Two ALS from a female settler describing domestic abuse and abandonment.

2 ALS. Manuscript in ink on 8vo size bifolium. First letter: 4pp. on 2 loose bifolium, with cover bearing 1854 imperforate orange "woodblock" Victoria sixpence issue stamp, cancellation stamps, addressed to Mrs Griffin, Maids Morton, Buckinghamshire, England. Melbourne, 16 September 1855. Second letter: 2pp on single bifolium, with cover bearing same stamp, also cancelled, addressed to George Nelson Esq. Solicitor, Buckingham, County of Buckingham, England. Melbourne, 17 April 

Two emotive letters from an early British émigré to Melbourne, sending news particularly of marital issues back to a friend and later a solicitor in Buckingham. 

 

Diana Higgs arrived at Melbourne in January 1853 aboard the Ben Nevis with her husband Joseph (as 'Jas' in Unassisted Passenger Lists, VPRS: 947). Of the other Higgs' on that vessel, it is certain that Eliza Ann and likely that Ann Louisa are her children, although another child William may also be hers. It is uncertain the relationship of another adult passenger, Eliza Higgs. Diana signs off her first letter "D Higgs, W & E Carter", suggesting that passenger Will Carter (listed in the Ben Nevis records) is also a family member.

 

It is clear that from the start, he husband was a bad egg. The first letter, addressed to a Ms Griffin in Buckinghamshire sets the scene: "Mr Higgs was ill for three weeks of the dissentry and has done so very little work since we have been here ... [he] has been quite a drawback to us when mother had boarders he would quarrel with them and they would leave". She stressed the employment the rest of the family have found - her mother running a board and lodgings house, herself in "the millianry and dress making", their son William with a "paper hangger", and that her husband sought none, his excuse being "that he did not like the collany". It appears that following the disturbance to her lodgers, Diana Higgs' mother was "compeled to send him to England", leaving her in debt £224.0 - a sizeable sum. The purpose of this letter therefore is to set straight any "unfavourable account of us" which friends back home might receive from Joseph Higgs. 

 

The second letter, written six month later, shows how Diana Higgs' situation has worsened. Addressed to a solicitor, George Nelson Esq., it is apparent that upon his return to England, Joseph Higgs had continued to menace his wife by requesting that she return the two children to England at her own expense. She goes on to rebuff this request: "You are not perhaps aware of his treatment to me [...] I had been married to him for seven years previous to his leaving me during which time he neither supported me or the children leading an idle drunken and dissipated life[.] He has beaten me for no reason and I have been compelled to have him bound to the Peace[.] He has cruelly beaten me and the children and his conduct to them was so bad that they have no affection for him [...] He took from me my last sixpence to pay his passage home money that I had earned by my own industry." The case takes an interesting turn with the revelation that the children in question are not biologically those of Diana Higgs, in spite of which she continues to fight for their welfare as well as her own: "I have been a mother to them[.] Many stepmothers placed in my situation would have acted far differently [...]  My Husband in his letter threatens me that if I do not comply with his wishes He will return to the colony. Let him come."

 

Aside from the material relating to Diana Higgs' unfortunate marital situation, she also includes in her letter to Ms Griffin an account of her experiences in the new climate and landscape.

 

"The day we landed it was on the 5 of January it was a very hot day what is called a hot wind bowing from the north clouds of dust and the sun burning the skin off our faces these winds generally last three days at a time and when the wind turnes it is all to gether as could it is considered a healthy country the trees are ever greens the yarrer is a beautifull river which supplies us with water as we have no wells or pumps we pay 5 shillings for a load of water. Melbourne and the roads are very much emproved since came, at the time when you have such fearful cold weather we do not know ware to to put ourselfs to keep cool. I do not think we could live in England after living here four or five years".

Stock Code: 224205