Macpherson Grant James (1 results)
More images- Signed
Seller: Douglas Stewart Fine Books, Armadale, VIC, AustraliaDouglas Stewart Fine Books
Contact seller4-star sellerCondition: Used
US$ 362.78
US$ 37.00 shippingShips from Australia to U.S.A.Quantity: 1 available
Manuscript in ink, 2 pp, quarto (lacking the first sheet), signed at the foot 'Your affectionate son, J. Macpherson Grant'; outer wrapper addressed to Sir George Macpherson Grant, Baronet, Edinburgh (but redirected to Ballindalloch), with framed 'YASS / POST PAID' in red, and oval 'PAID SHIP LETTER / SYDNEY' dated 'DE 23 1843' i…n red; rated in ms. '1/2' (11d to Sydney + 3d outgoing), '8' (UK incoming) and '1' (redirection), with the two former marks deleted in transit to indicate the final charge; verso with oval Yass despatch stamp in black, dated 'DE 21', red arrival circular date stamp of 'MAY 28 1844' (London), 'MAY 29 1844' (Edinburgh), and green framed 'BALLINDALLOCH' date stamp of 'MAY 30 1844'; endorsed by the receiver '1843, 17 Dec., James from Bendinine, received 30 May 1844'; in fine condition. Captain James Macpherson Grant (1811-1847), of the 93rd (Sutherland Highlanders) Regiment of Foot, was the second son of Sir George Macpherson Grant (1781-1846), first baronet of Ballindalloch. Heretired from the army in 1838 and emigrated to New South Wales. From around 1840, in partnership with fellow squatter William Pitt Trevelyan, he managed several pastoral runs including Bendinine on the Burrowa (Boorowa) Plains, near Yass (20,000 acres); Khancoban, in the western foothills of the Snowy Mountains (23,000 acres); and Douglas, north of Lake George (40,000 acres). BothGrant and Trevelyan were appointed district magistrates in August 1844. However, after making a return visit to Scotland, Grant would live only a few more years: his death notice appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, 4 December 1847: 'At Bendinine, on the 27th Nov., James MacphersonGrant, Esq., aged 37 years.'. His passing was also announced in The Spectator (London). Note: Grant is not be confused with his namesake, James Macpherson Grant (1822-1885), prominent solicitor and politician in New South Wales and Victoria. This previously unpublished letter was written by Grant on Bendinine just prior to Christmas 1843, and was sent to his father in Scotland. It is, unfortunately, lacking the first sheet, and Grant's scrawled handwriting is extremely difficult to read; however, it is evident that the letter contains news and anecdotes about the Yass district. The following deciphered phrases and passages give a tantalising glimpse of what a determined and persevering researcher might be able to uncover: 'Boorowa Plains . by a black fellow . . taken to Trevelyan's . and would have been a great [help?] to him . a French man . There are a great many old soldiers in different parts of the Colony . not very far from here . a large number of sheep, about 15,000, he is one of the government members .
