Letter from Joseph Lyell to his mother written from the Barque BEN NEVIS at Williamstown, Port Phillip on 14 April 1842
Author
Joseph Lyell
Date1842
Object number00006830
NameLetter
MediumInk on paper
DimensionsOverall: 252 x 203 mm
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionA handwritten letter from Joseph Lyell home to his mother in Newburgh, Scotland. Lyell was travelling aboard the barque BEN NEVIS to Melbourne, Australia then onto to New Zealand. The vessel left Leith in Scotland on 22 November, 1841 and arrived at Port Phillip on 11 April, 1842.
The letter covers the weather on the journey out and outlines Joseph Lyell’s first impressions of Melbourne, which were unfortunately very negative.HistoryJoseph Lyell left Leith in Scotland in November 1841. While he spent time in Melbourne on his arrival in May the following year, his letter indicates that he reboarded the BEN NEVIS and sailed to New Zealand with plans to continue on back to the Scotland. Lyell found Melbourne to be disappointing to say the least. He noted that unemployment was high and that the cost of food, especially fresh food, and rent was exorbitant. The roads were unpaved and generally speaking life appeared very difficult for emigrants. Sydney was faring no better and Lyell was looking forward to going to New Zealand where he heard many Australian residents were moving to.
The Lyell family had a long history of residing in Newburgh, Scotland, dating back to the early 1700s with at least
four generations of the family having resided there. It is possible that Joseph Lyell's father was Dr David Lyell who was practicing at this time but that Joseph himself took up the traditional family trade of tailor / linen maker.SignificanceThis letter by Joseph Lyell is a firsthand account on the state of the colony of Melbourne in its fairly early days. Lyell outlines employment problems and the expense of food and acknowledges the disappointment of those "free emigrants who have been allured from their homes by the most false and delusive representations" in moving to Australia.
