Tuesday, January 26, 2016

1852 - Enigmatic JW: wealthy enough to travel “home”, adventurous enough to sail to NZ.

34, Upper Eaton Street, Eaton Square,

                                                        16th October, 1852

My dear Cozens,

                            I have been successful in my mission to a great extent; and I am fully satisfied with the step I took in coming home.  I am to leave thus in May with a large party like the Pollock for Canterbury.

  I am now working in co-operation with Savage, Meryou, and others in urging on the Colonial Office the necessity of letting Sir G Grey make our road at once; and to send him out the necessary tools, a list of which, and all other requisite information, I brought home with me;  and we are sanguine as to our success.

  My breach with E.G.W. is irreparable.  Should we meet at Canterbury, as I shall be there in September, you shall see the document and judge for yourself.

  I am acting with Frederick Young as to emigration and other matters, and he is indeed a gentleman.  He is to take up our ship for us, as he can be relied upon.  My brother sailed in the Minerva , and a pretty exposure the New Zealand Company and the Association are to have: he has just got away in time.  Molesworth and Lowe are going to bring the whole matter before Parliament.

  I think the Diggings emigration is on the decrease, but still the activity of business in the city exceeds belief.  Iron up £ a ton, and every thing in the same way.

  I am going in a week to pass some days at Dereham with a medical man there who is going with me to Canterbury, his two elder sons being there already.  I shall go on from thence to see Mrs. Cozens and Mr. Wodehouse.  I have been a week at Ipswich, and at Canterbury in Kent: all kindness.

  I hope you will write to me so that I may know when we may expect you.  You know how pleased Constance and the whole party will be to see you.  Remember me to all and every.  If it were not fate forbids it, I would die with my children in Tasmania.


              Yours ever sincerely       F/J/T? W