Letter

This item comes from a collection of letters, covers and other historical material which Te Papa has acquired from Gerald Ellott at various times since 2001. The collection includes items from as early as 1818, but most relate to the New Zealand Wars period (1845-1872) and particularly the 1860s. 

Gerald is one of New Zealand’s foremost postal historians, and for nearly sixty years has been collecting, researching and exhibiting the early postal history of New Zealand. He was invited to sign the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists in 1988, is a recipient of the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie Research Medal, and was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to philately in the 2008 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

The New Zealand Wars collection includes letters written by soldiers serving in British regiments in New Zealand, as well as letters from members of colonial militia and volunteer units. The content and context of the letters provide a wealth of historical, social and military information about this period. The postal markings on the letters and envelopes are also informative, allowing us to track the movement of British troops and the opening up of post offices in their wake.

Many items in the collection are mounted and annotated on archival pages. Gerald wrote the annotations for the purposes of display and storytelling. They reflect his views and the language of the time, and Te Papa has not reviewed them for accuracy.

Transcript:

[First section of partial letter]

So my darling little Annie is coming out as you express it and going to the Volunteer Ball with you. I should like to have another dance with her, but she must be altered considerably since I last had the pleasure of seeing her sweet face, and no doubt she would not like to be called darling now, I am afraid I should get in for it, instead of pitching in to me as formerly, the young lady would blush, & look down and think I was very rude to take such liberties with her. How is “So” Queen of Egypt, has she come out also, they would

[Page 2]

Know me [not?] I daresay, nor I them, you say you have a bet about my stature, and as you are all above the mark, no one can win; I have grown nothing at all since I left home, so I dare say you are disappointed in not having a handsome tall brother to look up to; I am about the middle height and that is all.
The next time I go into town I will endeavour to get my likeness taken, and then you will see what I am like & I hope you will be satisfied with me, if not I have the consolation of knowing that it is not my fault. There is a

[Second section of letter]

be at house to cut Mr. Charles out, a find good-looking young fellow like me, and single
I have no doubt, have made a better M.C. [?] a married man, it is lucky I was not at home for he would have been [word illegible due to paper scratch]…here as they say in sporting parlance. How I should have enjoyed it, for of course it is over now. Would I just have done a little flouting and so made up for lost time for I can do no flouting here, and you know I was very fond of it

[next section written at 45 degree angle on top of previous section]

the ladder of promotion but cannot gain another do my best, but I am pretty well off so do not complain. I have written O.R.C. after my [?] in my letter to Papa to puzzle him he may think it is some distinct air I have gained in the wars, so after he has puzzled a little over it, you may explain to him that it merely signifies “Orderly Room Clerk”
“Au revoir”.

I write in separate envelopes so that at lease you may

[Page 2]

get one out of the lot and not blame me for not writing. I have written to Charles also. I have written [?] and three separate letters home for the last four or five mails to keep you from complaining.
JRR