1856 Lecture on Australia
These notes were extracted from an article in the North Devon Herald Journal of November 13th 1856.
Lecture on Australia. - On Monday last, Mr John Row, formerly of this town, but lately from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, gave an interesting lecture before the members of the Mutual Improvement Society and the public at the Town Hall on "the Colonies of Australia, as a field for Emigration. " - George Braginton, Esq in the chair. The Hall was densely crowded, a great many not being able to gain admittance. Mr Row is a native of this town, ; about fourteen years ago he went to seek his fortune in that far off land; he has not been disappointed; .....After alluding to the numerous failures and disappointments among emigrants, he went on to say that the residents of the " Bush" were of two classes ; the first were those who , landing in the colony with some capital were able to commence by the purchase of land, - those enjoyed comforts and luxuries equal to the gentleman-farmer class in England. The second class consisted of the small settlers industrious and persevering persons, who on arriving at the colony with their wives and families, were without a shilling. These after a few years service, had established themselves in small farms and had now all about them that could reasonably be wished for....his table was spread with an abundance of beef and mutton...the lecturer made the mouths of the working men water by exhibiting the labourer and mechanics advantages in Australia contrasted with their lot in England.... He placed by the side of the farm labourer`s 7 s a week or so in England, his 7s a day in Australia which was the wages given for that description of work. Everyone who had left Torrington for Australia was, he said, doing well, and one, after but a short residence there, could put his hand upon a thousand pounds. He knew a poor man from Bideford, who landed in the colony a widower, with five or six children, having lost his wife on the passage out. He then had a solitary fourpenny bit in his pocket, yet he had since purchased an estate which was to cost the sum of £8,000 toward which he had already paid £6,000 and since his return he had been informed that he was prepared to pay the remainder.. With that fact the lecturer was perfectly acquainted, having himself, sold the man the property. He would like for some of his old fellow townsmen to better their condition and he would assure any of them who were inclined to emigrate ......they would be certain to succeed. And moreover, if after a twelvemonth`s trial they came to him in Sydney, and told him they could not get on he would pay their.................."
We hope soon to reproduce the full article. It is particularly significant to the Brinsmeads since the gentleman in the Chair, Mr. George Braginton, Esq. worked on the canal with George Brinsmead, and was a trustee of the Stevenstone estate and thus employer of several St. Giles in the Wood men. The people Mr. Row alluded to must have included the early Brinsmead emigrants.