, 91, 96, 99, 117, 161, 166 128, 146, 148, 157, 161 Siren, 98, 101, 104 O Sleep, Elizabeth, 106 oil & whalebone, 84, 86, 88, 92, 95, 96, Sleep, Stephen, 97, 98, 106 102, 114, 118, 128, 141, 143, 158 Sleep, Thomas Proctor, 106, 155 Orr, William Morgan, 86, 87, 115, 116, Smart, Samuel, 130, 161 118, 123, 124, 131, 141, 143, 148, 156, Solway, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 92, 93, 95, 160 96, 97, 99, 102, 114, 115, 116, 118, 132, 152, 161 P South Australian, 83, 84, 85, 86, 88, 90, 91, 93, 95, 102, 104, 106, 109, 115, Padgett, James, 97 116, 117, 123, 124, 127, 131, 135, 136, pasturage, 155, 168 160, 162, 163, 166 Pearson, Robert, 83, 84, 92, 96, 102, 114, Spark, Alexander Brodie, 86, 110, 116, 132, 160 159 Pelorus, HMS, 152, 154, 156 special surveys, 109, 134, 138 Philips Palmer & Co., 97 Stag Brewery, 127 Pollard, Edward Hutchinson, 110, 161 Stanger, George Eaton, 90, 98 Port Adelaide, 129, 145 Stephen, George Milner, 139, 152, 155, provisions, 85, 86, 87, 92, 95, 96, 97, 99, 156, 157 102, 110, 114, 120, 129, 143, 146, 152, Stephens Place, 155 153 Stephens, Charlotte Hudson, 147 R Stephens, Edward, 87, 89, 108, 111, 112, 113, 114, 117, 118, 121, 126, 127, 128, Randell, William Beavis, 100, 109, 118, 130, 131, 133, 135, 141, 143, 144, 151, 124, 133, 134, 137, 141, 145, 148, 151, 155, 160, 161, 163, 168 155, 157, 167, 168 Stephens, Samuel, 87, 89, 96, 97, 100, Rapid, 115, 130, 132, 133, 143, 158, 162, 108, 109, 111, 115, 116, 117, 118, 122, 164, 166 124, 127, 133, 134, 135, 141, 144, 146, Rapid Bay, 126 147, 150, 151, 165, 166 Robson, Robert Moss, 155 Stevenson, George, 117, 132, 152 Ross, Robert, 88, 109, 120, 122, 159 stock, 96, 99, 100, 101, 103, 108, 109, Royal Admiral, 87, 96, 97, 98, 105, 112, 118, 120, 126, 128, 131, 134, 141, 144, 115, 118, 119, 123 145, 146, 149, 157 Russell, John, 155 Strangways, Thomas Bewes, 106, 129, 132, 141, 147, 152 S Strike, Edward, 143, 144, 157, 167 Salacia, 96, 116 Stuart, Charles William, 100, 145, 157 Sarah & Elizabeth, 84, 86, 87, 88, 90, 92, Sutherland, George, 110 96, 108, 109, 114, 116, 117, 118, 119, Swaine, Robert Victor, 152, 153 120, 121, 122, 141, 148, 156, 160 Senior, Nassau William, 168 T Seppings, 141 tea plant, 129 Sergeant, William Foster, 149, 154 tenants, farm, 99, 116, 120, 134, 138, servants, engagement, 97, 111, 116, 120, 140, 144, 149, 153, 154, 155, 158, 168 130, 143, 168 tenants, town, 167

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 172 of 173 ______

Thistle Island, 88, 114, 115, 121, 123, Water Witch, 121, 128, 131 128, 144, 153, 157, 161 whaling, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 93, 100, Thomas Gore & Company, 159 109, 115, 117, 120, 123, 125, 128, 129, Thomas, Robert, 129 131, 142, 144, 145, 149, 153, 157, 159, Thompson, George Robert, 111 169 Torrens, Robert, 112 Wheeler, Edmund John, 83, 85, 92, 97, Trusty, 137, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 153 103, 110, 118, 123, 124, 128, 166 Twofold Bay, 100, 101 Whittle, William, 117 Wigley, Henry Rudolph, 111, 112, 134, V 140 Victoria, 124, 128, 148, 153 William, 87, 115 Wilson, John, 158, 168 W Wilson, Thomas Granville, 98, 134, 140, 141, 149, 155, 158, 168 wages, 100, 110, 116, 118 Wright, William, 87, 89, 92, 109, 115, 144, Waghorn, Thomas Fletcher, 133, 141, 142 146, 161 Wakeling, James, 84, 86, 88, 109, 114, 117, 118, 131, 132, 156

BRG 42/9 SA Company correspondence Jan-June 1838 transcript 173 of 173