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:

[Cover]

William Law Esqre

Treasury

Whitehall

London

3C1 / 2704

Ansd 30’ June ‘48

[Postmarks: "AY / 9 MY 9 / 1848", "AUCKLAND / OC23 / 1847 / A / NEW ZEALAND"]

[Handstamp: "PAID AT / AUCKLAND.NEW ZEALAND", "SHIP-LETTER / PLYMOUTH"]

[Letter]

Auckland

New Zealand

October 17^th 1847.

My dear Law

I cannot sufficiently thank you for your kindness in writing me such nice long letters. The last mail from England brought me one from you dated May 29^th. It contained a great deal of interesting and amusing news many thanks for it. You mention that you have not seen my name in the Gazette as Captain. I hear there is not much chance of you doing so, We have not a had a step[?] for an age and I expect we have to wait an age longer before we get any promotion, do you remember Matson He got the Brevet rank of Major for service in this enchanted country,

[Page 2]

Country (and Captain Graham used to care[?] of) he has bought a very pretty little place and is laying out a very considerable sum of tin upon it. I fancy that he will settle here, and that is the only step that I see a remote chance of mentioning Capt. Grahams name, I was to tell you about a letter he wrote to his brother Sir James at home in his letter he said "they call Auckland a fair place for [?] a ship, I landed sir[?] up to my ass in mud, and the waiting place is no bigger than you think. Captain G commanded H.M.S. Castor. Auckland has been very gay lately owing to a number of new arrivals from England, the General (Pitt) has arrived with his six daughters, Brigade Major [?] two d—d ish pretty maids he is a very fine looking man + puts me and others uncommonly in mind of Major Irving who perhaps

[Page 3]

You remember in the 50^th. The Colonels son George is in camp until his son who is in some regiment in India arrives. What a [?] has been made about the Pensioners, poor old buffers, I think they have been hardly handled, they have arrived out here, and what do they find, not even the ground taken up for them, the steamer went with a few days a round several parts of the island with the Governor Colonel Wynyard +c, and only the day before yesterday, a selection was made, above – 6 miles from this, so much for their finding (as promised) a comfortable cottage 2 rooms and ground, part of which was to be in cultivation, most of them appear to be very great drunkards + their wifes more than themselves. I was walking with M[?] yesterday, + a Pensioner + his wife were walking up a hill near the Church here, both very drunk the old lady toddled about 6 yards every five minutes + then sat down

[Page 4]

Exclaiming "ah its a sore[?] hill", never hinting that she had made rather free with the bottle. We gave a grand military banquet last week to the General, Governor + heads of departments, the old General seemed to enjoy himself, he does not mind smoking in fact he enjoys a [?] now and then himself. I hope all my old school fellows are well when next you meet Davies [?] [?] or Russell pray remember me very kindly to them, - how you made my mouth water when I read your description of the Theatre, Jenny Lind, +c +c I wonder if I shall ever "get out of this", as they say in Ireland. Have you ever met my brother since I left England? He has gone now to a place called Guestling in Sussex near Hastings, we have cousins + a number of old friends about there, + he finds it a very pleasant place far better than Glynde where he was farming: he tells me old [?] has got a very fair living lately 700£ a year! Better than soldiering that! We get very fair allowances out here now, for houses, I get 72£ a year for a house

[Page 5]

the old general gets 400£ a year, Captains get 8£ a month: I hope they will approve of it at home, it will be horrid to have to refund it. How goes on the new [?] all a [?] I hope this will make it a comfortable club, + not do it all for gorgeous show (rather good I very nearly left out the not.) Major Bridge, Hume, Dressing +c are at the Bay of Islands on detail [?], the Major lost his little girl on the passage down, he has a fine little boy left, Bridge has lost 1 wife + 8 children!!! I have been a great sufferer lately from Rheumatism it has plagued me exceedingly, I fancy the work we had when we were here before is beginning to tell upon some of us, those wet nights in the fern, sound very romantic but they must play old[?] Harry with the strongest constitution.

[Page 6]

I have got two very nice boats here, one a slashing 4 oar gig, a skiff, and a little nice dinghy for putting out my fishing net: when the weather, sets in fine, we shall have some good sport, on the water, it is the only amusement out here! I wish you could see my little garden, I have it capitally stocked with Mellons 4 sorts, Peas, potatoes +c +c. I have a good mind to send some Potatoes home for seed, they are splendid, I got the seed from Hobart Town, they took some home in the "Castor" I wonder if they arrived. I sent my brother (at [?]) some curious seeds, + I hear they are doing well. are you anything of a gardener? I was always fond of a garden. I hope your Glass BOX is doing well, have you any pets, dogs or any animals, we have all got such hosts of dogs +c[?] do you remember old Drake? at Chatham, he is doing very well

[Page 7]

at my brothers. We get sad accounts from Ireland I hope now things are beginning to [?], we made a subscription for the unfortunates but I fear it will when it arrives home, be like a drop in the ocean. – Well my dear Law I must finish my letter and with my very best wishes for your health + happiness I remain as ever your most affectionate friend

John Charles. Petley

P.S. How shall I pay Mr Benson? Will you tell him I will pay him any way he likes, when I know how much I owe him for the news papers. they come [?] out far more regularly than they did formerly. JP.