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Australia
Extracts from the letters of William Dorling, emigrated to Australia 1848 (transcribed by Wendy Mason)
Mar 3 from Plymouth we sailed in the morning of 3rd March with Captain Young husband commander and Andrew Chalmer surgeon superindendent. With a good breeze from the south which took us 10 miles an hour and at half past 4 we lost sight of the fair hills of Great Britain which gave me great pleasure to think that I was on my journey towards Australia. Mar 7 This day we saw hundreds of paupesses some was quite out of the water. Mar 10 It is delightful to see the bright and cheering beams of the morning sun displaying in ten thousand different ways its reflections on the boundless ocean. We had another child born which makes our numbers 242 emigrants. Mar 11 We was on the coast of Madeira and this being your birthday we did not forget to keep it for we baked plum pudding and brother Clarke joined us in ti as he often do although he is in the steerage part of the ship we often have an hour or two together. Mar17 At night about 10 pm Caroline was moved to the hospital and at half past 11 the same night I had another member added to my family, but ah, what is it you will say, but I in answer say its another daughter. This is short work to have 3 under 3 years of age. Mar 19 We gathered together in the hospital with our doctor and christened our new ocean born babe (Mary Sophia) by the proposal of the captain who was once commander of a vessel of that name. Our doctor gave us a bottle of beautiful liquer to drink the good health of the child and likewise all present, the two godmothers Ann Morris from Keating (Berkshire) the other Mrs Chamberlain who was brought up at Melton near Ipswich. She was born on the line and live at Adelaide 8 years. Little Mary is a much finer child thanthe former two and the very image of her aunt Mar (Huttle Essex) Mar 21 was a bright morning indeed. They have now put a canvas up to shade our decks ... the summer of 1846 was nothing compared with the equator. Apr 6 At midnight the ocean swell with tremendous commotions, the ponderous waves are now heaved from their capacious beds, they are flying into the most rapid agitation, they toss themselves in the vast abyss, now we climb the rolling mountain and plough the frightful ridge... we lost one of our gibb sails in the night but no other damage. Apr 9 We had divine service on the deck as usual, we had praying, singing, and reading the holy script ... at half past 8 we got our three children to bed and then I and my wife went on deck to get the sweet air and take a view of the wide and extensive Elemant it looks like thousands of sparkling dian=monds now the moon shows her silvery whiteness in and on the vast abyss. May 22 This being my birthday I have now completed my 27th yewar. We had baked plum pudding for dinner. Jun 8 ...this is the day that John Battram landed in America, we thought and talked about him ... a melancholy scene took place at 11 am which was the burial of a child at the age of 14 days ... the remains of the dear infant was committed to the mighty deep. I saw him plunge into the opening gulf. Jun 10 only 70 miles from Adelaide. Jun 15 We entered the river which is 16 miles from port, the scenery was now delightful and at Adelaide a 104 days from Plymouth.
In Australia After our arrival we had the commissioners come on board to inspect the ship and to call over the names of the emigrants to see that all was present that was registered and they gave it to be the healthiest ship that had been in port. We had full liberty to engage to who we thought proper according to regulation. And we had 14 days allowed us to live on board but they was all gone in luittle less that a week... John Chamberlain came on board his wife who was godmother to our ocean born daughter and he gave e half a crown and the ? to brother Clarke. And his wife kindly invited us to go and see them, they will send their servant with a horse and gig to drive us to their dwelling ... she behave like a mother to me and my wife and family throughout the voyage... ...about 11/2 miles N.W. of the town I hired a little red bricked cottage which os abour 100 yards from where I work. My master who I am now at work for sent his horse and dray down to Port Adelaide for my baggage and family free of expense to his house where we met with good reception. They had good food of roast beef prepared for our suppers and then we went home. My master's name is William Pike who has been here 9 years. He is a brother of the Manchester Unity and behaves as such to me. I am making bricks for him at 9s per 1000, to make them only which I think is much better than in the cold summer of 1845 in England...and brothers I trust you will not neglect to bring your card of clearance when you come. But do not come till Feb or Mar then you will arrive here in winter as I did and perhaps without sickness. But we can earn double in winter what you can in summer. Although it is winter the trees are all on the leaf. On July 17th Mrs Thompson and family arrived in good health, her son George Driver found me at work. I was somewhat surprised at first but was happy to see him in a country where labour is sure of its reward ... I wrote to Harvey as soon as I got to work and I did not receive an answer till Aug 1st ... but kindly invited me to go and spent a few days with him, and so I shall as soon as I can. He and his wife and 2 children are quite well, also Howlett his wife and family... Brickmaking is first rate as you see by my wages, blacksmiths get per day (7) carpenters 6 per day labourers 5 per day Shoemakers get on first rate - give our kind respects and thanks to Mr and Mrs Pridden and we intend to learn all that we possibly can about this country and forward it to your notice. My respects to Susan Hart (the cook) my respects to G Wellham and wife and tell him we a re getting on well .. now my dearest fathers and mothers brothers and sisters I must bid farewell with our kind love to all with a kiss from each of our children to all of you, we are still affectionately son and daughter W and C Dorling.
Australia December 21st 1848 The Lingest Day 14 hours. Unto Fathers Mothers Brothers Sisters We feel our love to flow although we are separated by many thousands of miles yet you are seldom or ever absent from my thoughts and it is my duty to inform you of our health and prosperityin the land of our adoption... .. our health has been quite good. Buyt through good living a little better than in England and should be most happy to see you on this side of the globe where labour is sure of its reward and where you might as we do have the very best of living and feel that liberty and independence that cannot be at the present time enjoyed by the poor labourer in the mother country - but a time there was ere England's grief began when every rood of ground maintained its man - for him light labout shread her (ample?) store just have what life required but gave no more his best companions innocence and health - and his best riches ignorance of wealth But times are altered trades unfeeling train (usurp?) the land and dispossess the swain - along the lawn where scattered hamlets rose - unwieldy wealth and cumbrious pomp repose - and every want to luxury ally O and every pang that folly pays to pride those gentle hours that plenty paid to bloom those calm desires that ask but little room those healthfull sports that graced the peaceful scene lived in each look and brightened all the green these far departing seek a kinder shore and rural mirth and manners are no more and trembling shrinking from our parents hand far far away thy children save the land ...and as respecting sea sickness it did not hurt me so much as land sickness had done previous to me leaving England - but we had some on board that suffered dreadfully the whole voyage. ... although we arrived here in winter the country had a most beautiful appearnace for all the trees had their green leaves all winter the different trees and shrubs are all evergreens and shed their bark instead of ther leaves every year. here the red gum tree is very hard wood I have seen a tree of this sort near Adelaide.. there is also a blue gum and a white gum ...- these a re the trees you have read about where the natives climb for wild honey and the oposum this is a small animal little bigger than an English squirrel. here is many brick moulds made with red gum ... but I like beech better on account of it not being so heavy...should any of you come to this country I should like you to bring as many brick moulds as you can but mind they are made of beech and all the iron screwing on a brick mould here cost 9s and in England 5 - and bring plenty of seed with you such as cabbage seed of various sorts - here we have the stringy bark tree which runs straight and lofty and not a branch on the body for 60 foot then it hasd a few limbs to form the top which is 100 foot ... this wood is used for building and fencing and is also split for covering in houses which is commonly called shingles they are split about 10 inches wide and 5 feet long and 3-8 inches thick.. ... on the 11 September last my master (Wm Pike) prepared a dinner for all that worked for him which amounted to 10 men and one boy This was his wedding day 22 years since this is something different to the brick trade on the north side of Culford Park - as I have a good memory. I thought about Sam's birthday on the 10th of Sept and drink his good health wishing him all the good things he stand in need of which I think are many - and if you wish to obtain 9s per 1000 for making bricks apply to the emigration agent in London with courage and a good cheek you will find yourselfs at Port Adelaide (do let it be)... ... on 4th November I started for Mount Barker township... here are valleys that are scattered over with here and there a tree or shrub which exceeds in beauty half the gentlemen's parks in England ... - about two miles before I came to Macclesfield I stop at a small viallage (W gate) with a man who came from Clare in 1840 Suffolk - he told me he had a wife and 9 children and the amount of capital that he and his family had on arrival was 1s -6d and now he has got two secytions of land a section is 80 acres he has two houses and a splendid crop of wheat all his own (is this not an independent man) so I bid him good morning and pressed on for Macclesfield and arrived safe at 12 o'clock morn. I made enquiries for David Harvey and William Howlett and I found Harvey had moved 6 miles further to Strathalbyn and Willm Howlett had gone this day to visit him. But I found their dwelling house and had dinner with Howletts wife. The first thing I had give to me at Macclesfield was a glass of wine and the last thing my dinner... as soon as the rain was over I started for Strathbyn... I could see two men ... respectfully drest pacing slowly as if for pleasure down this natural park I fancied it might perhaps be Harvey coming a short distance with Howlett and so I found it to be and as I drew near to them I began to think I was mistaken at last I met them and asked them if they could tell me the where D harvey lived yes he answered - AH - WHAT - is this a Dorling - it is so I replied and this proved to be two of my fellow countrymen - you cannot conceive the pleasure we had for about an hour and quarter in this pritty valley - chief of or conversation was about old England and the friends we had left behind wishing them all to enjoy as good health as we do at last we bid farewell to Wm Howlett then DH and I went to his new home ... he took a good section of land the 25th March 1948 and has built a house and ploughed 5 50 acres and has got a good crop of wheat and barley and an abundance of wood for fencing and the fire - all it costs him is the trouble to cut and cart it he has got 9 cows 5 calfs 8 bullocks for work and 5 pigs hens and chickens in abundance. He has formed a first rate garden and has grapes figs peach apricots nectarines mulberry trees all growing in the natural soil. He has currants gooseberries of different sorts and every variety of fruit and vegetables.. I stood at his front door and see the bank of the river murray 32 miles distant I also see that great lake victoria. ...we had very little time to sleep that night he sends his kindest love to his beloved mother and to all his friends at Ampton or elsewhere. D.H. sends his respects to brother Samuel and he say he should like to have a tune with Samuel on the pleasant woods of South Australia it would echoe through the valleys... ... but you will say how did you like the blacks on arrival and the first I see came on board to us as soon as we got into the port he was an old man and almost naked and through age his hair had turned wuite light with a large flat nose he came down for buscuit of bikity as they call it (you be my brother you be very good - we asked him how old he was but he knew nothing about years he said me plenty moons plenty moons. they call the women loubra - one day I had two black fellows come to my door and at looking at them I could see one was blind so I say to him how long have you been blind long while age him blind when Pickininny born But my paper will not allow me to pen much more for your perusal - but I trust the reader of these few unpolished lines will have as much pleasure in reading them as the writer had in writing them - but when the first white man came on shore the Blacks was surprised because he was riding a horse they thought they thought the horse and man was all one at last they see the white man get off the horse and when he dismounted th Blacks runned in all directions some plunged into the water and some climbed the trees to hide others runned into the bush and all of then naked (this is the beginning of the colony) But government gave them blankets and other clothing to wear and what active people they are - give my kindest respects to all who enquire after me and accept our kindest love to you all your absenyt Son and Daughter W.C. Dorling. Please answer with as much news as possible. |
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email: karen@dorl.freeserve.co.uk for more information |