Clutterbuck James Bennett (2 results)

London : John W. Parker, 1850. Duodecimo, original gilt-lettered green cloth (expertly rebacked, preserving original spine), folding frontispiece map of the colony with hand coloured outline, pp. [vi]; 166; 6 (advertisements), a few spots of foxing to preliminaries, a very good copy. First and only edition of this account of the early settlement of Port Phillip. Clutterbuck was a trained doctor who arrived in 1840 and spent nearly ten years in the colony. This account was aimed at emigrants to the district and was used by many arrivals for the gold rush a few years later. Includes a chapter titled 'Aborigines' which concerns the indigenous people of the region. Billot, 725; Ferguson, 5326; Ford, 530.

First and sole edition of this interesting and comprehensive account of the early settlement of Port Phillip. Clutterbuck (1807-1896), a doctor who arrived in 1840 and spent nine years in the colony, intended his book as a guide for those considering emigration. Although reasonably well represented institutionally (albeit largely in Australia), there is no copy at the British Library. Clutterbuck composed his narrative on the voyage back to England. He opens with a geographical overview and devotes chapters to flora and fauna, climate, agriculture, "The Aborigines", "State of Society" (professions, education, the press), sheep farming, "Land, Labour, Steam Communication", imports and exports, wages and provisions; the appendix gives useful information for those considering emigration and includes extracts from shipping line prospectuses. He also tabulates the "usual dietary scale for the regular line of packet ships sailing monthly to Port Phillip, Sydney, and Adelaide". "Medical comforts" include 24 bottles of port, 12 bottles of sherry, 100 gallons of "approved stout", and 10 each of brandy and rum, all to be issued "at the discretion of the surgeon". In its review, The Athenaeum commented, "We can recommend this little book to the intending emigrant". "From 1831 the British and Australian colonial governments paid, or partly paid, for thousands of migrants to move to Australia. This boosted the population of the Australian colonies and at the same time reduced the need for convict labour. From 1832 until the 1850saround 357,000 assisted migrants came to Australia" (National Museum Australia). Ferguson 5326. Six UK libraries cited by an online search: Oxford, Cambridge, London Library, King's College London, Scotland, and St Andrews; The Athenaeum, No. 1169, 23 March 1850. Octavo (159 x 94 mm). Folding map frontispiece laid down on linen. Near-contemporary dark blue half morocco, spine with gilt paired fillets either side of five raised bands, gilt lettered direct in second and fourth compartments, dark grayish blue pebble-grain cloth sides, Nonpareil pattern marbled edges and endpapers. Some old pale staining to back cover otherwise a particularly nice copy.