Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Autograph Letter Signed dated Head Quarters Sidney Town New South Wales, July 10th 1788 addressed to Mrs Mary Fogewell, Totness, Devon from John and Elizabeth Russell, beginning 'Hon'd. Mother'
DLMSQ46

Letter from Sydney
Head Quarters Sidney Town New South Wales July 10th 1788
Hon’d Mother This with our duty to you and Love to our Sister and all Friends hoping you are in good health as it leaves us thanks to God for it, Since we left England we have a son Born and blessed be God he remains in Good health and is About A Year Old he handles his feet bravely and can walk Alone a little. Our daughter have had A very trying fit of Sickness but thank God she also is recovered; I now Intend to give you A hint of our Passage to Botany Bay under the Command of Capn Arthur Phillips new Governor of New South Wales and its Dependancys. 1787 We Set sail from Spihead on the 13th May and on the 3rd of June made the Isle of Tenereif and Anchored the Fleet in St De Cruze Roads the Same day here we Stayd for 7 days and Compleated our water

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and wine and then put to Sea for the Isle of St Jagos but the wind but the wind being Against us Made Sail for South America and made the Brazilian Colonies on August 1st and on the 5th Anchored the Fleet in Rio Janerio roads, The portugees recieved us with Great Salutations and and feasted us for A Month on the best of the Land. All things here is very Plentiful and Cheap. After Compleating our duties with. About the Begining of Sepr (we) made sail for the Cape of Good hope and reached it on the 13th of October here also we was Supplyd as at Rio and Recruited Ourselves for 5 weeks. We the made sail for Botnay Bay. On this Passage I must remark the Different Climats also of the Prodigeous Large Whales seen here but for our Parts the Passage was very Good and we reached botoney Bay on the 26th Jany 1788. but the Comodore not Aproving of the Place removed us to Port Jackson where we still remain since our Arival the Supply Tender have found an Island About 3 days Sail from Head Letter from Sydney p.2.

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Quarters that Abounds with Plenty of Turtle and Tame Fowl this Country Abounds in all kinds of Birds & Fish but no tame Cattle The natives of this Country are A Straight neet Limmd People Entirely naked and almost Black They live on fish Roots & fruit & what the Country Produces of its own Accord Since our Arival we have found several Shrubs that serve as Teas Sweetining the rest which I have heare sent some Leaves as a sample As to the Pigs(?) Cattle and Poultry we brought with us they come on very well we have at Preasent Potatoes (Turn)ips, Lettice (gre)en Pease, Greens and the Corn coming in Ears I have many more things want relating conserning this new Settlement but the Limets of the Paper will not Admit I hope you will send me an Answer by the return of the fleet So with my Kind Love to all Enquiring Friends We Remain Your Dutiful Children Jno & Elizh Russell Please to remember me to Mrs folks and Mrs Basto Age Lamb came out in the same ship with me but she may have sent to her frends before now

Addressed:- To Mrs Mary Fogewell Totneess Devon