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Archiver > AUS-Tasmania > 2004-12 > 1102085541


From: "Alex Green" <>
Subject: Re: [AUS-Tas] RE: Letter to a convict
Date: Sat, 4 Dec 2004 01:55:51 +1100
References: <002301c4d8e1$5e9b1700$3c00000a@poss30ed9614x0>


Dear List,

Frankly, I have never heard such rot. I posted to the list in October 2003
that Charles Leski was selling the item in a philatelic sale. Several days
later it hit the popular press.(any lurking journalists?) It, and its
contents, have been in the public domain since then. Refer to my post to
the list of 24 November 2003 for full details.

There is no copyright on the text.

The number of times these spurious issues have been spawned across these
lists beggars belief.

The irony is that historically the letter is interesting, but philatelically
it is priceless. As are letters from Norfolk Island whilst part of VDL...
anyone have any for sale? :)

Why would TMAG hold copyright when previous owners, including eminent
philatelists such as Viney (a Tasmanian!), Robinson, Bombieri and Cress did
not?

Please, see www.copyright.com.au for full and accurate explanations of what
copyright really entails.

Yours

Alex Green


----- Original Message -----
From: "Trudy Cowley" <>
To: <>
Sent: Friday, December 03, 2004 1:39 PM
Subject: [AUS-Tas] RE: Letter to a convict


> Hello everyone
>
> I am concerned that this letter has made it onto this list as the letter
is
> owned by the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery - they bought it earlier
this
> year. As such, I am not sure of the copyright issues. It is on display
at
> the TMAG and was on display (in audio format) at our Female Factory Muster
> on 7 November.
>
> >From what I know of the letter, Mary and her husband were not reunited.
No
> descendants of hers have, as yet, been traced, either.
>
> If you are interested in the letter, contact the TMAG.
>
> Regards
> Trudy
>
> Dr Trudy M Cowley
> on behalf of the Female Factory Research Group
> www.utas.edu.au/femalefactorymuster
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Julie Skellern [mailto:]
> Sent: Thursday, 2 December 2004 11:13 PM
> To:
> Subject: Re: Letter to a convict
>
> SOB!!! Does somebody own Mary? Did they ever get reunited??? I hope
> someone knows the answer.
>
> Jools
>
> From: "Yvonne" <>
> Date: Thu, 2 Dec 2004 11:13:03 +1100
> To:
> Subject: Letter to a convict
>
>
> The following letter was posted on the Co.Tipperary List. I am posting a
> copy with the permission of the original lister.
>
> For Mary Walsh, Convict
> in care of ( ? possibly Brooks)
> Elizabeth St.
> Hobart Town
> Vandiemansland
> (?)
>
> Clonmel July 16, 1843
>
> My dear wife, I have received your kind and welcome letter of 20th March
> which is the greatest happiness I have enjoyed ever since he day I have
> parted my dearest Mary. It gives consolation to my troubled mind to know
> that you are comfortably situated in your exile and that you have the
great
> pleasure of seeing your sweet child at times.
> It would be the only wish of my heart, Dear Mary, to go to you on my
knees,
> but I have not the means at present for I have to pay so much a year for
> services out of my wages, and as there is no emigration nor any provision
> made by government for that country renders my state unable to go out to
my
> lovely aand dearest Mary. Therefore if you could by any means make
interest
> to bring me out would be the only happiness in this life which I could
> desire. So if you can learn any way let me know of it in your letter for
you
> are in my thoughts by day and night. When you left Dublin, I sent Maurice
to
> the County Cork, to my sister Mary, and have not seen him these twelve
> months past but intend on tomorrow the 17 July to go to see him.He is in
> good health as I receive letters from him. I have a new suit of clothes
for
> him. Sonny Hays is in good health along with the Prendergasts near your
> Uncle Jack in service. I see him oftener than Maurice for I do not leave
> Sonny Hays out of my mem!
> ory at all, but give him every little thing that he wants.
> I am employed ever since you left home at Thomas Kennedys at ( ? ) and at
> Thomas Rourks. My dearest Mary there is not a moment that I am thinking of
> you day and night aand will be always so til it please God to restore you
> once more to my arms for you are my only thoughts by day and my dreams at
> night. I am sorry my dear wife, that I did not leave my children to go out
> with you for I could be able to follow you in a short time if people were
> carried out free as they were before. I would go out to you when I
received
> your letter, but they are not without a great deal of money. If I lived
for
> 100 years you would be as fresh in my heart as you were the day you left
me.
> I expect a letter from you at every opportunity as it is the only
pleasure
> I can enjoy since my loving wife is so far, far away from me. It is in my
> prayer morning and night to bring you safe to my bosom. I am glad to hear
> that my sweet little Mary is so well - my dear Mary this is a
broken-hearted
> letter I am s!
> ending you as I cannot bring it myself. Send me word in your next letter
if
> you intend to come home to me when your time is out for I could not live
at
> home without being in the same place where my poor Mary used to be. I
would
> send you another letter in a short time after this but hearing that you
> would remove from the place where you are at present, let me know how long
> you are to remain where you are at present. Think of your broken-hearted
> husband and children as long as you live.
> I am very well in health as also are your children. All your friends are
> well. (?) the neighbours are very sorry for you but hope God will restore
> you once more to me and be happy forever again. I will keep your letter
next
> to my heart until I receive another from you, my darling wife. My dear
Mary
> when I used to go to work every Monday morning from you, I would feel the
> week a year long until I could see you on Saturday evening, but what must
my
> heart feel now when I cannot see you at all for when I am at work my
labour
> companions give me any concern but thinking of you. My brother Jack and
> Maurice and families are well in health. My brother Jack lives now in the
> county Cork in Macroom. It troubles me very much to have my child so far
> from me as it would be great comfort to my mind to see him once a week. I
> received your kind letter on 11th July which removed a mountain from my
> heart. Whenever you write direct your letter to Thomas Kennedy. All your
> friends and
> neighbours send you (?). I know my dear loving Mary that you will deserve
> the love and esteem of those with whom you live, as you merited the
goodwill
> of all who know you at home. Now my dear wife I am at the point of
finishing
> my letter. Farewell, farewell and Mary receive much consolation at the
> reading of this as I have at the reading of yours. May your rest be ?
and
> your dreams sweet always thinking of him who thinks of you. Again
farewell
> until I can shake hands wwith my darling Mary, until death do us part.
>
> I remain your loving and affectionate husband
>
> James Walsh
>
> I have offered a Pound to Hennessy (?) to write if he could do anything
for
> me by writing to the Lord Lieutenant,
>
> ______________________________
>
> ______________________________
>
>
>
> ==== AUS-Tasmania Mailing List ====
> Tasmanian Sites of Interest
> Decisions of the Nineteenth Century Tasmanian Superior Courts
> http://www.law.mq.edu.au/sctas/index.htm
>

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