Volume 10: Elizabeth Macarthur journal and correspondence, 1789-1840

19 some of their names I think much so. I will give you a few native names, and begin with the men: Arrabason, Volahoa, Iminwanga, Boldarry, Werong, Watteval Erroniba female names: Milbah, Booel Barangeroo Cadimang Mooningooru Worigan Crewboar. Mr. Dawes, who has studied their Language, or Jargon, a good deal, has endeavoured to learn what their notions are of the Deity. It is not discovered that they Worship the Sun, or any of the heavenly Bodies, and yet they say all who die go up to the Clouds Mr Dawes thinks they have a tradition of the Flood among them They say one Man, and one Woman was saved in a [page torn] be traced It is not wonderful [page torn] – flood as all nations [page torn] have (more or less [page torn] account of the Natives [page torn] the Ship was under [page torn] [page torn] has however been detained a week longer My spirits are at this time low, very low, to-morrow we lose some valuable members of our small society, and some very good friends. In so small a Society we sensibly feel the loss of every Member, more particularly those that are endeared to us by acts of kindness and friendship from this circumstance, and my former Letters, you may be led to question my happiness, but this much I can with truth add for myself, that since I have had the powers of reason and reflection I never was more sincerely happy than at this time, it is true I have some wishes unaccomplished, that I would add to my comfort, but when I consider this is not a state of perfection, I am Abundantly Content

Adieu E. McArthur.

Mrs. McArthur

No 4 August 23rd, 1796.

Once more I take my pen to address my dear Mrs McArthur the loved companion of my early hours – and she whose friendship in maturer life I have still set a greater value on, here I expect you to exclaim, why then do I not oftener hear from you? no reason, should you have for this question, were it not for The uncertainty of my Letters ever reaching you of the many I have sent – as yet I have heard of but one that ever was receiv'd. T'is long since I had the pleasure of hearing from you but The many favourable accounts I have read in the public papers of New South Wales – have afforded me great satisfaction – often do I wish that it were in my power to visit you. I have formed so favorable an opinion of your situation. That nothing but the dread and danger of the Voyage prevents my wishes from being realiz'd – but as in all probability they never can be – I hope the time is not far distant That will restore you and Mr. McArthur with your Family to your native country – Your friends in This Neighbourhood make frequent enquiries for you but of late I have not had it in my power to give them any information, but will now endeavour to give you some of them

Perhaps you may not have heard of Mr Bennetts death – which happen'd about two years since in a sudden manner – when Longford became Miss Wollacombs – she with her Brother of his Family have since resided there – we find them very pleasant Neighbours – No material alteration has taken place at Whitstone – only that the family are more generally visited than when you left England – The Miss [indecipherable] are fine young Women – The Major

appears particularly fond of them – yet still continues to visit Miss Harris – Mr. & Mrs. Baynes have a numerous family – seven children I think just of one size – I suppose you must have heard that Miss Martyn of Stratton has been maried [married] several years to a Mr. Clark but as her Husband is chiefly abroad – she still continues to live with her Father – The Esqr has also been maried [married] several years – and lives at Mevagisey [Mevagissey] – Tom still continues single I have heard that he has been rather unfortunate in his attachments – Mr. J King is a widower and now at Stratton with his Father – Mr. D King has been maried [married] some time – his wife is a pleasant little woman – Captain Moriarty is become a Major – Mrs. M – died soon after her leaving this country – The Major has lately consol'd himself for her loss – by taking another wife – we have never seen him since he left Lancaster The Cory family are now all maried [married] – or soon to be so except Dolly who I do not hear has any admirer – she as well as myself will I believe have the felicity of dying an old maid – Mr. R Kingdon has given up Business – quitted Holsworthy and gone with his Family to live at Barnstaple – Mr. & Mrs Braddon I have not seen for a long time but my mother often receives messages from Mrs B – requesting that she will visit her – and this summer I believe she intends to comply with her requests – Mr. J [indecipherable] still lives at Furze a Bachelor – nor do I hear that he has any intention to change his state – Upon the whole we are very gay in this Neighbourhood – Bude is much resorted to by strangers and we have so many young folks within a few miles – That we have frequent parties there – Out of the last twelve months I have been absent from home Eight – and the remaining four

have had company at home Miss Judith Kingdon is now with me – when she quits Bridgerule I mean to live a more solitary life than I have lately done – Now I will endeavour to give you a more particular account of my own Family – My Father & Mother are just the same as when you left them – John now lives at Marham-church – has already three children – Roger, do not be surprized is now in The West Indies – chaplain on Board the [page torn] I believe he has now seen as much as he wishes of [page torn] and will the first opportunity return home – Charl[es] [page torn] continues a Bachelor at the Bridge – Richard lives [page torn] with his Uncle Dennis – Thomas is now at Home – [page torn] to Oxford – he has been some time Fellow of Exeter [page torn] Frank still continues at Bideford – with Mr. Smith [page torn] will soon be out – and then of course he must go to [page torn] [page torn] Duration – Dennis is a Lieutenant in the [page torn] and [page torn] by this time [page blurred] arriv'd at the Cape of Good Hope Christopher & Eliza are both at Home – I would now give you some account of the Fashion – particularly of the Ladies dress – but you know my inability to discuss the subject – There is no such thing as a waist – stays are quite an unnecessary part of female dress – The petticoats are up to the shoulders & below the feet – Hats are still worn small – but indeed dress as you will you are not thought particular unless you have a long waist – and it is very seldom that we see two people whose garments are made the same – 'T'is quite fashionable to write on colour'd paper. but you my dear friend will I hope excuse my using plain wht indeed this place will afford no other – I must also beg you to