MS 737 and mfm M462
Papers of John Grant
Summary
Creator: John Grant, b. 1776.
Title: Papers
Date range: 1769-1810 (bulk 1803-1810)
Reference number: MS 737 and M462 (microfilm)
Extent: 20 cm. (2 boxes)
Administrative Information
Access
Available for reference
Provenance
The collection was discovered in the vaults of Lloyd's Bank in London by
Mr W.S. Hill-Reid. Mr Hill-Reid used the documents as the basis for his book
John Grants journey : a convict's story, 1803-1811 (London :
Heinemann, 1957). The collection was acquired by the Library in 1957.
Yvonne Cramer later used the papers for her book This beauteous, wicked
place : the letters and journals of John Grant, gentleman convict.
(Canberra : National Library of Australia, 2000).
Scope and Content
The collection consists chiefly of letters by Grant to his mother and
sister Matilda in England, 1803-1810, and a journal, Jan. 1805 - March 1810,
written in French and transcribed and translated by W.S. Hill-Reid, Yvonne
Cramer and others. The letters and journal contain detailed accounts of Grant's
voyage on the Coromandel, his experiences in the colony and descriptions
of the people he encountered, including Major George Johnston, Jude Richard
Atkins, Charles Bishop, Sir Henry Hayes, Simeon Lord, John Palmer, Governors
King, Bligh and McGuene. A transcription of John Grants journal by W.S.
Hill-Reid, Joan OHagan and others forms part of the collection. The
collection also includes correspondence with Robert Campbell while John Grant
was on Norfolk Island and a copy of his Bond of union, 1805, his
instrument of protest that resulted in his deportation to Norfolk Island. Also
included in the collection are petitions; certificates; legal documents;
correspondence with Robert Campbell, 1806-1807; a notebook kept on his return
to Sydney from Norfolk Island, 1809; poetry written while at Parramatta and
Norfolk Island, 1804-1805; and other papers.
Biographical Note
John Grant was born in 1776 in Buckinghamshire, England and educated at
Christs Hospital. Grant was sentenced to death for firing at a family
solicitor who frustrated his attempts to woo the daughter of Lord Dudley and
Ward. After a petition by his sister to the daughters of George III, he was
reprieved and sent to New South Wales for life. Grant was transported on the
Coromandel and arrived in Sydney in May 1804.
Although he was in many ways a privileged convict on ticket-of-leave,
Grant was influenced by Sir Henry Browne Hays and in May 1805 expressed public
criticism of Governor King, his officials and the convict system. Grants
refusal to retract his views led to five years hard labour in Norfolk Island
and Phillip Island in Van Diemens Land, which reduced him almost to
death.
Grant returned to Sydney upon completion of his sentence in 1808 and
obtained a post as chaplain in Newcastle. He was later granted a full pardon by
Macquarie and sailed to England in 1811 in the Spring Grove.
Grant wrote poetry during his period in Australia, although only one
poem Panegyrie on an eminent artist, written on the naturalist J.W.
Lewin, was published in his lifetime.
Sources
Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 1, (Carlton, Vic. :
Melb. Univ. Press, 1966)
Item List
Item Title
| 1 |
Edward Grant - Freedom of City. 3 July 1769. |
| 2 |
John Grant - Indenture of apprenticeship to Edward Grant, London, 7
March 1791. |
| 3 |
John Grant - Notebook with financial statements, 1795-1800. |
| 4 |
John Grant - Statement of purchases from R. Jackson, Hat
manufacturers, 8 September 1800 |
| 5 |
John Grant - Summons to bankruptcy commission, 30 July 1802. |
| 6 |
John Grant - Statement of financial position with Mr William Deeks
as at 4 May 1803 |
| 7 |
John Grant - Certificate of sale of 89 dollars for £20.17.1,
11 November 1803 |
| 8 |
W.H. Clinton - Letter to Grant rejecting candidature for the Horse
Guards, 21 October 1803 |
| 9 |
9 Petition, 1803, to king of John Grant in Newgate Prison and
supported by sundry citizens requesting mercy after his conviction for firing a
loaded pistol at Spencer George Townsend. |
| 10 |
Petition, 1803, to the Princesses Augusta Sophia, Elizabeth, Mary,
Sophia and Amelia submitted by Matilda Grant in further support of the above
and requesting them to use their influences with the King and Queen to reverse
the sentence by which her brother John Grant is to be executed on the following
Wednesday. |
|
|
| 11 |
John Grant - Letter to mother, preparatory to sailing. Thanks her
for clothing and other favours etc. Somewhat pessimistic. "Buonaparte will
certainly be among you soon, or in Ireland," 2-4 December, 1803. |
| 12 |
John Grant - Letter to mother and sister. Farewell nature suggests
last letter before sailing, 5 December 1803. |
| 13 |
John Grant - Letter to mother from San Salvador is missing. Dated 2
February 1804. Referred to and summarised in following letter but probably
never delivered, being entrusted to a Portuguese frigate. |
| 14 |
John Grant - Letter to mother and sister, 2-22 May 1804, (20 p.)
describing voyage on Coromandel (Captain Robinson). Leaves Portsmouth some time
shortly before 1 January 1804. (Grant appears to have had a privileged passage,
being accepted, presumably because of his education and social position, as one
of the Captain's staff, and sleeping and messing in their quarters. His main
function appears to have been keeping five journals for the Captain.) He
entertains ideas of joining forces with Robert Campbell - "of trying to open a
connection with India". (Robert Campbell b. Scotland 1769, d. 1846 on the
Limestone Plains, now Canberra). In this letter of May 1804, Grant has
presented his letters of introduction to Judge Atkins and Major Johnston.
Appears to be in line for the post of secretary to Atkins, but is kept standing
still until the letters from England regarding him are received by Governor
King. These letters are coming on the ship Experiment carrying women
convicts and due to arrive at the same time or shortly after the
Coromandel. In the meantime Grant seems to have a free hand, visits
Atkins freely, and continues to sleep in the ship. Mrs. Atkins thinks he might
be given a free pardon in the following month. The letter was taken to Bengal
by Dr. Fielding on the Mersey and fortnight after arrival in Sydney, for on
forwarding through brother Samuel Grant in India.) |
| 15 |
John Grant - Letter to mother and sister, 13-16 July 1804. Personal
description of Judge Atkins. Grant is living in a "ruinous house" offered as an
asylum by Mr Williamson at Parramatta, and is supporting himself. Governor King
did not give him the freedom of the colony, as he was persuaded by Williamson,
Captain Cox, Judge Atkins and Major Johnston that the time was not ripe to
apply for it. From Governor King he received £20 for rum acquired in San
Salvador, but no favours as King had animosity for the previous Governor
Hunter's friends, including Williamson who befriended Grant. Captain Charles
Bishop of Prospect befriends Grant, 5 miles from his home at Parramatta.
(Bishop a man of influence, and in a joint concern with George Bass who has
been gone 17 months to Peru on a trading voyage. Bishop himself a minor
explorer). |
| 16-20 |
16-20 John Grant - Poems written in 1804-5:-
Pope to
Attenbury (1804) The Jug (Parramatta, September 1804) Thoughts in a
mulberry bush (Parramatta, November 1804) Chicken and the grasshopper
(Parramatta, October 1804) Devotion (Parramatta, October 1804) The
Dream (Norfolk Island, 1805) Reflexions (Norfolk Island, 1805) Ideas
awakened before daybreak (Norfolk Island, 1805) Written on the morning of
Mr. Wakefield's funeral (n.d.) |
| 21 |
John Grant - Letters to mother and sister and to Mr. Pearce, Aug
1804 and to Mr. Barnes and Mr Pearce with newspapers, Oct 1804, not in files,
and presumably lost. |
| 22 |
John Grant - Letter to mother and sister, 1-10 January 1805. His
unhappy relations with Governor King and general description of his progress,
and acquaintances, which include Surveyor-General Evans, Captain Kent (Hunter's
nephew), and naturalist J.W. Lewin. Grant still at Williamson's farm. (20
p.). |
| 23 |
John Grant - Letter to mother and sister from Sydney, 28 Apr 1805.
Is now working property of Captain Bishop who has become insane, and through
intercession of Captain Kent has been given freedom of the Colony by Governor
King. |
| 24 |
John Grant - Certificate of Emancipation. Signed by Governor King,
1 February 1805. |
| 25 |
John Grant - "a paquet for publication/of/poems?/ - to mother, via
Captain Forrest of the Sydney, also a print from J.W. Lewin. Missing
from file. |
| 26 |
Bond of Union. Copy of tenets on original given to Govenor Blight,
and proposed additions at Norfolk Island 13 October 1805. |
| 27 |
William Deek's letter to John Grant on his present financial state,
18 November 1805. |
| 28 |
John Grant - Letter to mother and sister, Norfolk Island, 3 June
1806. Few lines only, listing letters already sent, and enclosing copy of 1806
'Birthday Ode.' Also copy of order to Captain Forrest to deliver paquet to
Captain Burnett. |
| 29 |
John Grant - Letter to sister Matilda, Norfolk Island, 8 June
1806, in French, listing his poetical productions in exile. (Also 'Plaintive
Ballad,' written Parramatta, 1804). |
| 30 |
John Grant - Letter to his sister, containing 1806 'Birthday Ode,'
and note, 9 June 1806. |
| 31 |
John Grant - Another letter to sister, with poem translated from
Virgil, 9 June 1806. |
| 32 |
Robert Campbell - Letter to Grant, 27 May 1807, on contacting him
at Norfolk Island and on carrying of his mail to England. |
| 33 |
John Grant - Letter to Robert Campbell at Port Jackson, 20 June
1807, acknowledging above and parcels, and requesting further favours.
Expresses some views on Governor Bligh. |
| 34 |
John Grant - Draft of letters to various citizens, 9 April1808,
requesting their signatures to "Addition of Bond of Union". |
| 35 |
John Grant - Letter to mother and sister, , 7 March, 1810, with
1810 'Birthday Ode.' (and copy of letter by King of Tahiti to missionaries) for
insertion in Sydney Gazette. |
| 36 |
John Grant - Letter to mother and sister, 16 April 1810, enclosing
copy of request through Rev. Marsden to Governor Macquarie for a free
pardon. |
| 37 |
John Grant - Letter to mother, 10 May 1810. Encloses copy of
petition to Governor Macquarie signed by Robert Campbell and others, for
Grant's pardon. Also copy of Bligh's testimony and Grant's reply to him, 10 May
1810. (2 copies of this letter). Includes copy of promise to pay Sam Breakwell,
24 April 1810. |
| 38 |
John Grant - Letter to brother Samuel, 11 May 1810, advising
proposed despatch with Commodore Blight of his six journals. |
| 39 |
John Grant - Letter from Prospect Hill to mother, sister and
brother, 27 July 1810. Grant is not yet pardoned but Macquarie has promised him
such if he can arrange a voyage home. Grant is promised a passage home in the
Springrove due to leave shortly, promised by Mr. Hook, Mr. Campbell's
partner. As there is no more correspondence it is presumed he accepted this.
Also in letter is 1810 Ode. |
| 40 |
Extract from Bewick's History of Quadrupeds, 4th edition,
1800. 'The Jaguar.' |
| 41 |
Memorandum on the distillation of spirits by the processes of Sr.
Argand, citizen of Geneva. (In French) |
| 42 |
John Grant - Original journal, January 1805 to March 1810. Also
includes a version of the journal transcribed and translated by W.S. Hill-Reid,
Joan O'Hagan and others. (4 folders). |
| 43 |
John Grant - Notebook, 1809, and typed transcript. |
| 44 |
Press release by Commonwealth of Australia News and Information
Bureau, Australia House, London on 14 October 1957 regarding the handing over
of John Grant's papers to the Australian High Commissioner. There is also a
news cutting about the presentation. |
| 45-48 |
Photocopies of the collection. |
1967 Revised April 2001 |