Guide to the Papers of Daniel Southwell (as filmed by the AJCP)

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M1538

National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record

Created: 2018

Online Items

Series Add MS 16381. Letters, 1783 - 1793

Mostly written by Southwell to his mother, Jane Southwell, and uncle, Rev. Weeden Butler. The subjects include Southwell's appointment as midshipman on the Queen in 1783 (pp. 4-11), the voyage to New South Wales in the Sirius in 1787 with descriptions of Santa Cruz, Rio de Janeiro and the Cape of Good Hope (pp. 12-26), the arrival at Botany Bay, La Perouse's expedition, the departure of P.G. King for Norfolk Island and encounters with Indigenous Australians (pp. 27-29), the voyage to the Cape of Good Hope in the Sirius in 1788-89 (pp. 30-39), the shortage of provisions, the wreck of the Sirius at Norfolk Island, the cultivation of crops,Indigenous Australians, Southwell's hopes of promotion, the deaths of seamen, the difficulties faced by settlers at Norfolk Island, N.S.W. rivers, the future of the colony, the wreck of the Guardian, Governor Phillip, John Palmer, William Dawes (pp. 44-94), Butler's discussion with Sir Joseph Banks on the future of N.S.W. (p.98), a deputation to Capt. Hunter about rations (pp. 103-4), the voyage to England in 1791 (pp. 105-14), Southwell's efforts to obtain a Lieutenancy (pp. 123-34).

Series Add MS 16382. Four diaries kept by Southwell, 1788 - 1791

The entries are intermittent and often brief. They cover part of Southwell's time in Australia, the voyage to the Cape of Good Hope in Oct.-Nov. 1788, and the voyage to England in 1791.

Series Add MS 16383. Copies of letters written by Southwell to his mother and uncle, 1787 - 1790

Most of the original letters are in MS 16381, but there are some variations and four of the originals are missing (pp. 63-122, 208). The two letters of 12 July 1788 (pp. 63-122) refer to the supplies bought at the Cape of Good Hope in 1787, the arrival at Botany Bay, meetings with aborigines and La Perouse, kangaroos and birds, the first buildings at Sydney Cove, and the discovery of Lord Howe Island.


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