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The Leisure Hour: A Family Journal of Instruction and Recreation

Date23 September 1852

Object number00002794

NameNewspaper

MediumPaper

DimensionsOverall: 255 mm

ClassificationsBooks and journals

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionThe Illustrated periodical titled 'The Leisure Hour: A Family Journal of Instruction and Recreation'. No 39 for Thursday 23 September, 1852. Price 2d. 16 Pages. This edition includes a brief extract of 'A Voyage to Australia' taken from the diary of Reverend John Davies Merewether who travelled to Australia in 1850 on the LADY MACNAGHTEN. Merewether remained in Australia for three years taking positions in Hobart and Sydney and becoming the Riverina's (in New South Wales) first resident Anglican clergyman.HistoryReverend John Davies Merewether left Gravesend in 1850 aboard the LADY MACNAGHTEN. The vessel carried to Adelaide 28 cabin passengers, including Mereweather, and their eight children, and another 80 persons in steerage. The journey took 135 days from Gravesendand over the course of the journey experienced numerous days of bad weather. Merewether took it upon himself to offer his services as clergyman aboard the ship, he viewed the immigrants as his parishioners over the course of the voyage. He kept a diary where he recorded much of shipboard life such the birth and death of children, the falling overboard and drowning of a young passenger, and the disintegration of morals and standards as the journey wore on. By the end of May Merewether writes; "The people by this time heartily tired of their voyage, having been on board and living on salt provisions since January. Most of them have nothing but water to drink; many are getting pale, meagre, and irritable; they are slovenly and neglectful of themselves and children; and others are gambling for high stakes - all showing the demoralizing tendency of a long voyage, with absence of regular employment. " The extract in 'The Leisure Hour' ends on Merewether's arrival at Adelaide and his giving thanks at being delivered safely. An additional letter is also published by him regarding the effects of the gold rush in Victoria. He writes that there is a labour and economic crisis in Adelaide as everyone able has gone to the goldfields leaving no one to do the work needed and reducing property prices in Adelaide. After being declined a position in Adelaide, Merewether travels to Hobart and later the Riverina region and Sydney. He left Australia in 1853 seemingly finding the conditions harsh. Merewether settled in Venice in 1855 and remained there until his death at 80 in 1896. SignificanceThis extract of the recordings of Revered John Davies Merewether record in some honest details the daily trials of life aboard an early immigrant ship to Australia. The personal altercations and day to day difficulties are noted in addition to the more sombre event of drownings, birth and morale loss.