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    Newsletter No 28 May 2004                                                                                                            PAGE  7

A Page of Nostalgia:

         Pauline and Ian Bedwell have sent in a copy of  letters sent by  Great Grandfather, Edward Bedwell to his brother Harry Bedwell living in Rushworth at the time.

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               .
 
H.M.S. EDITH,
SYDNEY. 
APRIL 13TH 1866
My dear Harry,
              I received your letter yesterday in which you gave me a long account of your doings and future intentions and asking me to join in some speculation.  At present I am not in a condition to do so but had written some time since requesting that all my Vancouver investments be turned into money and the amount forwarded to me, perhaps when that is finished I may be in a better position to join you. I am very glad to hear that your investments are turning out well in the gold way and also that you are thinking of taking up land and stocking it but I would not be in too much of a hurry to fence in at once do what you can first without crippling youself. Stock I should think would pay well but look about well before you buy get the advice of a squatter or some honest trustworthy and could you leave your mining work for a short time without detriment try and get some work on a station where you no doubt would pick up a good deal of useful knowledge.  But keep your own counsel and let nobody know your ultimate views.  Farming and keeping stock are not things learnt in a day I imagine and some experience is necessary, in the meanwhile you might buy the land let the money remain for interest in a bank and when you think your experience is sufficient to go ahead make a beginning.  It is indispensable to have a creek or running stream on your land for cattle I am given to understand so don't buy a pig in a poke. Could you not join Woods in a hay and corn store at Melbourne as partner perhaps it would answer well. The knowledge required for that business would not be very great and your education is quite sufficient for keeping the accounts.  If you found such a concern promised well pay a little more than he has at first.  Melbourne is a rising place and you don't know what may turn up. The boys will want schooling a bit and it perhaps is difficult to get them taught at Rushworth. So you have an addition to your family. I am very glad they will all be of a help to you before long I have no doubt.
              As regards helping you I am thinking of marrying and in such a case I should require what money I could scrape up for the business that is the reason I wish to turn my V.1. securities into money. Marriage in society is a serious matter ladies requiring expensive dresses etc., etc., that at times I look aghast at the subject and see myself condemned to perpetual bachelorhood with its attendant vices and evils for I am mounting up in the scale of years and my chance may soon go. There are lots of fine young ladies here but their tastes are all so expensive and they have few ideas except dressing up and playing the piano.
            You may remember my Melbourne speculations. I have heard nothing of them lately and fear that the money was thrown into the fire. Findlay I hear has left the Bank of India and taken to sending horses to Bombay. I wrote to him some time ago but have received no answer which makes one suspect my affairs are in Queer Street.  Perhaps you may be able to make enquiries about the South Crinoline Amalgamated Quartz Mining Company Limited Donneity's Creek, North Gippsland.  J. Watson was the broker from whom I bought the shares, he lives 26 Collins Street West.  On thinking over matters it is not impossible but that you may see me in Melbourne some time this year. (DV) Breton did not tell me anything about hurting himself I am very sorry to hear  it especially as he is inclined to be delicate. I have advised him to try and get some clerical employment in the vicinity of London should he remain on half pay any time. I heard from Comberton by the last mail they are all much the same as usual. I should like Aunt Hyacinthe to live with Breton as it would be a pleasant change for her and as she draws 25 pounds a year from some fund it would almost pay for her keep.  Uncle H. ought to get a church somewhere near them and he  would greatly change for the better.  How his grand nephews would   ?   bully    ?     and amuse him. I took home a parrot some years ago for Aunt Rebecca and it  keeps them all alive they have no other pet so this does capitally for them.
         April 20th 1866.
              I have kept this open expecting to hear some news from England but have as yet heard nothing some of our letters being detained in Adelaide in the Commodores bag. Captain Sidney is going home on six months leave and I am left in temporary charge but it will not be very much to my advantage except some four or five shillings a day. I must now conclude having my home letters to write and the mail leaves for England tomorrow so good bye for the present.  We sail on Monday next for a surveying cruise and will probably be absent for six weeks. There is a  ?   live   ?  French Prince in Sydney and he is being very much honoured his name is Prince de Coude and he arrived here a short time back by the mail steamer.
         With best love to all believe me dear Harry,
                             Your affectionate brother     E. P. Bedwell

(Further extracts will be published in later editions of our newsletter)
 



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