Guide to the papers of Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton (as filmed by the AJCP)
M1177 - M1178
National Library of Australia View Catalogue Record
Created: 2018
Collection Summary
- Creator
- Bulwer-Lytton, Edward George Earle, Sir, 1st Baron Lytton
- Title
- Papers of Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (as filmed by the AJCP)
- Date Range
- 1836 - 1876
- Collection Number
- M1177 - M1178
- Extent
- 27 items
- Language of Materials
- English
- Repository
- Australian Joint Copying Project
- Sponsor
- The Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP) online portal was created with the assistance of the Australian Public Service Modernisation Fund, 2017-2020. The National Library of Australia gratefully acknowledges the contribution of the other foundation AJCP partners, the State Library of New South Wales and The National Archives of the UK, and all other organisations which supported the work of the AJCP, the world's most extensive collaborative copying project, operating from 1948 to 1997.
Introduction
Scope and Contents
Official papers 1858-59, including letters from Sir Henry Barkly, Sir George Bowen, Sir William Denison, Lord Derby, William Howitt and Charles Sturt. They deal with: political and economic position in the colonies; appointments; emigration; exploration; the separation of Moreton Bay from New South Wales; the appointment of Bowen as first Governor of Queensland; the controversy surrounding the visit to Britain of the Mayor of Melbourne; the proposed annexation of Fiji; and activities of Sir James Brooke in Sarawak.
Personal correspondence 1836-76, including papers about Lytton's work on the life of the convict Thomas Wainewright; letters from the poet R. H. Horne; correspondence concerning copyright and the performance of Lytton's plays in Australia in 1866-70; and letters from Sir George Bowen in Brisbane and Melbourne.
Conditions Governing Access
Available for Access.
Conditions Governing Use
Many of the records digitised as part of the AJCP are still in copyright. Readers wishing to publish or reproduce documents should seek permission, in the first instance, from the owner of the original material.
Preferred Citation
Acknowledgement of use of this material should refer to the location of the original material and to the Australian Joint Copying Project.
Items from this collection should include references to the location of the original material and to the AJCP nla.obj number, which serves as the online identifier for the digital copy.
Example: M Series: Journal of Capt. James Cook, 18 February 1770, British Library Add. MS 27885 (AJCP ref: http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1234)
Archival History
Selectively filmed at the Hertfordshire Record Office as part of the Australian Joint Copying Project, 1981 (AJCP Reels: M1177-M1178). Original microfilm digitised as part of the NLA AJCP Online Delivery Project, 2017-2020.
Existence and Location of Originals
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies. Formerly Hertfordshire Record Office, County Hall, Hertford SG13 8DE, England.
For further information see Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies (https://archives.hertfordshire.gov.uk/).
Existence and Location of Copies
The original AJCP microfilm of the records filmed from this collection is available at the National Library of Australia [https://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn2250129] as well as other institutions holding AJCP microfilm.
Finding-aid Notes
This finding aid is a revised online version of the original finding aid prepared by the Australian Joint Copying Project (AJCP), published by the National Library of Australia in 2018. The original AJCP finding aids were unpublished typescripts or photocopies available from libraries that held copies of the original microfilm.
Dates used in this finding aid refer to the date range of the records selected for filming rather than to the date range of the Series or Files.
Pieces that were not filmed by the Australian Joint Copying Project have not been included in this Finding Aid.
Advisory Statement
Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this Finding Aid contains material and descriptive information which may be considered culturally sensitive and may cause distress, including names and images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people now deceased. This Finding Aid contains terms that reflect authors' views or those of the historical period, but which may not be considered appropriate today. While the information may not reflect current understanding, it is provided in an historical context.
Subjects
Australia; Barkly, Sir Henry; Bowen, Sir George F.; Britain; Brooke, Sir James; Bulwer-Lytton, Sir Edward, 1st Baron Lytton; Denison, Sir William T.; Emigration and immigration; Exploration: land; Great Britain. Colonial Office; Horne, Richard H.; Howitt, William; Melbourne, Victoria; Novelists; Poets; Stanley, Edward S., Lord Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby; Sturt, Charles, Capt.; Theatre; Wainewright, Thomas
Bibliography
Originally cited in Australian Joint Copying Project Handbook. Part 8: Miscellaneous (M) Series. Third Edition, published 1998. Entry 296, p111.
Biographical / Historical
Sir Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873), 1st Baron Lytton (created 1866). Son of General William Bulwer, assumed name of Lytton in 1843 on death of his mother when he succeeded to the Knebworth Estate in Hertfordshire. Educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Wrote extensively for periodicals and was a prolific author of novels, plays, poetry and histories, including (1828), (1833), (1834), (1837-1838), (1838), (1843), (1847), (1849), (1862). Radical M.P. 1831-1841. Joined Conservative Party in 1851, was M.P. for Hertfordshire 1852-1866, and Secretary of State for Colonies in the Derby Government, June 1858-June 1859.
His only son Edward, 1st Earl Lytton, was Viceroy of India in 1876-1880.
Item Descriptions
Series 001-010. General Files, 1857 - 1864
3 itemsGeneral, May 1857 - 1859 (File 01)
20 items
Lord Carnarvon to Lytton, 28 April 1859 (Item 1)
Appointment of Sir George Bowen to Queensland; visit of Fitzgerald, N.Z. colonist; appointment of colonists to governorships.
Sir William Denison to Lytton, 4 February 1858 (Item 2)
N.S.W. election; resignation of Plunkett as President of Legislative Council; separation of Moreton Bay; Queensland Indigenous Australians.
Sir William Denison to Lytton, 6 September 1858 (Item)
Mail service; treatment of natives in New Hebrides; separation of Moreton Bay; Queensland Constitution.
Sir William Denison to Lytton, 20 January 1859 (Item)
Compilation of Natural history of British colonies; Norfolk Island; mail service; separation of Moreton Bay.
Sir Henry Barkly (Melbourne) to Sir John Pakington, 14 January 1858 (Item)
Visit to goldfield; pastoral industry; Victorian politics; Land Act. (extracts)
Sir Henry Barkly to Lord Stanley, 15 July 1858 (Item)
Defences of Victoria; visit of Smith, Mayor of Melbourne, to England; gold diggings.
Sir Henry Barkly to Sir Charles Yorke, 10 August 1858 (Item)
Return to England of Capt. A. Clarke, Surveyor-General of Victoria. (copy)
Sir Henry Barkly to Lytton, 11 February 1859 (Item)
Visit of Smith to England; dissolution of Parliament; resignation of Major-General McArthur.
Sir William Denison to Lytton, 11 March 1859 (Item 4)
Roles of Governor and Upper House in system of responsible government; Norfolk Island.
Sir William Denison to Lytton, 10 June 1859 (Item)
N.S.W. election; Queensland Constitution and electoral system.
H. Merivale to Lytton, 9 October 1858 (Item)
Suggests Sarawak be made Crown colony; failure of Labuan.
J. Crawfurd to Lytton, 22 October 1858 (Item)
Encloses article from Examiner on Rajah Brooke and his claims.
R. Cobden to Lytton, 25 October 1858 (Item)
Encloses article by Crawfurd; geography and productions of Borneo.
Australia, April 1859 - October 1864 (File 09)
10 items
M.N. Marsh to Sir George Bowen, 3 May 1859 (Item)
Congratulations on appointment to Queensland; requests meeting.
Sir George Bowen (Brisbane) to Lytton, 6 March 1860 (Item)
Voyage to Australia; prosperity of Queensland; loyalty of people; quality of squatters; description of Brisbane; land question; climate.
Sir George Bowen to Lytton, 6 June 1860 (Item)
Commencement of parliamentary government in Queensland; R. Herbert.
Sir George Bowen to Lytton, 10 September 1861 (Item)
D. Radcliffe; Queensland legislation struggle with ultra-squatters and demagogues; political appointments to judiciary in Australia; economic progress of Queensland; popularity of Lytton's books.
Sir George Bowen to Lytton, 19 August 1862 (Item)
Places in Queensland named after Lytton; progress of colony; influence of Governor; cruize to Cape York.
Sir George Bowen to Lytton, 16 September 1863 (Item)
Attraction of Queensland for younger sons of peers and gentry; political and economic progress of Queensland; expedition to Cape York; extension of pastoral frontier; international relations; government pensions; erection of Government House.
Series 024-027. Letters Received, 1855 - 1859
4 itemsVolume 024, 10 July 1858 - 14 May 1859 (File)
49 items
E. Ackroyd to Lytton, 19 March 1859 (Item 2)
Seeks promotion for H. Brook, officer of Treasury in Melbourne.
G. Adlerd (London) to H.D. Wolff, 13 January 1859 (Item 7)
Invites Lytton to Australian Anniversary Dinner.
J. Baker to H.D. Wolff, 2 February 1859 (Item 44)
Address from Legislative Council of South Australia.
W.G. Balls to Lytton, 5 October 1858 (Item 49)
Seeks assistance for emigrant travelling to Melbourne.
G.S. Beecroft to Lytton, 4 December 1858 (Item 76)
Encloses letter from B. Crosthwaite seeking introduction to Government authorities in Melbourne.
G.S. Beecroft to Lytton, 11 December 1858 (Item)
Acknowledges letter of introduction to Sir Henry Barkly.
Sir George Bowen to Lytton, 25 November 1858 (Item 112)
Accepts Colonial Secretaryship at Mauritius.
Sir George Bowen to Lytton, 3 May 1859 (Item)
Queensland appointment; formation of volunteer rifle corps; appointment of Surveyor-General; squatter question.
Sir George Bowen to Lytton, 14 May 1859 (Item)
Appointment of private secretary; discussions with Australian representatives.
Sir J. Burgoyne to H.D. Wolff, 18 April 1859 (Item 153)
Recommends Captain Clarke for Governorship of Moreton Bay.
W.A. Nunes to H.D. Wolff, 22 November (Item 155)
Encloses testimonial for J. Burke, applicant for position of N.S.W. Government Engineer.
Sir Charles Burrell to Lytton, 26 March 1859 (Item 158)
Recommendation for Australian Mounted Police Force.
R.J. Callander to H.D. Wolff, January 1859 (Item 171)
Appointment of constituent to police in Australia.
Sir Robert Carden to H.D. Wolff, 17 December 1858 (Item 180)
Thanks for letter of introduction to Victorian Government.
Lord Carnarvon to Lytton, 4 November 1858 (Item 181)
McKinnon ready to substantiate charges concerning Mayor of Melbourne.
F. Catty to H.D. Wolff, 4 December 1858 (Item 183)
Encloses letter to Sir Robert Carden seeking employment in Australia for F. Mansell.
F. Cavendish to Lytton, 1 August 1858 (Item 186)
Seeks recommendation to Victorian Government for B. Beckham.
E. Chapman to Lytton, 21 July 1858 (Item 190)
Concerning W. Kelly, writing book on Australian goldfields.
Sir J. Chatterton to H.D. Wolff, 5 May 1859 (Item 195)
Encloses letter from J. McDonnell seeking position in Queensland for his son.
H. Childers to H. Bidwell, 10 September 1858 (Item 199)
Returned from Victoria, seeks interview with Lytton.
Lord Alfred Churchill to Lytton, 22 July 1858 (Item 200)
Wishes to introduce J. Youl, Secretary of Australian Association.
J.W. Clifton (Perth) to H.D. Wolff, 15 April 1859 (Item 212)
Seeks position in W.A. Convict Department.
W.R. Collett (Singleton, New South Wales) to Lytton, 9 September 1858 (Item 228)
Congratulations on appointment, offers to supply local information.
Sir Ashley Cooper to Lytton, 8 March 1859 (Item 238)
Encloses letter from M. Beale planning to tour Australia to demonstrate agricultural machinery.
W.S. Copeland to Lytton, 10 July 1858 (Item 241)
Power of attorney to be sent to merchant in Auckland.
J. Crawford to Lytton, 16 December 1858 (Item)
Encloses newspaper articles on warlike operations in Sarawak.
W. Cubitt to Lytton, 7 May 1859 (Item 268)
Encloses letter from H. Ghinn seeking appointment in Queensland.
J.E. Denison to Lytton, 12 August 1858 (Item 299)
Encloses letter from A. Denison in Sydney recommending C. Rolleston as Governor of Queensland.
Lord Derby to Lytton, 13 September 1858 (Item 301)
Honours, Mayor of Melbourne convict background of his wife.
Lord Derby to Lytton, 23 October 1858 (Item)
Encloses anonymous letter concerning Mayor of Melbourne.
Volume 025, 3 January 1855 - 12 May 1859 (File)
28 items
J.J.L. Foster to —, 29 March 1859 (Item 67)
Former Treasurer of Victoria: wishes to be presented to Queen.
J.B. Godfrey to Lytton, 17 June 1858 (Item 104)
Seeks interview on mail service and other aspects of Australian merchant shipping.
J.M. Green to Higgins, 12 August 1858 (Item 125)
Requests return of draft Act for establishment of Supreme Court of Western Australia.
E.S. Hitchins to Lytton, 31 January 1859 (Item)
Income as articled clerk, necessity to transfer to position with larger salary.
Hogg to Lytton, 26 January 1859 (Item 197)
Thanks for letter of introduction to Governor of Victoria.
Rev. E. Hoole to Lytton, 24 February 1859 (Item 201)
Deputation of Weslyan Missionary Society on proposed annexation of Fiji.
E. Horsman to Lytton, 30 August 1858 (Item 204)
Seeks letter of introduction to N.S.W. Government for R. Thompson.
W. Howitt to Lytton, 3 December 1858 (Item 208)
Refers to past ministerial ignorance of Australian conditions.
W.F. Hume to Lytton, 30 October 1858 (Item 211)
Seeks letter of introduction to Australian authorities for M. Potter.
C. Idle to Lytton, December 1858 (Item 220/1)
Seeks letters of introduction for son migrating to N.S.W.
C. Idle to Lytton, 21 December 1858 (Item 220/3)
Acknowledges letters from Lytton to Sir William Denison.
W. Jones to H.D. Wolff, 9 February 1859 (Item 246/1)
Recommends T. Barrister, former High Sheriff of Tasmania, as agent in Fiji.
T. Kelly to Lytton, 12 May 1859 (Item 254)
Seeks position in Queensland Government for stepson J.B. Burne.
Testimonial by H. Childers, Customs House, Melbourne, concerning A.M.R. Kinahan, 3 January 1855 (Item 270/1)
G. Nichols to Lytton, 6 October 1858 (Item 270/5)
Allegations concerning A.M.R. Kinahan when in Australia.
H.H. Lindsay to Lytton, 26 November 1858 (Item 319/1)
Deputation of New Eastern Archipelago Company; Sir James Brooke.
Volume 026, 8 June 1858 - 8 May 1859 (File)
44 items
J. McClintock to Lytton, 14 February 1859 (Item 4)
Recommends H.M. Lefroy for post of Collector of Customs at Western Australia.
J.G. Mackenzie to Lytton, 15 January 1859 (Item 13)
Sends item on Labuan from Sir James Elphinstone.
Lord Malmesbury to Lytton, 18 March 1859 (Item 28)
Pritchard's account of Fiji and proposal that it be purchased by Britain.
B. Marlay to H.D. Wolff, 11 December 1858 (Item 36)
Enquiry by Lord John Manners concerning patronage in New Zealand.
M. Marsh to Lytton, 3 May 1859 (Item 38/1)
Appointment of Sir George Bowen as Governor of Queensland.
M. Marsh to Lytton, 8 May 1859 (Item 38/2)
Meetings with Sir George Bowen; name of Queensland; appointment of Surveyor-General.
J. Hora to H.D. Wolff, November 1858 (Item 50/1)
Encloses letter from Sir Charles Hotham on work of Mayor of Melbourne in promoting law and order during Ballarat riots.
Smith (Mayor of Melbourne) to H.D. Wolff, 10 November 1858 (Item 50/2)
Seeks letter of introduction to Public Works Department in France.
R. Moore & Co. to Lords of Treasury, 21 September 1858 (Item 67)
Proposal for conveyance of Australasian and Pacific mails.
G.C. Morgan to Lytton, 6 April 1859 (Item 69/1)
Seeks letter of introduction to Governor of Victoria for J. Frater.
J.R. Mowbray to Lytton, 16 February 1859 (Item 76)
Recommends H.M. Lefroy for post of Collector of Customs at Western Australia.
Sir Roderick Murchison to Lytton, 10 July 1858 (Item 78/1)
Naming of British Columbia, with reference to New Caledonia.
Sir Roderick Murchison to Lytton, 29 December 1858 (Item 78/2)
Deputation on establishment of port in northern Australia.
J. Murray to H.D. Wolff, 17 December 1858 (Item 82)
Request by J.S. Farrer (?) for introduction to Attorney-General and Chief Secretary of Victoria.
Mrs. L. Peacocke to Lytton, 25 November 1858 (Item 137/1)
Requests appointment for son in New Zealand.
Mrs. L. Peacocke to Lytton, 2 December 1858 (Item 137/2)
Requests grant of land for son in New Zealand.
Mrs. L. Peacocke to Lytton, 6 December 1858 (Item 137/3)
Thanks for letter of introduction to Governor of New Zealand.
S. Ponsonby to H.D. Wolff, 24 February 1859 (Item 161)
Requests information on deputation from South Australia.
Major H.L. Powys to Lytton, 11 September 1858 (Item 168)
Encloses article on J. Smith, Mayor of Melbourne; attitudes to mail service.
J. Pym to H.D. Wolff, 14 March 1859 (Item 177)
Memorial concerning lease of mineral land granted in Western Australia in 1845.
R. Rennie to Lytton, 27 January 1859 (Item 191)
Requests interview to discuss son's work on system of convict diet at Fremantle.
A. Rucker to H.D. Wolff, 17 January 1859 (Item 226)
Seeks letters of introduction to Governors of N.S.W. and N.Z. for C. Godefroy.
F. Searanke to Lytton, 2 April 1859 (Item 253)
Seeks letter of introduction for Governor Brown to son, Chief Commissioner at Wellington.
Lord Stanley to Lytton, 16 October 1858 (Item 302)
Suggests Labuan be abandoned and Sarawak purchased from Brooke.
P. Storry to Lytton, 25 January 1859 (Item 310)
Seeks recommendation for son to Governor of New Zealand.
Volume 027, 24 April 1858 - 15 May 1859 (File)
23 items
G. Talbot to J. Bidwell, 24 April 1858 (Item 1/1)
Request for letters of introduction to Governors of Victoria and Tasmania for C. Taylor.
G. Talbot to H.D. Wolff, 11 November 1858 (Item 1/2)
Despatch from Sir George Grey on enlistment of New Zealand natives for service in India.
W.P. Talbot to Lytton, 9 November (Item 3)
Request by Duke of Buccleuch for Government position in Australia for A. McDonald.
Rev. A.C. Thomson to H.D. Wolff, 10 November 1858 - 11 November 1858 (Item 19)
Defends character of J. Smith, Mayor of Melbourne.
G. Townsend to H.D. Wolff, 10 March 1859 (Item 30/1)
Requests letter of introduction for E. Holroyd, emigrating to Melbourne.
Sir John Trelawny to H.D. Wolff, 26 February 1859 (Item 34)
Requests return of papers on case of Sewell and guaranteed New Zealand loan.
Lytton to Queen Victoria, 23 July 1858 (Item 55/1)
French objections to naming new colony in Canada New Caledonia.
Lytton to Queen Victoria, 9 February 1859 (Item 55/2)
Recommends Rev. E. Tufnell as Bishop of Brisbane.
S. Walpole to H.D. Wolff, 5 May 1859 (Item 75)
Request by Dean of Westminster to send box to old parishioner at Adelaide.
S.H. Walpole to Lytton, 10 September 1858 (Item 76/1)
Presentation of address by Mayor of Melbourne to Queen at Balmoral.
S.H. Walpole to Lytton, 22 September 1858 (Item 76/3)
Address of Mayor to be presented in London; conferral of knighthood.
J. Washington to T. Elliot, 14 July 1858 (Item 83)
Naming of British Columbia with reference to New Caledonia.
Lord Westmeath to Lytton, 22 October (Item 90)
Col. Broughton; appointment of second Officer of Engineers to Tasmania.
J. Whiteside to Lytton, 3 March 1859 (Item 96)
Recommends J.N. Molyneaux of Melbourne for appointment.
R. Wingfield to H.D. Wolff, 17 November 1858 (Item 120)
Seeks appointment as New Zealand emigration agent at Coleraine, Ireland.
Series 028. Letterbooks, 1858 - 1859
2 itemsLetterbook, 15 October 1858 - 3 January 1859 (File 1)
9 itemsLetterbook, 5 February 1859 - 18 June 1859 (File 2)
11 items
Lytton to Lord Derby and Lytton to W. E. Gladstone, 5 February 1859 (Item 77-78)
The letter to Lord Derby refers to the receipt of box about Sarawak; Labuan must be continued as at present.
The letter to W. E. Gladstone states that the Mauritius post not available; Sir George Bowen to stay at Corfu for present.
Lytton to Sir George Bowen, 18 March 1859 (Item [113a.])
Withdrawal from Ionian Islands; offers Lieutenant Governorship of St. Christophers.
Lytton to Sir George Bowen, 29 April 1859 (Item 125-130)
Appointment as Governor at Moreton Bay; instructions; communications with Colonial Office.
Series C1-C21. Personal Letters Received, 1836 - 1870
12 itemsVolume C1-C2, 19 May 1846 - 21 March 1851 (File)
7 itemsVolume C5, 28 September 1860 - 19 September 1865 (File)
3 items
Sir George Bowen (Brisbane) to Lytton, 19 September 1865 (Item 116)
Success of parliamentary government in Queensland; visit of Marsh.
Volume C8, 17 November 1868 - 2 February 1869 (File)
6 itemsVolume C17, 4 January 1866 - 8 January 1869 (File)
11 items
I.P. Simpson (Dramatic Authors' Society) to Lytton, 4 January 1866 (Item 1-2)
Performing rights in Australia; G. Coppin to be agent in Australian colonies.
I.P. Simpson to Lytton, 26 December 1868 (Item 3)
Request by Coppin for copy of registration of 'The Lady of Lyons'.
I.P. Simpson to Lytton, 1 January 1869 (Item 6-7)
Protection of 'The Rightful Heir' in Australia; conflicting positions of G. Coppin and L.L. Smith.
Volume C18, 20 December 1859 - 30 November 1869 (File)
6 items
F. von Mueller (Melbourne) to Lytton, 24 November 1864 (Item 17)
Lytton's translation of Schiller; tree named after Lytton.
M.N. Marsh to Lytton, 22 April 1863 (Item 46)
Presents medal from Colony of Queensland; progress of Queensland; Sir George Bowen.
R.H. Horne (Melbourne) to Messrs. Blackwood, 23 February 1863 (Item 59)
Requests name of author of article in Blackwood's Magazine.
Series C22-C25. Unbound Letters received, 1859 - 1871
3 itemsVolume C22, 2 August 1870 - 2 October 1870 (File)
3 itemsSeries C36. Unbound Letters Received by Edward R. Lytton, 1874 - 1876
2 items
Sir George Bowen (Melbourne) to Lord Lytton, 20 March 1874 (File 31)
Bulwer Lytton's instructions to Bowen as Governor of Queensland; sends letter he received in 1860; loss of other letters in New Zealand; requests copy of Memoirs; popularity of Lytton's works in Australia.
Sir George Bowen (Melbourne) to Lord Lytton, 10 July 1876 (File)
Congratulations on appointment as Viceroy of India; Australian reactions to new title of Empress; leave taken by Indian officers and civilians in Australia; invites Lytton to Melbourne; possibility of Prince of Wales visiting Australia in 1878.