Item 19 to 22 - Henty to wife Matilda and Mary

Correspondence from William Henty to wife Matilda and daughter Mary dated between August and October 1862.
Letters to his wife, Matilda, and daughter,Mary, on holiday with relatives at Tomago N.S.W., written in the form of a journal describing his last days in office and preparations for leaving the Colony. When Parliament was dissolved after the defeat over the "Ad valorem duty bill", having carried the State Aid Religion Bill, William Henty was able to resign and made his farewell speech on 17 October 1862. He described his preparations for departure: he cataloged his books for sale, sorted and burnt papers, packed up a side saddle for Mary, suggested sending Mary's old school and story books for Ann's children at Tomago, his servant Dinah was to go to Mrs Dobson, his dog Fanny was given to Joseph Archer - with Mrs Archer's permission - but "poor little Fanny looked very forlorn at me when the man took her away cuddled in his arms . . . she lately has come into the Council regularly with me and everybody took notice of her", Banjo the cat to the butcher, who promised to take good care of him, the mare sold for £30 and the carriage for £50 and he gave his picture of the cricketers to Lewis Dobson. Henty was suffering from a bad foot and Dr. Crowther "applied caustic" but might have to take off the toenail using chloroform. Dr. Crowther was operating on Mrs Buckland's eyes for cataract. There are references also to relatives and friends and social life. Henty dined at Government House with Governor and Mrs Gore Brown and the guests played at bouts rimes making verses out of questions and nouns. He also referred to Mrs Gore Brown's "theatricals", her slighting Miss Rose and then dining at "old Gregsons". The Messiah had been played at the Theatre for the Packers. Henty also dined at Archdeacon Davies' to meet Mrs Kermode and old Mrs Archer etc. Willy Garrett said "the girls" were getting on well with the scholars and "the young Cockburns" were going to board there. Bobby Maning had run away to Captain Fenton's and Willy Knight was trying for a Tasmanian Scholarship, but was thought to be "much behind the others". Mrs Crouch
had sent her promised book "The Young Ladies' Instructor". The Barnards had returned on the "Heather Belle". It snowed in Hobart several times that winter and a gale blew down the end of the stable. Henty hoped that young Mary was finding the weather in N.S.W. more agreeable and was pleased to hear she had seen the comet - Mr Abbott had also seen it.
Letter 19 dated 12 Aug. - 3 Sept.. Letter 20 dated 5 Sept.- 23 Sept. Letter 21 dated 23 Sept. to Mary.Letter 22 dated 9 Oct. - 18 Oct. (incomplete)