Guide to the Papers of James Furse
MS 694
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Furse, James
- Title
- Papers of James Furse
- Date Range
- 1842 - 1849
- Collection Number
- MS 694
- Extent
- 0.03 metres (1 folder)
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- National Library of Australia
Introduction
Scope and Contents
Six letters sent to James Furse from Victoria to relatives in England. The letters provide commentary on the countryside, wildlife, Aboriginal customs and behaviour, conditions in the Colony and successes and failures of agricultural endeavours. One newspaper, Port Phillip Patroit and Melbourne Advertiser is for 1843 Apr. 6. The other newspaper, 1849 Nov. 30 relates James Furse's death by drowning in Merri Creek,Vic.
Item Descriptions
Letter from James Furse to Miss S. Furse, 6 October 1842 (Item 1)
Letter from James Furse written from Melbourne to his sister giving descriptions of country, the local birds and his intentions to taxidermy them and bring them home, comments on trade, his opinion of South Australia, and general Colonial life.
Letter from James Furse to Mr. J. Furse, 9 October 1842 (Item 2)
A letter from James Furse to his brother in which he describes his impressions of the new land. He describes the customs and behaviour of Aboriginal people he has encountered or heard about.
Letter from James Furse to his Father and Mother, 16 January 1843 (Item 3)
A letter from James Furse to his parents discussing marriage prospects in the colony; wages and prices; rate of spending in the colony; the climate; lack of amenities; food; condition of land tenure; the desire for increase in population to buy and consume all the food produced; trade in commodities with Van Dieman's Land; description of stock riders and teh wildness of cattle.
Letter from James Furse to his Father and Mother, 27 March 1843 (Item 4)
James Furse writes to his parents from Melbourne with his impressions of the Colony. He describes the water situation; the prices of goods such as wheat, potatoes and apples; describes the soil; milking of cows; the excessive heat. He gives his address as Merri Creek, Port Phillip, Australia Felix.
Letter from James Furse to his Father and Mother, 27 August 1843 (Item 5)
James Furse writes to his parents from Melbourne describing the affairs of the colony very low. Prices of agricultural products and food; many going bankrupt; slaughtering of sheep for tallow; the population being too small; remarks that the colony has been the ruin of wealthy men.