Journal 8

Date: 12 Jun 1870
Location: [unknown]

Journals Index
J.H. Watmuff Profile
Prologue
1 1856-05-01 (Bendigo, Dunolly, Sandy Creek (Tarnagulla), Loddon , (Mt. Hope Hoax), Ararat, Chinamans Flat, Moonlight Flat, Mt William (trek with Aboriginal guide), Pleasant Creek (Stawell), Melbourne).
2 Bendigo Melbourne 1862 Otago N.Z. (1859-07-17)
3 Otago (1862-09-11)
4 Otago (1863-07-26) to Melbourne 1865
5 Melbourne 1865-11-12
6 Melbourne 1866-03-04
7 Melbourne 1869-03-28
8 Melbourne 1870-06-12 to April 1876
9 Melbourne 1876-06 to 1880-09-07
10 Dribs & Drabs 1881-02-16 to 1882-06
11 Sydney & Misc. 1884
12 Lusitania Voyage 1887-05-27
13 Lusitania Voyage 1887-05-30
14 Lusitania Voyage 1887-06-26
15 Lusitania Voyage 1887-07-01
16 and 17 England, letters and Journal 1887-07-14
18 Garonne return Voyage 1887-09-27
19 Resignations 1888-05-28 to 1892 Nov.
See Bert Watmuff's letters about the family
20 (Journal 19) Mildura 1893-05-06
21 Genealogies from 1738 to 1889
22 New Zealand Essays
J.H. & Bessie Watmuff's Photos
Olive Watmuff's Photos

Journal 8

Melbourne 1870
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Journal

Continued from June 5th.1870 (Melbourne)
June 12th.1870

Weather fearfully wretched nothing but rain & as a usual consequence dirty muddy streets. Nothing fresh to record - English mail arrived of the 6th inst three days before contract time - I was disappointed at not receiving news from my father or Uncle Joe I fully expected a letter from the latter I fancy he must have taken offence at some remark I made in a letter I sent him 6 months ago, if so I cannot help it now, its hard work to propitiate old folks especially when not thoroughly acquainted with them, but at the best of times rich relations are rotten sticks to depend upon - Monday evening Liz & I took a walk together. Tuesday I spent at Clarks, Wednesday in company with Hamilton I called for Liz & we took a strool together - Thursday evening Mother having gone to Clarks I went to bring her home found George & Bessie & the Miss Clarks there spent the evening very pleasently Friday evening I met Liz, coming on to rain we did not enjoy each others company very long poor girl she is looking very anxious & thin I shall not be

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sorry when we are married. Saturday afternoon I took a long ramble about Et Melb’ & Richmond looking out for a cottage. In the evening I called for Liz & we took our usual ramble. This afternoon we did ditto & in the evening we both went to hear Mr Henderson preach his promised sermon to "men" he took for his subject the conversion of Paul & it was one of the most eloquent & interesting discourses I ever heard him deliver

June 19th.1870
Weather very cold & wet & no appearance of it changing Nothing fresh to relate. Monday & Tuesday evenings I spent with my intended. Wednesday evening I went to Hamiltons found my sisters & their husbands there & several others, all seemed to enjoy themselves but Hamilton & on my asking him as to the cause, he informed me to my sorrow that he had that day received notice from his employers that owing to business being dull they would not require his services any longer I am very very sorry for he is just getting comfortably settled & employment is hard to obtain at present in Melbourne, Jim is a very pushing energetic fellow & I have little fear of his coming to grief but it is in the meantime that he

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will suffer, he has a large family & likely to increase - Thursday night I met Liz left her about 9 Pm & then wended my way to the Dewars to bring my mother home who had been spending the day with Mrs. D. On our way home we had some words of not a pleasent nature over my approaching marriage, I must hope she will look upon my future plans more favourably - so what with one thing and another I am pretty well harrassed and bothered Friday evening I spent at Clarks a number of people were there, - amongst them Hamilton I accompanied him part of the way home nearly one before I got to bed. Saturday afternoon spent at home doing several little jobs about the house. This morning I went to Church, came on to rain very heavily in the afternoon & evening -

June 26th.1870
Weather still continues unsettled I think without exception this has been the wettest season I ever experienced in Victoria. Monday & Tuesday evenings I spent with Lizzie, Wednesday I went to see my sister Mary found her just leaving home to spend the evening at Spinks, on leaving her I

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went to the New Town Hall where a number of musical people had assembled to form a large chorus to sing at the three grand concerts that are to be given at the opening of the Hall the expenses of which is to be defrayed by the Mayor Mr Amess The best talent in the colonies is to be engaged for the occasion the first Rehearsal was a portion of the “Stabat Mater” & miscellaneous pieces finishing up with the Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah. I met George Clark & Miss Francis there & walked home with them Thursday I met Hamilton who informed me that his wife had gone to Tasmania for a visit which was arranged for before he lost his billet, he let her go without informing her of his misfortune, afraid lest her pleasure would be marred by the knowledge of it - Thursday & Friday I spent with Liz she is working hard making preperations for the coming event I am getting together what I possibly can. Saturday afternoon I spent at Hamiltons scrubbing and painting a four post bedstead he made me a present of. Sunday I spent as usual - at Church in the morning, with Liz in the afternoon & evening. My leisure time I have spent during the week house hunting I want to get

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a cottage in Emerald Hill if possible. I have been to see several that are to let, but none *will suit me, the neighbourhood is either bad, or else the house is not suitable or else the rent is too high

July 3th.1870
Weather truly wretched, nothing but rain & wind producing a total stagnation in the way of business everybody complaining particularly those in business We cannot complain, as there is at present a large number of foreign vessels discharging at our pier with large cargoes. Monday & Tuesday evenings I spent with my darling Lizzie Wednesday evening I remained at home. Mrs. Room (from Launceston) & her two sons & my sister Mary came to tea & Clark & Bond came afterwards & we spent a most agreeable evening together Mrs R. is an exceedingly nice woman & one we all take a great liking for Thursday evening I saw Liz & we went about seeing houses to let, couldnt find anything to suit us, Friday being 1st.July & Seperation Day was observed as a general holiday by the Govt. & principal business firms. I went to the office for an hour or so in the morning, came home & passed the time between the showers in doing odd

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jobs about the house & gardening for Mother after tea I went to see Liz spent a couple of hours with her & then came home. I received a letter from my cousin Harry Vickerman, congratulating me upon my approaching marriage & giving me some good advice, he knowing I had been unfortunate lately in connection with mining & knowing I was hard pressed for money sent me £5 to be repaid at my convenience, very kind of him - he informs me that his sister Mary Ann who is living in St Australia & is a widow is to be married to a young man named Finnis a son of Colonal Finnis well known in Adelaide, I believe an old school fellow of Harry's Saturday afternoon I went to see a house that was to let in Park St. E.H. that I thought would suit, but in the evening Liz went to see it it did not meet with her approval so I did not take it am not sorry for we dont want it for 3 weeks or so

Sunday morning I took a long strool to the Hill & about Carlton house hunting could find nothing to suit myself & means. In the afternoon Liz & I took a strool together & in the evening we went to hear Mr Henderson -

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July 10th.1870
Beginning of the week the weather was truly wretched but towards the end Nature put on her holiday garb & was really bright & blooming The English Mail arrived on the 7th.inst, without bringing us any family news, not so much as a newspaper, (The mail brought the news of the death of the great novelist Charles Dickens) my mother is very much annoyed at my fathers reticence I really dont know what to suggest her doing on my leaving home, I think she ought to go home to my father. Fred wrote to him last mail insisting upon him allowing her the half of his annuity at least - Monday & Tuesday I spent with Liz Wednesday evening I went to the Rehearsal at the Town Hall & after it was over I received an Orchestra ticket for the 3 Concerts that are to be given which will take place sometime in August at the conclusion of the practice I met Miss Hoskins & saw her to the station. Thursday evening I spent with Liz, got home early as my couzin Harry was staying at mothers, having arrived that day from the country where his school is situated in purpose to undergo an examination for a

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certificated teacher at the “Board of Education” office I sincerely hope he will pass it will be some time before he knows whether he has been successful or not. Henry Edelman is also down from his school at Andersons Creek on the same errand as my couzin. Friday evening Harry & I went to the School Room of the Indpt Church Collins St where a tea meeting was being given by the Young Mens Mutual Inpt. Society in connection with the Indpt Church, where I left him, on doing so I found my way to Clarks, being my sister Marys 26th Birth day several people had dropped in & we managed to spend a very agreeable evening together I left about 11 pm in company with Miss Clark & Miss Moore who I saw home to Carlton, Saturday afternoon I went to town & made several purchases after tea I met Liz & we took a strool together parted at about 10 pm. Sunday morning I spent reading In the afternoon I spent with Lizzie after taking a short walk together we called at her Brother in Laws, Lustys’ where we staid tea it was the first time I had been invited by any of Lizzies relatives. Lizzies sister tried to make herself agreeable, her husband, I dont much care

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care about he seems a rather conceited quaker educated person whose whole soul seems wrapped up in a chapel or a congregation he belongs to whose advancement or his own in connection with the said chapel appears to be his whole object in life judging from what I saw of him I should set him down as a bit of a cant, two subjects appear to be ever uppermost in his thoughts, his chapel & homopathy, his wife is a different person altogether from Liz possessing not half of her natural refinement either mentally or physically, she has two children, after tea I accompanied Lusty as far as Albert St Chapel where we parted, I going to Henderson at the conclusion of the service I called for Lizzie & saw her home, on arriving home I found Fred very ill from a severe faceache. Miss Thwaites his intended, was with him. I saw her home –

July 17th.1870
Great improvement in the weather, had several fine days for a change. I have spent my lunch hour house hunting in the neighbourhood of Richmond & Emerald Hill, my object in doing so as to allow my going time to dinner in the middle of the day could find nothing to suit either the

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rent was too high or the locality objectionable - In the evenings Lizzie would accompany me to see the houses that I had noticed to let during the daytime, & so the time has passed. Saturday afternoon I spent scouring Carlton as a last resource I dont like the suburb but I must find some place within the next week or so Thursday evening I went to a rehearsal of Horsleys "Euterpe" an ode by Kendall & set to music by the former to be sang on the occasion of the opening of the New Town Hall in August some of the choruses are very good & appear to be original, but I fear they are too difficult to render effectively by the large mixed crowd of choristers who have enrolled themselves as choristers - Sunday morning I staid at home reading being too wet to go abroad, In the afternoon I went to the funeral of Mrs. Knightly the wife of a fellow clerk of mine they had only been married about 18 *months she was highly respected by all who knew her & a great number turned up to pay the last sad token of respect to her memory. I think I never saw such a downfall of rain, I was drenched to the skin before arriving at the cemetery & when there

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we had to stand ankle deep in water - it cleared up in the evening when I called for Liz in whose company I spent a couple of hours -

July 24th 1870
Weather very unsettled, been busy house hunting could not succeed in getting a house where I worked so was obliged to take one in Carlton, 6 Palmerston St about two minutes walk from my mothers in Fitzroy I am to pay 14/- pr week for it. Liz & I have been getting everything ready & making preperations to enter our new house - Wednesday night I spent at Hamiltons. Mrs H is still in Tasmania, Jim is very low spirited having been unable to procure remunerative employment. I am exceedingly sorry for him & wish it was in power to assist him Lady McCulloch, who is under some kind of obligation to Jim, had called during the day but he unfortunately was out, but thinking that she *thru her husband, who has been "Chief Secretary" for many years, could put something in his way we put our heads together & concocted a neat letter which he intends sending her, hoping to obtain her interest in procuring him a situation in some

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of the Govt. offices. Saturday afternoon I went to Knightleys for some things I purchased from him I am afraid he has charged me too much for them, but he has given me 6 months credit I must not complain - On leaving him I went to Buckley & Nunn & purchased a carpet for my parlor. In the evening Liz & I took a long strool together - This morning I went to hear Mr Henderson, he has commenced a series of sermons on the early history of the Jews, his subject on this occasion being the call of Abraham in which he presented the circumstances of the case in a much different light than that what it is usually taken at - afternoon & evening I spent with Liz.

July 31 1870
Weather very cold, wet & unhealthy, everybody suffering from coughs & colds, not being exempt myself - Monday evening Liz & I went out together making purchases for our house. Tuesday evening I got my parlor carpet down & most of the things in the house. Wednesday spent putting up blinds Etc & fixing things - got quite dismayed at finding

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the number of things, necessary ones I still require & have no means of acquiring - Thursday spent the evening similarly to the proceeding ones, Friday I left the office early & after making some purchases I managed to get my piano removed from my mothers house to my own – I had an awful job to get it in as the instrument was so heavy, I did not think it safe to leave the house with all the things in it, so I slept here for the first time alone next day Saturday I did not arise until 9 am did not go to the office, after breakfast I walked over to Emerald Hill to see Hamilton after dining with him I returned to my cottage & found Lizzie busy at work getting things in order - In the afternoon, the friends invited, came the company consisting of my brother Fred, Hamilton, Mr & Mrs. Lusty, Miss Finn & W.Lusty & Lizzies cousin George & Emma, Stone, the Revd A.M. Henderson & his coadjutor Mr Bailey came about 4 pm Mr Henderson at once proceeded to officiate & soon made Lizzie Stone Mrs. J.H.Watmuff - I felt when the ceremony was over that I had got an awful load off my mind which considering the circumstances we were placed in should not be a matter of surprise - I feel quite prepared to accept the

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whatever responsibility my change may bring, further more especially that I have been led to see my wifes character in a much more favourable light than I formerly did, I had no idea of the power & depth of feeling she possesses under what to an ordinary observer would appear a rather cold exterior. God grant our union may be a happy one & be productive of much good to each other, is my earnest prayer. After the Revd gentleman had left the rest of the compy remained for tea after which they took their departure Sunday the 31st.being very wet we never left home. Clark called in the afternoon & spent a couple of hours with us discussing family matters Etc. Etc -

[Sunday, 7 August 1870] August 6th 1870
Weather wet & cold, married a week, everything very pleasent, so far no two people could be more happy, Lizzie doing everything in her power to make our house comfortable & pleasent - I must admit having misjudged & misunderstood her character in many respects before & I regret most exceedingly the many unkind thoughts that I have entertained toward her previous to our union. I think the

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trouble & anxiety she has endured lately has done much toward softening & toning down her general character. We have been very quiet not having had any visitors, nor are we anxious to cultivate the acquaintance of many - On Tuesday evening I went to a rehearsal of “Horsleys” Euterpe a work expressly composed for the occasion of opening the Town Hall with, the subject is the relation that music has to life in its varied phrases. Saturday afternoon I went to a full rehearsal held for the first time in the principal Hall of the Building, which is an immense site, one of the largest in the world, it will seat 3000 people being large & well proportioned & nicely decorated, I dont think the accoustic proportion of the Hall is much to boast of, tho’ many are going into raptures with it, to my mind it is a large enclosed place with little architectural merit to boast of -

Sunday morning, I went to church to hear Mr Henderson In the afternoon Mr Stone called, & Liz & I accompanied him for a walk through the Carlton Gardens, after which we went home with him & had tea at his house, left at 6 pm & Liz & I went to Church together on our way home after the service we called at my mothers

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& remained with her until 10.30, fancied she was rather stiff toward us, didnt seem at all amicable The English Mail arrived on Friday bringing me a letter from Uncle Joseph something after the style of his previous ones, he informs me that he has left the sum of £5,000 to various charities & that he has left his share of Tofft Farm to Fred & I & that since making his Will Four years ago he has saved over £2000, he is a careful cautious man & I have no doubt he has left us more than what he has stated - I heard sometime since that he had settled £5000 on his wife in case she should survive him. I wish to goodness he would open his heart & his purse strings, at the same time, & send me a trifle out of his wealth just now, it would relieve me from a considerable anxiety he appears to be very embittered against my father & does not write in the most complimentary terms of him, he also informs me that John Tom has forfeited his interest in the annuity his father left him through his relatives taking the benefit of the “Statute of Limitations Act” which means in his case that the next of kin can claim

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any property that has been unclaimed for Six years - whereas J.T. was something fourteen years unheard of. Aunt Sarah wrote to mother & enclosed in her letter was a Draft for £20 which She desires to be forwarded to her Bro' John Tom as interest of the portion she holds of his principal, rather a contradiction to Uncle Joes account, however next Mail may bring a letter from father when I have no doubt he will throw some light upon the subject

[1870-08-21-Sunday] August 22 1870
A fortnight since I last continued my journal & from this forth I purpose, if I dont think differently in the meantime, to discontinue a regular relation of circumstances as hitherto simply confine myself to note down anything out of the common that may occur in our family Etc in a few brief notes for purpose of reference - I have spent *staying since my last entry, at home with two exceptions, the first being on the occasion of the Concert given at the opening of the New Town Hall when I sang in the choruses, the members of the Italian Opera Troupe sang on the occasion & altogether it was without exception the grandest concert ever

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given in the Colony, the building holds upwards of 4000 people all of whom were admitted by ticket at the invitation of the Mayor Mr Amess at whose expense the affair was given as well as a grand Fancy Ball, on another evening, in the same building - Clark visits me occasionally but my sisters still keep aloof - my mother has not been well lately & it is generally assumed that my marriage has been the cause of her being so upset, they dont know my wife that is my relations, & they seem determined to make no ventures towards becoming acquainted, however time works wonders, but to show the bad feeling that exists a little fact came under my notice which annoyed me awfully. My mother wrote to Aunt Hartley (her sister) & entrusted me with the letter to post by accident the letter dropped out of my breast coat pocket & fell in the mud & the a/d being defaced I tore of the envelope to enclose in another, I glansed over the letter (not thinking there was any harm as there has never been any secrets in our family in fact have always read our letters to each other,) & was surprised to find that the contents displayed an amount of spleen & ill-feeling

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on her part towards myself & wife that I could not credit to have existed. I looked in vain over the letter to discover one kindly word or wish in my favour & considering what I have done for my mother I looked upon her writing in such a spirit as very unkind & ungrateful. I wrote a long letter to my Uncle Joseph on the 12th.

[1870-09-11-Sunday] Sept 10th 1870 Jogging along pretty comfortably, sorry to note my wife is not very well, seems to be in a low weak state - relatives still keep aloof – Clark visits us occasionally & so does Hamilton, the latter is still out of employment I spent an evening with him last week Mrs H & family all well, bear their misfortunes very philosophically I hope to goodness something will turn up for their benefit shortly - I have visited my mother pretty often, but its no pleasure doing so, she is so full of trouble & complaints, one would think no one had any beside herself, English Mail arrived fortnight ago no news from any relatives, but rather startling news of a political character War between France & Prussia declared on the 17th.July hostilities had commenced & France had

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got the worst of it so far, the cause of the quarrel being the desire to place a prince of the house Hohenzollern on the Savant throne of Spain, to which France objects, but the real cause is in reference to the possession of the Rhinish provinces by France. The general opinion appears to be that Napoleon is on his last legs, & has forced on this war to divert public attention this movement makes or breaks the Napolionic dynasty, rather a risky game to play. I feel assured from what I have read & heard about the two powers that France will regret the step she has taken. I see the other European powers have decided to remain neutral. Our colonial rulers are at present sitting in solemn conclave to consider the best means of putting ourselves in a sound defensive form in case the war spreads to our shores, nothing is talked about but War! War! it is assented that the Volunteer force is to be done away & every man between the age of 18 & 40 to be enrolled as militrimen. Business is very slack all over the colony, very dull at the office, nothing doing, English Mail left here to day. I wrote to Messrs Goodwin & Brown, Finsbury Place, London, the Solicitors

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conducting the Chancery suit of Uncle Henrys that we are so deeply interested in. I simply requested them to inform me whether there was any probability of there being a residue from the estate. I am sadly afraid the Law expenses will swallow up the whole of the amount

[Sunday, 2 October 1870] Octr 1st.1870 Weather been miserable making everything in the way of business very dull in fact such dull times have not been experienced for many years. English Mail arrived in due time War news of the most startling description, the French through a series of blunders, inefficient general- -ship corruption in the Commissions Dpt. Etc Etc less numbers have been beaten at every point by the Prussians the climax was at length reached at Sedan where McMahan & the Emperor Napoleon with 90,000 soldiers surrendered to the Germans after a frightful slaughter, & so ends the Empire that a few months ago was considered the most formidable power in the world. France is now a head & in a terribly disorganized state, nothing but cries of Vive le Republic to be heard & a probability of France becoming as it was in the days of Robespiere & crew

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at the end of the last century, Paris is declared in a state of seige, with the enemy advancing upon the city, it is enough to take one's breath away to hear of such extraordinary events ocurring so rapidly upon each other in such a short space of time. My dear wife is not well, confined to her bed, my mother has been to see her several times but my sisters still keep aloof perhaps time in time may soften down whatever ill feeling exists I sincerely hope so - my sister Mary is far from well I saw her a day or two ago & she looked very bad, its her kidneys that are affected with what is known as “Brights Disease” supposed to be incurable.

Novr 1st.1870
A month since I wrote, getting on as pleasently as can be expected, my wife very much better in health, scarcely a day passing without my discovering a new trait in her, its another which enhances her worth in my eyes, we live very much to ourselves seldom visit or receive any visitors, rarely in fact leave our home without it is for a walk together My sister Mary has been very ill the last fortnight had a miscarriage & for a while her life was dispaired.

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The doctor recommends change of air for her which she intends trying as soon as she is strong enough to bear a journey to Tasmania. I called to see [her] the other day, met Bessie there we were very cool to each other I had not seen her for a considerable time fully three months ago, Mother received a letter from father last mail contained a little money, he hinted at the idea of coming out & seemed to be doubtful as to the reception he would receive, for my part I think mother & him should let by gones be by gones & endeavour to make an effort to end their days together, father has a settled income of about £50 pr year & with what he could earn they ought to be able to live I have done my best & shall use every effort on my part to bring about a union if possible - The war news is more fearful than ever, Paris is in a state of seige, large armies continue to be formed by the French only to be beaten & nearly anhilated by the Prussians & their awful "needle guns" ! Was ever a country so truly humiliated in such a short space of time, their great general reported to be dead (McMahon) Napoleon a prisoner & his family fled their country, when one remembers the account published of the plebiscite taken in France on the 21st.May

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last when 7,000,000 votes were given in favour of the Empire & presented to Napoleon in the “Louve” when surrounded by all the nobility of elite of France, how vain appears all mans power & ambitions, which prompts them to make war with all its abundant horrors, seems strange that in a civilized age like this is supposed to [be] that mankind will *reaet [repeat] the scenes & butcheries of barbarous ages, God grant that this war, which lacks at present though all the modern appliances used for the destruction of our fellow creatures will open mens eyes to the evil caused by mans ambition & folly & that it may soon *terminate & I sincerely hope that England will not be dragged out of her neutrality. We have many crokers who thinks Englands prestige has gone & even in this country there are plenty desirous & are actually advocating our cutting our connexsion with the parent state so as to free ourselves from any participation in Englands glory or downfall the latter they are craven enough to dread - The weather has been very unsettled, being the wettest winter ever experienced in Victoria 30 inches of rain having fallen already, very slack at the office ships arriving going to the Govt. pier for the sake of the Wool which is now rapidly coming from the country.

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Decr 31 1870
Two months since I made an entry in my journal & I find it very painful to continue considering the painful position I have been placed in since I last wrote. My wife took seriously ill with Billious Fever Seven weeks ago & has been confined to her bed ever since, always complaining of pains in her stomach & general weakness, became very thin & weak & unable to eat. Dr Hewlett has been in constant attendance upon her but I am not at all satisfied with his mode of treatment, I have had a fearful time of it, night after night, I have hardly slept a wink being driven to distraction at times, by the wildness of her manner & continual “lightheadedness” she appears to be more reasonable this week & has been able to get out of bed for a few hours during the day. There was one fortnight I dont think she tasted ½ lb of food – but was kept alive by small doses of Champagne, could keep nothing in her stomach, what with one thing and another, Doctors fees having to keep a nurse & a girl my expenses have galloped a long way past my means & it will be a long time before we get straight, for that I care not

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provided my dear wife recovers her health and strength I am happy to state that her mother & father have relented & have visited us many times & have been very kind - & also my wifes sister Mrs. Carpenter, the latter coming nearly every day to do what she could - My sister Mary went to Tasmania six weeks ago for the benefit of her health, but I fear, judging from the tone of her letters that the change has not been productive of much good, I feel very anxious concerning her. I was annoyed on the arrival of the English Mail by receiving a short note from my Uncle Joseph, accusing me of being a fool for writing to my Uncle John Tom as I have been in the habit of doing. The cause of his writing to me in such a spirit arises from the fact of John Tom having written to his Bros Joe & enclosing in his letter, one of mine, In which I alluded to his affair of the unpleasent relationship that exists between them. Uncle Joe infers from my letter that we must be must be great friends & that I am playing a double game Etc, a most absurd idea! - I have not heard from J. T for a considerale time, but if I have occasion to

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write to him again I shall give it him pretty plainly for taking advantage of what friendly feeling I may have expressed, in using it as a means to undermine me in the opinion of Uncle Joseph. I am heartily sick of writing to one & another of them, there are three, that is my father, Uncle Joe, & Aunt Sarah & each has different views on the subject of J. T. affairs & I am unfortunately the medium of each, an awkward position to be placed in, however I intend to be more cautious in my correspondence for the future - I wrote to my Uncle Joe by the mail that has just left, in which I have explained or endeavoured to show him how illfounded, are his suspicious respecting my connection with John Tom - The same Mail brought a letter to my Bro Fred from Uncle Joe in which he alludes to the above subject by expressing regret at my being so friendly to J.Tom & yet describing his character in such an unfavourable light, however he smooths all down by informing Fred that he intends acting very liberally to us by sending us £25 each, it will be very acceptable to us when it comes, especially as

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I am at present situated it will go towards liquidating the heavy debt I have contracted lately.

March 22 1871
Still living in Carlton, several weeks since I last continued my entries. I had delayd writing until I thought I should have had something pleasent to write about but alas! I am grieved to state my sorrows have increased & multiplied since then, my cause for grief being the death of my dear darling sister Mary (Mrs J.J.Clark) my sister had long suffered from “Brights Disease of the Kidneys” which is generally considered, incurable, she was recommended change of air & went to Tasmania where she remained in Hobarton nearly 3 months – but not feeling any better she resolved upon returning home, she left Hobarton by coach for Launceston, but on the road she was taken very ill at a place called Green Ponds where she remained a few days, feeling a little better she succeeded in reaching Launceston

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where she was kindly received by Mrs. Room who treated her most hospitably & affectionately & who tried to prevail upon her remaining with them until she was better able to continue her journey home, but nothing would stop her, she felt she was dying & was determined to die at home, fortunately she had a pleasent passage over, we were greatly shocked on seeing her she was so altered for the worse. Dr Tracey was consulted concerning her & a different course of treatment was prescribed under which she appeared to rally for a few days, but it was too late, her system was so weakened by disease & the physic she took was too powerful in its action that it tended to accelerate her death, for bleeding at the mouth set in, which gradually increesed to a day or two of her death when it flowed in a continuous stream, it was a shocking sight to witness, she could not speak her mouth was so sore, if she tried the blood used to choke her, I dont think she suffered much pain, her husband was ever at her side & with my mother paid her the most unremitting attention, We were all present

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at her last hour. I was the only one absent at her last breath. Her death has been a great shock to us all, for she was so endeared to us by her many virtues & good qualities she was a good true wife & mother, & I always found her a kind & sympathising sister, a loving dutiful & affectionate daughter. God grant her future will be free from pain & sorrow and may he who knows all hearts forgive her sins, for to human eyes she had very few, what reconciles us more to her death was the fact of the doctors agreeing that even if she had lived & rallied she never would have thoroughly recovered & under the most favourable circumstances would remain an invalid. She died on Sunday the 12th.March at 8.30 p.m. and was buried in the general Cemetery on the 14th. the funeral service being performed by the Revd A.M Henderson, the funeral was attended by a large circle of friends and acquaintances My wife, though very ill managed to go and see my sister Mary the night before she died it was their first & last meeting, & better had it never been my sister was unconscious & my wife on entering the room & seeing the blood oozing from

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her mouth caused her to faint away & it was a long time before we could get her round. The shock had quite upset her & was increased by the fact that our little boy who since his birth has suffered from dysentry, died from inanation & consumption two days after my sister was buried, through my wifes ill health the child was taken from the breast & gradually pined away I buried him the following day in the same grave as my Brother Charles in the general cemetery grave (82/B) Baptist Compt my wife took the childs death greatly to heart, as it is unnecessary to state, I did myself so what with one thing and another I I have had a great deal to contend with, physically & mentally & I suppose such will be the case to the end of the chapter, trouble, trouble, Etc - I visit my mother very often & she comes to our house pretty frequently. Clark feels Mary's loss very much, he has let his large house & gone to live in his cottage, (his brother Allison has gone to England for the benifit of his health & his wife Maggie is keeping house for James & looking after his little boy Edward James, now nearly 3 yrs. old - I received a note from John Tom about a month ago, written in his usual style, I replied

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informing him that after his twofaced conduct I did not intend interesting myself for the future in reference to his affairs - I suppose he will do his best to influence my Uncle Joseph and Aunt Sarah against me, I shall be sorry if such is the case, for now I am married & likely to have a family, it will not be policy to quarrel with them -

May 22 1871
Exactly two months since I continued my journal, not that I have anything particular to record but I have kept a journal such a length of time that I actually feel it a breach of duty to discontinue it altogether - I am happy to state that my wife and other members of our family are now enjoying pretty good health. I have no changes to note in any of us particularly My mother is a frequent visitor at my house & we visit her as often. G Bond spent one evening with us while Bessie was away on a visit to Mrs Costins (Ballarat) Miss Cass that was) many old acquaintances have called whether out of curiosity or with a desire to continue our acquaintance I know not, my wife and I have spent one or two evenings

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at Mrs Clarks /Drummond St / & the Miss Clarks are constant visitors - J.J.Clark has let his large house & is now living in the cottage he built when poor Mary was in Hobarton, his little son is growing a nice little boy we spent the evening of the 19th. at his place. Maggy, (his Bros Allisons wife who is now in England) is keeping house for him. I am sorry to state that there is not the best of feeling existing between my mother sister & Clark in consequence of some imagined slight the former appear to think they have suffered, owing to the distribution of Marys clothes and jewellery in my opinion he had a perfect right to dispose of them as he thought best if he gave them to his own sisters well & good but Mother and Bessie think otherwise, I dont know what the custom is in such cases but I should never think of quarreling over such a matter however I dont mean to let it affect me, Clark & I are good friends & he has been very kind to me - We have spent one or two pleasent evenings at Hamiltons he has left his billet at the Treasury & is now with Cohen Bros (Furniture Dealers) My Uncle Joseph kept his word toward Fred & I by sending us £25 each which was very acceptable, helped me

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to pay off some of my liabilities. The last mail brought mother £10 from father -

Odds & Ends - May 31 [1872?]
Received communication from my old New Zealand friend Proctor, who is living in Sandhurst (married a second time his first wife having committed suicide in Ballarat -

My brother in law Clark & I speculated in a promoters share in the Rothschilds Tribute Sandhurst purchased from J.Stewart. Novr. 1871

Harry Vickerman spent a week with us beginning of January

Hamilton and family left Vict. for Sydney as agent for J.Liddell Bookseller Etc Feby 1872

My cousin Mary Ann Finnis came from Adelaide in Novr. to bid us good bye prior to her going to Port Darwin where her husband is employed by the Overland Telegraph Coy, she left in the Gothenburg S.S. January 1872.

Wrote to Uncle Joseph - 16th.July 1872.

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Feby 24:th 1872 My sister Bessie delivered of a daughter (second)

May 6th.1872 My wife delivered of a daughter, Dr Hunt in attendance, Mrs. Milne nurse, Mrs Hooper present, being on a visit to Melbourne at the time. (We have named the child Mary Josephine)

May 12 Wrote to father in reply to a long letter from him respecting Chancery case -

June 1872 - Mother received a long letter from father Chancery case just settled, with scarcely any dividend, when news came of the death of Rowena Atherstone & the probability of the sum appropriated for her annuity reverting to us - good job as there was nothing coming to us without it -

July 1872 - Received a letter from Uncle Joseph in which he informs me that he has altered his will & that he has left us considerably more than he had done under his old one, same mail brought a a letter from Aunt Sarah containing £13.6.8 for Uncle John Thomas - which amount she proposes sending him annually -

July 30th.1872 - Joined David Mirandas singing class

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August 1872 Wrote to Uncle Joseph

August 30/72 My little daughter Mary Josephine had an operation performed upon her to remove an excorsiation* which had formed upon her head, a little spot like a pea was noticed when she was born which grew on in size until it became as large as a plum & very similar in appearance, she became exceedingly thin and delicate & had a disinclination for food. The doctor informed me that if it was not removed, she possibly would not live & if she did, that if by accident she fell or hurt herself so as to cause the lump to bleed, that she would die before surgical could be provided to stop it, it was a matter of life or death to remove it but he said it would be better to lose her now than when she would be older so I agreed with him to have it removed he put a needle through it & bound it round with a gold thread & the thing rotted off, as soon as the operation was performed she appeared to improve took her food & is beginning to gain flesh. (Dr Hunt)

Sept 14th.1872. My brother in law Mr Clark had been for a considerable time trying to induce me to go & live at St. Kilda & take a house large enough to

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enable us to accommodate him & his son, so after consideration, (particularly as my wife had been recommended a change of air) I did so taking a house in Gurner St £75 a year to which we removed, he is to pay us £12 a month, but it necessitates our keeping two servants a general one & a nurse girl & living in a style that my means will not admit of, so I think in a pecuniary sense the arrangement will not be a profitable one to us however we are going to try it for a year the house is nicely situated & handy to the train on which I fortunately travel free -

Novr. 1872 Mother received a long letter from father in reference to her joining him in England in spite of my desire for such a reunion she wont entertain the idea, enclosed in it was a draft for £19.0.0

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Jany 10, 1873 Mr Brown, son of G.Brown Finsbury Place Finsbury, London & Solicitor in the case of Watmuff v Atherstone called upon me, he came to the colony for the benefit of his health & brought out all the papers necessary to be signed before receiving the balance due on settlement of the Chancery case, young Brown is a very nice young fellow has spent much of his time with us & has told us a great deal in reference to our family at home, his father having been solicitor to my uncle The Jany mail brought out power of attorney for us to sign, Brown returned to England by the Ship “Highflyer” on Feby 17/73

March 25th./73. Wrote to Aunt Sarah & also to Uncle Joe

May 5th./73 - Receivd letter from father Draft for £35- (£9 of it for Uncle John Thomas, who is living on a farm on the Loddon) the balance for mother

August Mail brought letter from Aunt Sarah L/C for £20, £13.6 8 for John Thomas balance for mother very kind of aunt

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Sept/73 Wrote to Aunt Sarah forwarding her receipts for John Toms money

October Mail/73 - Brought out our long expected legacies (& to my disgust £50 was struck off mine in consequence of my having received that amount some years ago which I expended partly on account of my brother Edwards death & burial & the balance in assisting mother [with] her liabilities) my share was £124, Clark on a/c of Mary about the same & Fred & Bessie each £176.0.0 I paid off some of my debts & lodged £100 in the E S & A Cht Bank -

Decr/73 - My Bro Fred & I bought a piece a land from a Frenchman named Claude Besson in Waterloo St. St.Kilda. (Fred has 25 ft frontage mine has 30 ft with a 10 ft right of way alongside) for the sum of £3.15.0 per foot, but by the time we get our deeds & put it under the new Act (Torrens) it will have cost us £4 pr foot. The ground has no great depth but it stands in the highest of St Kilda & is capitally drained & healthily situated. We purpose building a cottage each & J.Clark our Brother in law is preparing plans for them

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January 1874 at the beginning of the month we called for tenders for the erection of our houses accepted one from a man named, J.Brown who agrees to build them for the sum of £590.0.0 that is £320 for mine & £270 for Freds, before they are finished they will cost considerably more as there are many things required that are not in the specifications -

February, Clark & his little boy left us & is now living with Mr Barrett in Burnett St, he left us because my wife was on the point of her confinement & owing to our breaking up the establishment in Gurner St consequent upon going into our new house where we would have no accommodation for them. The English Mail brought us a letter from Father, he proposes lending Fred & I £100 each @ 5% interest payable to mother. I hope he will send it out in time to meet our final payments on the building

March 6, 1874 My wife safely delivered of a daughter, Dr Hunt of Fitzroy & Mrs. Amphelt in attendance (6 Am) (called the child Edith Marian)

March 12 1874 I borrowed from John Buchan as agent for Isabella White the sum of £210.0.0 for four years at 7% with the option of paying off

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£100 at the end of Two (2) years from the date of borrowing, (expenses attending mortgages per Mr Braham solicitor £6) At the end of the month I was greatly bothered by our contractor Brown giving up the contract, He is a scoundrel & never paid anybody, shirked the work fearfully, I fortunately had a fortnights leave of absence from my duties & was the better able to look after things. The only thing I regret having doing, was advancing him too much money I relet the finishing of the building to Mr Trimick (a man who I know well) for a sum which will make it no more than the original amount of Browns contract & I feel sure that the work will be better performed than by Brown

April 1874 Got into our new house about the 20th. inst everything very sweet & clean & tolerably dry, find a deal to do in my leisure hours – yard to be made up level Etc. garden in front to be formed & made pathways tiled with heaps of other odds & ends, had to borrow money to finish owing to father not having sent the money he promised

April 27/1874 My brother Fred was married to

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Eliza Thwaites, by the Revd Mr Kent at the brides residence. They came down to their new house at once next door

June 1st.1874 I received from my father £100 when I paid off the money I had to borrow my liabilities are now on mortgage £210.0.0 & the above £100. Fred is to get his money next mail

July 24 Received letter from Aunt Sarah L/C for £20.0.0 £13.6.8 for Uncle John Tom, balance for mother. Letter from father to Fred containing £100. he informs us of the death of Uncle Josephs wife at Brighton England - Sang for the Metropolitan Liedertafel (July 20th), been a member some time

August 1875 [1874] Accepted engagement to sing at St. Marys R.C. Church St Kilda £26 pr annum - Wrote to Uncle Joseph this month a letter of condolence on loss of his wife. Mother had a letter from Aunt Hartley informing her of the death of cousin Charles Bryer of Bristol where he was employed as town clerk Mother and my wife became reunited after a coolness of nearly 2 years

Sept. 12 1874 - Paid my first 6 months

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interest on mortgage to Jno Buchan -

Novr. 17/74 – Hamilton came from England in the Northumberland where he had been for a trip on business, left for Sydney a few days afterwards.

Decr./1874 Paid another £2.10- being 6 months interest on the £100 I received from father

April 1875 - My little girl Edith Marian died of Scarlitina, buried her in the St Kilda Cemetery in a piece of ground I purchased there in the Congregational Dept. numbered [c173]

July/75 - Mother very ill wrote home to father in reference to her going home or else his joining her here put her case very plainly to him

Novr./75 Mail brought out from father, a letter containing £9 for Uncle John Tom & £15 for mother, father wishes mother to go home to him & spend the rest of their days together, she wont hear of it, is determined to remain in the colony & chance it -

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1875
Novr.17th. My wife safely delivered of a son, Dr Rankin of St Kilda in attendance, the child is supposed to have come a month before its time & is a poor puny looking little thing, my wife is not in a very good state of health in fact ever since she was in the family way she has been ailing not been able to keep a meal in her stomach for months. The child has a most voracious appetite & seems determined to exist. Mrs. Hammond nurse. I registered the youngster at Mrs. Manleys, Clyde St calling him Charles Royde - Royde being an old Yorkshire family my mother is descended from & Charles being the name of my brother that died, who was born on the ship "Brothers" that we all came from England in in the year 1850

January 1876. My wife has been in very indifferent health. I really dont know what is coming over her I am sure the last 12 months I have known no peace of mind owing to her strange behaviour, she has most unfortunately given way to the most reckless extravagance & habits from which I can see no escape from the consequences, instead of trying to be economical & making an effort to control expenses

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in order to try & pay of the money owing on the house she is deliberately plotting to ruin me, when I try to reason with her she flies into the most violent paroxysms of rage & it is with the greatest difficulty I can control her - curse the doctors, I say, for prescribing stimulants, they have a deal to answer for. I am sadly afraid she takes more than is good for her Dr.Dempster has been attending her lately, treating her for liver complaint, if he would make a teetotaller of her he might be succeesful in making her healthy, my poor little boy is sadly neglected. Lizzie positively refused to suckle it & the poor little fellow has a fearful struggle for existence - being fearfully emaciated, & suffering from a kind of rash which I am afraid he will never get rid of

April 1876 I had a weeks holiday from the office & in company with T.B.Brown (the Basso) & Miss O.Lane (sophano) I accepted an engagement to sing at an Art Exhibition in the Mechanics Institute Geelong. I enjoyed myself very much & made £5 over all my expenses - quite a break in the monotony of my life - my wife & child still very delicate, little Joe seems all right -

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& is thriving admirably domestic affairs just as usual no improvement for the better

June 1876 Had a nice trip to Warnambool at the beginning of the month, Mr Farmer a friend of mine who does business in the Western district engaged a large Hall there & came to Melbourne for a concert company he offered me very good terms to go so I managed to arrange with others in the office to go for 3 days. I left the office 5 pm, got the Geelong train at 7 pm arrived there at 9.30 in time for the night coach, got to Colac about 2 next morning, Camperdown for breakfast, Warnambool at 2.30. I was fearfully tired after my long journey not having slept a wink after a bath & a good dinner I felt somewhat better, went to the Hall & had rehearsal with Brown & Fanny Shepherd (who had gone there by steamer the day before) In the evening we sang to a large audience, it was Race time there & great numbers were in from the outlying districts at the conclusion of the concert we were all invited to a grand supper 2 Am when we broke up. In the morning we wandered about the

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neighbourhood & soon made [saw] a great deal of [it.] Friday night sang again to a more moder[ate] house, at the conclusion another supper party [3 Am] when we got to bed, next morning at 9.30 [our] Landlord had a carriage & pair & also a trap with o[ne] horse at the door in which he took us out for a days driving - & to do a little picnicking. We took the road to Belfast through a magnificent tr[act of] agricultural country – the most of which [belongs to a] wealthy squatter named Rutledge who leases it [out] on average of £5 pr.acre

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[Events not covered by these journals.

28th July 1879 A fellow clerk murdered director Thomas Finlayson.

Wednesday 18th Sept 1879 — Witness in murder trial of James Frederick Lawrence.]

Sources