Caroline Chisholm (1808 - 1877), An autographed 3-page letter… - Australian History - Mossgreen Auctions (No longer trading)

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Caroline Chisholm (1808 - 1877), An autographed 3-page letter from Caroline Chisholm, dated April 29, 1852 on folded Family Colonization Loan Society, London printed letterhead but written while she was in Liverpool. She is writing to a correspondent who wishes to meet her but as she explains ' my movements depend so much upon circumstances that I do not at present know where I am going to when I leave here. It is fixed that I am to go to Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, Nottingham and Dublin - there are many other places not yet fixed upon...next year I am to return to the Colonies where I hope to lead an active useful life. Caroline and her husband, Archibold Chisholm arrived in Australia in 1838 with their two children. The family settled at Windsor. On trips to Sydney Caroline and Archibald became aware of the difficult conditions that faced immigrants arriving in the colony. They were particularly concerned for the young women who were arriving without any money, friends or family or jobs to go to, and many ended up working the streets to make ends meet. Archibald returned to his regiment in 1840, but encouraged his wife to continue her philanthropic efforts. Caroline originally set up a home in Sydney for the young women, and organised other homes in several rural centres. The home was soon extended to help families and young men. During the seven years Caroline was in Australia she placed over 11,000 people in homes and jobs. Her 'home' - the Female Immigrant Home - helped over 40,000 people in its 38-year lifespan. She became a very well-known woman who was very much admired. She was requested to give evidence before two Legislative Council Committees. Caroline carried out her work in NSW without accepting money from individuals or individual organisations, as she wanted to act independently and did not want to be dependent upon any religious or political body. The girls and families Caroline helped came from different backgrounds and held different religious beliefs. Money was raised for the homes through subscription. Before Caroline and Archibald returned to England in 1846, they toured the colony, at their own expense, collecting over 600 statements from those who had already settled in NSW. Caroline believed the only way to encourage emigration was for prospective emigrants to read letters from those already living in the colony. Back in England they published some of these statements in a pamphlet, 'Comfort for the Poor ' Meat Three Times a Day'. Caroline gave evidence before two House of Lords Select Committees and gained support for some of her initiatives, including free passage to Australia for the wives and children of former convicts, and for the children that through necessity emigrants had left behind in England. In 1849, with the support of Lord Shaftesbury, Sir Sydney Herbert and Wyndham Harding Frs, Caroline founded the Family Colonisation Loan Society from her home in Charlton Crescent in Islington. The Society's aim was to lend half the cost of the fare, the emigrant finding the other half of the cost, which was to be refunded after two years in Australia. Caroline held regular meetings at Charlton Crescent giving practical advice to emigrants.The Society initially found accommodation on board emigrant ships, and then chartered its own ships to transport the emigrants. It was through Caroline's insistence that the Society's ships have better accommodation that led to the upgrading of the Passenger Acts. Archibald Chisholm returned to Australia in 1851 to act as Honorary Colonial Agent to help the newly arrived emigrants and to collect repayment of loans. By 1854 the Society had assisted more than 3,000 people to travel to Australia. Caroline gave emigration lectures throughout Britain, and toured France and Italy. If Captain James Cook discovered Australia, if John Macarthur planted the first seeds of its extraordinary prosperity - if Ludwig Leichhardt penetrated and explored its before unknown interior -

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