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

On going to lunch just now & mentioning to Mr Learmonth that I had been writing to you I found that he knew you, having made a voyage with you in the Argo. He desires to be warmly remembered to you, and wishes me to say that if ever you come to Victoria, it will give him the sincerest pleasure if you will pay him a visit. You will like your visit if you make it, I can guarantee.

He is one of our most excellent men, and his wife is also an excellent person and they seem to be bringing up a most happy and orderly family. There is something also to see in the establishment, which produces an average weight of washed wool (exclusive of the lambs) of 3lb. 6oz. Water is stored at the head of what was a gully, but is now a valley with a stream sufficient to irrigate garden, & hundreds of acres, as well as to furnish spouts &c. for sheepwashing, for more than 30000 sheep.

We found the Duke of Edinburgh an agreable [sic] young fellow, but I dont think we surrounded him altogether with eligible companions as a rule, while he was here. Let me commend to your notice Lieut. Haig one of his Equerries, Lieut. Romilly of the Galatea, and Capⁿ Taylor of the Marines as people you will be sure to like. There are many others among them no doubt whom you will like also. With my kindest remembrances to yourself & all friends believe me Yours faithfully [signed, on right] G W Rusden

[top right] 20 July 1875. Parliament Houses Melbourne

My dear Sir William Macarthur

I know not whether it annoys you to be troubled with letters from a distance, and from those whom you have seen nothing of for a long time, but as I write to ask for a little information which I think you can give me, I hope you will excuse me. Some of my friends in England complaining that there was no decent history of Australia insisted that I ought to write one, and I have with some diffidence commenced the task.

There are many works already and I have access here to most of them. Langs [sic] works are all mere repetition of his own old libels whenever he can introduce subjects which he

had any thing to do with. It is always a fault to introduce the writer personally in a history, and it becomes doubly so when the writer has been a turbulent and malevolent man.

Hunc tu Romane, caveto.

I want to know whether there is in any work a full account of the deposition of Bligh, and of Captain Macarthur's evidence.

I also want to know whether a copy of your brother's work on Australia is procurable. I have vainly tried to find one here for sale. I want particularly to know what was the difference which existed between Governor King and Captain Macarthur. Lang alludes to it as a fact & says that Capⁿ M quarrelled with every Governor because they would not let him have his own wicked way:- but Lang delights in lies.

Could you kindly direct my

researches in these matters? I also want Bigge's Report.

It is so long since I have seen you & there seems so little chance of my visiting Sydney, that I hope you will excuse my thus troubling you.

I see Essington and Arthur King frequently: both are well, & Mrs Essington has happily recovered from a long and serious illness. I saw her the day before yesterday.

You will see if you read any Victorian news that we have now a scheme for taxing land before our Legislative Assembly. It has only just been propounded however, and no discussion has taken place upon it. I must ask you to give my kindest remembrances to all Camden friends and to believe me ..... Yours most sincerely

[signed, on right] G W Rusden

[written sideways, in pencil, in middle fold of page] M^r Rusden.