Category Archives: Letters

Per Royal Charter                                            

84 Collins Street

Melbourne 13th January 1857

Mr Wm Jones                                                                                              

Glybcoed

nr. Amlwch

My Dear Sir

I plead guilty to great remissness in not having more frequently written you but the truth is I was expecting you to return long ere this, as however, you do not seem to make your second appearance in this golden country I embrace this favourable opportunity of sending a few lines to show that I am still alive, and remaining in my old neighbourhood in Collins Street. I am removed somewhat down the street and have a good large Store immediately facing the Bank of Australia, where I carry on much the same kind of business as when you left & I have no reason to complain of the state of my affairs – nor of the amount of trade which I get through.

Business is pretty brisk in Australia just at this time, and quite as much Gold is being got as at the time of your departure in fact the quantity got in 1856 was much greater than in any one year previously –

Ballarat is not quite so lively as when you left still the quantity of gold per Escort is larger than from any other Gold fields – Many new leads have been hit during 1856 and they are now talking of more new ones –

Palmer has been home and got married and has just returned with a Blooming Birmingham lass, – Thomas Middleton has now three daughters, and is busy manufacturing more – Stoney has got married and has just got a son –

Ashling of the Golden Gate has been very poorly, but is now better –

Canny Dickson has been very unlucky, and about four months ago rushed off to New Diggings on the Sydney side, which you would probably read account of in the papers – No words has been heard from him since he left – and I fear something has befallen him. Eckersall is flourishing again better than ever – and as for poor Holland he has been very unfortunate ever since you left, he is now at the Caledonia Diggings about 20 miles from Melbourne and keeps a small Store and Bakery – his good lady Mrs. Holland was in town last week making purchases, and she wants Mr. Holland to come again to town –

Shaw has not been seen or heard of since you left and fears are entertained that something has befallen him – Lord John Russell keeps a small store at Fryers Creek – Stevenson is carting goods to the Diggings – and is third Mate Neal, Miss Buckhams sweatheart.

Both the Miss Buckhams are married, and doing justice to their husbands –

I should like much to hear from you when you have any leisure and tell me what you think of old Wales since your return – Have you been to Dolgelley my favourite spot? –

How is old Morton? I have heard from several parties that he is coming out again, is such the case? If you see him please present my kindest regards – Seth Evans I have never seen or heard of since you left here –

But I must draw to a close, hoping you are married, and have two or three thumping little Jones’s running about your knees, and with the Compliments of the Season, best wishes for your welfare

I am my Dear Wm. Jones

Your sincere friend

Wm. Selkirk

Per Royal Charter

Mr. Wm. Jones

Care of Mr. David Jones

Glybcoed Farm

Amlwch

Anglesey

North Wales

Postmarks: Melbourne Ja 14

Australian Packet

Paid Liverpool Ap 12 57

For a history of the Royal Charter and in particular her last tragic voyage see “The Golden Wreck” by Alexander McKee, Souvenir Press, 1961.

The Royal Charter was an auxiliary steam clipper built of iron and 2,719 tons in weight. She was built at the Sandycroft Iron Works on the River Dee and launched in 1855. Her dimensions were: length of keel 308½ ft., overall length 356 ft. She had three masts, a funnel and a 200 horse power auxiliary steam engine. On her maiden voyage to Australia she left Liverpool on 18^th January, 1856 but had to return to Plymouth. Nevertheless she made the voyage in 60 days. On her last voyage she left Melbourne to Liverpool on 26^th August, 1859 carrying £322,440 in gold, not counting a large quantity of gold carried by passengers on them. Estimates of the passenger list vary from 472 to 498. Within a few hours of her anticipated arrival at Liverpool she was driven ashore on to the rock at Moelfre, Anglesey, in a force 12 hurricane. The shipwreck occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, 26^th October, 1859. Although the ship broke up within yards of land, there was tremendous loss of life, there begin only 40 survivors. No women or children were saved.

A hundred years later in 1959 Dr. Ellis Jones had returned from Australia by ship as Ship’s Surgeon on the m.v. Arabic. In the autumn of that year he made a point of visiting Moelfre on the 100^th anniversary of the shipwreck of the Royal Charter. As there was a tug boat strike in Liverpool, there were nine ships anchored off Moelfre unable to enter Liverpool. On that night there was a severe storm and when he revisited Moelfre the following day, Tuesday, 27^th October, 1959, visibility was very poor owing to the spray blown inshore by a tremendous gale. It was quite impossible for him to stand on the point at Moelfre as the gale was so strong. There were at the time 13 ships anchored off Moelfre. One of these, the Hindlea of 650 tons was driven ashore on to the Moelfre rocks a short distance from the stie of the wreck of the Royal Charter. Fortunately the crew of eight were taken off the Hindlea by the Moelfre Lifeboat at the height of the storm. For his gallantry the Cox, Richard Evans, was awarded the Gold Medal of the R.N.L.I. On the following day, Wednesday, 2ith October, 1959, Dr. Ellis Jones again returned to Moelfre to see the Hindlea breaking in half on the rocks.

(First Sheet of Letter Missing)

home with £3,000, he had been up at the ovens, and has employed many men, one of which was Canny Dickson at £1 per day – What do you think of White head the great heart beating every other Derbyite –

Palmer has been home, got married & brought out his wife to Australia, – Shaw I never hear off – nor Ritchie Cureton &c – Thos. Middleton is now passing through the Insolvent Court, Mrs M. having got into debt carrying on a Furniture shop – Seth Evans I never hear off at all. – Mr. Holland is at Caledonia Diggings about 25 miles from Melbourne and is doing pretty fair. However there is no fortune made nowadays as in the olden time –

I am still progressing a little but very slowly – my health has not been good lately, and I am thinking of having a trip home next February when my lease is out. If I do so I fully intend to sample the Tap at the Stanley Vaults, and also taste the Wedding Cake, if it is not all done – so please look out –

I know a Mr. Humphrey a Clerk and Traveller for Roodee Foundry in Chester, He was from Anglesea. He was a Plumber & Glazier &c when I left. Was he any relative of your good lady’s? If so I and he were most particular friends –

The Tender for Ballarat and Bendigo Railways were to have been let yesterday, but only the Bendigo one was let for three millions sterling or say net £3,356,937:2s:2d this ought to give things a stir – but business is very hard –

I have nothing particular to say further than to be very kindly rememberer & wishing you every prosperity –

I am My Dear Mr. Jones

Ever yours truly

Wm. Selkirk