Part 01: G. W. Rusden letters, 1846-1900

Historical Records there is apparently some confusion for a man Devine is spoken of, also a man Divine. Mr Bladen thinks that there was only one man of that ilk and that confusion has been caused by inadvertent mis-spelling.

Hearing no more from Camden I ventured to write (politely of course) to Mr Bladen on the subject assigning some reasons for abstaining from positiveness while any doubt remains as to the identification of the two men, if two there were. I have just received a very courteous letter in reply with apology for delay. He says "The error, if it is one, is a very pardonable "one. With very few exceptions the Lifers "of convicts were as you say, men who "by good behaviour or effluxion of time "had been liberated and given employment. "Apart from this you have not mentioned "Divine by name, and therefore no very "great injury can be done. I have "found myself how difficult it is, even "with official documents at my disposal

" to avoid errors, and I trust you will " accept my assurance that the comment " I made was not in any way prompted by " a fault finding feeling. No one who " is familiar with your valuable & accurate " History could for a moment doubt the " marvellous care and labour it involved, " and the desire for absolute accuracy and " impartiality which every line breathes. " In the opinion of every competent judge " of my acquaintance it is the only " reliable and by far the most valuable " and complete History of Australia we possess"

So you see I have a soothing plaster for my scratch.

I must write an acknowledgement when, or if, I can, for I am now laid up under medical orders and have not much disposition or ability to write at all.

Please forgive my maundering to you in this manner. If I could but have the health to enable me to revisit dear old Camden I would hunt up the "Divine" matter in Johnston's Trials and other MSS,

but that alas! is impossible Essington King I am pleased to say is well, and I hear that Arthur has recovered so much that he can walk down stairs, though not up. I have no other items of news which I can think of as likely to interest you so with kindest regards to you all at Camden and elsewhere I close my feeble scrawlings.

Yours very sincerely G.W. Rusden

27th Augst 1899

Cotmandene, South Yarra. Melbourne

My dear Mrs Onslow

Into whatever despair I may have been plunged by long absence of Camden news, your letters when they arrive, seem to startle me with pleasure.

Many thanks for all their good news. And now to advert briefly to the points in it – in their order.

I have written (responsibly to his courtesy) to Mr Bladen, and referred to Alexr Berry about whose early days Mr Bladen asked me some questions.

As to Divine I suppose I must abandon further thought about him, though I am conscious of having had authority (sufficient as it seemed) for what I wrote or quoted. I am ashamed of having caused you profitless trouble. Master Divine was not worth so much.

I contemplate admiringly all your arrangements

about the shares in the "Limited Liability Company."

They profit by the Trusts who can adapt themselves to whatever is sound, in changing circumstances.

Many people run after what is unsound: and the domain of the unsound is wider than that of the sound. Not having "speculation in my eyes" I am afraid I should not myself succeed in establishing any new order of things - therefore I the more admire others in whom exist the faculties wanting in myself.

I dont envy them however Nor do I see anything to repine at in my lot. Unendowed with a sixpence it has been my lot to mix with the best and ablest of any countryment at home and abroad and in my latter