Australia and the East: Being a Journal Narrative of a Voyage to New South Wales in an Emigrant Ship

Author John Hood (British)

Publisher John Murray (Founded 1768, taken over 2002)

Date1843

Object number00001523

NameBook

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsOverall: 31 x 229 x 155 mm, 0.8 kg

ClassificationsBooks and journals

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionA book by John Hood of Stoneridge Berwickshire, titled 'Australia and the East: Being a Journal Narrative of a Voyage to New South Wales in an Emigrant Ship, with a Residence of Some Months in Sydney and the bush, and the route home by way of India and Egypt, in the years 1841 and 1842.' Published by John Murray, Ablemarle Street London. Inscribed to 'Thomas Cockburn, Esq., Roehampton, by his affectionate relative, the Author'. 477 Pages. HistoryJohn Hood left England 'with a heavy heart' with his son on 13 June 1841 aboard the LADY KENNAWAY bound for New South Wales, where he arrived on 12 October. A seemingly reluctatnt traveller Hood mentions on the first page of his book; "It will not be doubted by those who know me, that I must have urgent motives indeed to induce me to brave so many perils, and to make so many sacrifices of differnt kinds; and to my friends, the knowldge of the complicated pain and anxiety that must necessarily be my companions.." Hood spent some time in Sydney and toured country areas, in particular visiting another son who had a station at Mount Conobolas. He left Sydney alone on 16 March 1842, returning to England by way of the East. There he settled comfortably back into life at his home in Stoneridge, Berkshire, which he and his son had left almost a year previously. On his return Hood published an account of his travels in the book 'Australia and the East, a Journal Narrative of a Voyage to New South Wales in an Emigrant Ship with a Residence of Some Months in Sydney and the Bush in the Years 1841 and 1842.' It included views of Sydney Heads, Government House and stables, country inns, residences where Hood stayed, and landscapes. There are monotone watercolour drawings of an emu, of Sandy Wentworth King of Boree and, on the reverse, One of the Queens of Boree! in her Opossum Cloak and her Child on her Back . A view of Sydney is inscribed verso, 'a Bird’s Eye View of Sydney taken in a few minutes on the morning I sailed—from the Deck of the William Sharples —it is extremely like—But only shows a very small part of the Town, which lies to the South out of sight’.SignificanceThis book by John Hood provides an outsiders perspective on the early years of the British colony in New South Wales. Hood travelled to outlying areas in addition to Sydney and provides an account of settler society at a time close to the cessation of convict transport and desire of the settlement to be seen as free.