_____________________________________________________________________________________ PRG 101/2/51-100 Letters of Arthur Hardy and family correspondence Transcribed by Barbara Wall, Volunteer at the State Library of South Australia, 2012 PRG 101_2_51 Letter from Robert Barr Smith to Arthur Hardy. 11th June 1873. Small folio. [letter three] Knockdow Toward Point Argyllshire June 11. 1873 Dear Hardy I only got your kind letter of 20. April y’day and I have to reply to the whole Australian correspondence posting here at noon today so this must be short. I am extremely pleased with all you tell me. Your very good Spec’ as a wharf agency[?], your boys zeal in the work he has chosen – and Watts’ quarrel with Tomkinson1 – all matters for thankful acknowledgement and Gratulation If it be true that Judas and Pontius Pilate have really fallen out then we may expect that the end draweth nigh [page 2 on verso of page 1] So far as I am personally concerned I think you would find Elder2 prepared to act without reference to me, But in case of need if you thought it expedient to send me a telegram, and would take that trouble, I of course would be very pleased to bear the cost. S.Kapunda I have no doubt you and Elder will push this on better and faster than our poor friend Hart.3 Peace be with him I had grown to like him well and I fear the business will droop now he is gone. Joanna & I called for his sisters and were able to give them some pleasure by going. Miss Cissy Hart writes my wife a nice letter by last mail [page 3] This is a place with a moor I am supposed to be a Shooting man and skillful with dogs and Guns. I have been so accustomed all my life to pretend a knowledge which I do not possess, that my keeper has not the slightest notion I know nothing about either. I am however pretty sure to meet with a decided exposure on the 12th of August and I have been preparing my man for it by telling him my sight is failing me. I wish I could send you a brace of grouse – that is to say if I hit any. Pray God I may not bag my own dogs or the man. 1 Alfred Watts, Accountant, business man, Member of Parliament and Director of the Bank of Australasia had bought Mount Lofty House from Arthur Hardy in 1867. Samuel Tomkinson, Manager of the Bank of Australasia, Member of Parliament, had built Mangona (now St Barberie) down the hill and not far from Mount Lofty House. 2 Sir Thomas Elder (1818-97) was Robert Barr Smith’s partner in the firm Elder Smith & Co. 3 John Hart (1809-1873), Sea Captain and later businessman, Member of Parliament and three times Premier of South Australia. PRG101/2/51-100 Hardy family letters transcript Page 1 of 125 _____________________________________________________________________________________ I am going to Knock Castle 20 miles from here by water tomorrow to see Geo Elder’s [page 4 on verso of page 3] new Yacht launched. I take my boy Tom4 with me who has developed nautical tastes and says he wants to go to sea. We have had much of George & Jane since we came home in fact we have been constantly together and it has been a great pleasure . Both are looking marvellously well. I did not send you so many papers as I intended as the agent failed me the stupid fellow I will try & repair it next time Our united best love to Mrs Hardy & the young ladies and with every good wish to you all I am Yours vy truly R. Barr Smith 4 Tom Elder Barr Smith (1863-1941). PRG101/2/51-100 Hardy family letters transcript Page 2 of 125 _____________________________________________________________________________________ PRG 101_2_52 Letter from Robert Barr Smith to Arthur Hardy. 6th August 1873. 2 small folios [letter four] Knockdow August 6 . 1873 Dear Hardy I had yesterday the pleasure of your kind letter of 17th June written when you were on the wing for[?] Connatto, [? and I have also to thank you for your letter of 20th May which came too late for reply by last mail. Many thanks for the interesting information contained in both these welcome epistles. I am indeed much disappointed that we have been able so little to use the instructions you so kindly gave us – on the Continent we were always hurrying on to meet our children – whilst waiting so long for them in London we seemed [folio 1 page 2 on verso of page 1] to be able to do little except wait and when we found how troublesome a large family of small children is at a Hotel, we fled to the country with undue haste It seems fixed however that we shall go out next year – that being almost certain we have changed again our plan and now propose London instead of Edinburgh – In November therefore I hope to make some use of your letters Alas the one which I most valued is no longer wholly useful – but we shall follow your advice and post to Miss Helen Taylor5 and through some of your other friends, or somehow get to know her and have an opportunity of talking [page 3] about you all. We were much pleased to know that Herbert likes his work Tom Elder6 has written me to say how much he is improved I am glad Stokes has bought a piece of land on the Mount. I hope he means to build. He will be a great acquisition to your society – I always liked him – better than her. I did go to the Caves of Elephanta and I climed the ghaunts7 to 80 miles from Bombay. Many thanks for the hint about the Reform Club. No one tells us why Hughes had his nose pulled by Kingston It was not because he liked it was it ? I think the purchase of Poltallock not a bad one for the Bowmans . They want land well situated and in a [page 4 on verso of page 3] 5 Arthur Hardy’s niece, daughter of Harriet Taylor Mill. 6 Thomas Elder (1818-1897) Robert’s partner. 7 The Bhore Ghaut is about 80 kilometres south of Mumbai. PRG101/2/51-100 Hardy family letters transcript Page 3 of 125 _____________________________________________________________________________________ sufficient block to make it worth their while managing it Where can they get this else and again How can men like them invest money pleasantly to such an amount at only 5 or 6 p ct. It must be looked upon as an investment, after all tis less than 60/- for fine land in a beautiful locality You see of course that in these few last sentences I am skimming your notes to me Anything more of Watts’ quarrel with Tomkinson. It is really time that Watts was turning out as I shall want to add to the house and put the garden in order. I am willing to be patient and reasonable with him – but of course there is a limit to that kind of thing. [folio 2 page 5 ] I may tell you that I tried to buy Torrens Park from Hughes8 but he wont sell He offers a lease but I decline. We go to them to Kil Kerran on the 15th – and he has kindly promised to keep his moor unshot until I go I will therefore take this moor on the 12th & 13th and Kil Kerran on the 16th You see I am trying to be a sportsman but I feel I am going to make a fool of myself on the 12th I am too old to begin that kind of nonsense I shall convey your kind messages to George & Jane Elder9 George has been over repeatedly lately having procured a new racing yacht. I have [page 6 on verso of page 5] been with him some four or five times or oftener perhaps and on one occasion I was permitted to steer. I could get to like yachting and felt no inclination to forego my cigar [?]. You see it is all an animal life I am leading shooting yachting driving – the little intellect I had dying out of me – However in a fit of despair I seized our great friend Mill10 and once more tackled his “Political Economy” as a means of preventing my mind dwindling to nothing. I do too a little Magazine reading – and so on but I don’t think I am more a student than I was when I was busy – Now [page 7] this is truly deplorable You can tell Mrs Hardy that my wife says I am “not nearly so nice since I came to Scotland” We have had Mr Forster11 with us for a week – Old Cameron12 too who has returned from the interior of Africa looking blooming at […] – W R Swan my partner in Fowler’s bay These are all the So. austns. we have seen here. Mrs. […] and her family have come to be within 6 miles of us which is well for Joanna. The Hawkers have offered a visit end of this or beginning of next month and the Rev Canon Dove13 of Walkerville comes to me on the 18th. Blackcock 8 Sir Walter Watson Hughes (1803-1887), original owner of the Wallaroo copper mine. He later sold Torrens Park to Robert Barr Smith. 9 George Elder (1816- 97) was Thomas Elders older brother. 10 John Stuart Mill (1806-1873), famous British philosopher and economist, was Hardy’s brother in law.