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{{Short description|Diary of early settler in Western Australia}} |
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'''''Diary of Ten Years Eventful Life of an Early Settler in Western Australia and also A Descriptive Vocabulary of the Language of the Aborigines''''', often shortened to '''''Diary of Ten Years Eventful Life of an Early Settler in Western Australia''''' or even just '''''Diary of Ten Years''''', is the title of an [[1884]] book in which were published excerpts of the [[diary]] of [[George Fletcher Moore]] between [[1830]] and [[1841]]. ''Diary of Ten Years'' is an extremely important record of early [[colony|colonial]] life in [[Western Australia]], because it is one of a few records that were written from the point of view of an ordinary colonist, as opposed to the official correspondence of a salaried public official. Stannage (1978) describes the book as ''an immensely valuable social document'' and ''the best published guide we have to life in [[Swan River Colony|Swan River colony]] between [[1830]] and [[1840]]''. |
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[[File:Diary of ten years.djvu|page=5|thumb|right|''Diary of Ten Years Eventful Life of an Early Settler in Western Australia'', the best known publication of Moore's diary]] |
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The '''diary''' of [[George Fletcher Moore]] is an important record of early [[colony|colonial]] life in [[Western Australia]], because it is one of a few records that were written from the point of view of an ordinary colonist, as opposed to the official correspondence of a salaried public official. [[Tom Stannage]] describes the diary as "an immensely valuable social document" and "the best published guide we have to life in [[Swan River Colony|Swan River colony]] between 1830 and 1840."<ref name="moo78">{{cite book |chapter=Introduction |title=Diary of Ten Years Eventful Life of an Early Settler in Western Australia |author-link=George Fletcher Moore |author=George Fletcher Moore |others=Introduction by C. T. Stannage |edition=Facsimile |lccn= |oclc=6015258 |publication-date=1978 |publication-place=Nedlands |publisher=UWA Publishing |isbn=0855641371 }}</ref> |
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==Background== |
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''Diary of Ten Years'' was written by Moore in the form of a series of letters to family in [[Ireland]]. The letters from [[1830]] to mid [[1833]] were published in [[1834]] as ''Extracts from the Letters and Journals of George Fletcher Moore, now filling a judicial office at the Swan River Settlement''; publication was at the request of Moore's father Joseph, and may have been without George Fletcher Moore's knowledge. Around [[1880]], the owner and editor of ''[[The West Australian]]'', Sir [[Thomas Cockburn Campbell]], obtained permission from Moore to serialise the letters. The letters appeared in ''The West Australian'' in [[1881]] and [[1882]]. On reading them, Moore decided to republish them in book form, along with his letters home for the years up to [[1841]]. He also included for publication ''A Descriptive Vocabulary of the Language of the Aborigines'', which had been published in [[1842]] at Moore's and Governor [[John Hutt]]'s expense, and was a compilation by Moore based on the works of [[Robert Lyon]], [[Francis Armstrong]], [[Charles Symmons]], the [[Bussell family]] and [[George Edward Grey|George Grey]] as well as his own observations. ''Diary of Ten Years'' was published in [[1884]] by M. Walbrook. |
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Moore was an [[Ireland|Irish]] lawyer who settled in the [[Swan River Colony]] in 1830, the colony's second year. He describes his decision to keep a journal as follows:<ref name="moo84">{{cite Q |Q19081637 |mode=cs1}}</ref> |
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{{blockquote |text=My friends were doubtful as to the prudence of such a hazardous step, but I reconciled them to it by a solemn promise that I would keep them fully informed, by each available opportunity in my power, of every incident and circumstance of my position and life there, whether good or bad, and leave them to judge of my success or failure. This was the cause of the 'Diary or Journal'.... It was written solely for the information and satisfaction of my father, brothers, sisters, and immediate friends in this country.}} |
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Moore's handwritten diary for the period from 1834 to 1841 is extant, and is held by the [[State Library of Western Australia]]. |
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==Editions== |
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Portions of Moore's letters and diary have been published a number of times. The letters from 1830 to mid-1833 were published in 1834 as '''''Extracts from the Letters and Journals of George Fletcher Moore, now filling a judicial office at the Swan River Settlement'''''.<ref>{{cite Q |Q19108871 |mode=cs1}}</ref><ref>{{cite wikisource |wslink=Extracts from the letters and journals of George Fletcher Moore, now filling a judicial office at the Swan River Settlement |title=Extracts from the Letters and Journals of George Fletcher Moore: now filling a Judicial Office at the Swan River Settlement |author-link=George Fletcher Moore |author=George Fletcher Moore |editor-link=William Hickey (writer) |editor=Martin Doyle |oclc=24843230 |ol=20603578M |publication-date=1834 |publication-place=London |publisher=R and Smith }}</ref> Publication was at the request of Moore's father Joseph, and may have been without George Fletcher Moore's knowledge. |
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In the early 1880s, Moore's letters fell into the hands of Sir [[Thomas Cockburn Campbell]], editor of ''[[The West Australian]]'' newspaper. Cockburn Campbell sought and received Moore's permission to publish them in ''The West''. The letters appeared in serial during 1881 and 1882, and a copy of each issue was sent to Moore, who kept a scrapbook of them. In 1884, Moore decided to publish them afresh, together with a reprint of his 1842 ''[[A Descriptive Vocabulary of the Language of the Aborigines|A Descriptive Vocabulary of the Language of the Aboriginals]]''.<ref>{{cite Q |Q4656400 |mode=cs1}}</ref> These were published under the title '''''Diary of Ten Years Eventful Life of an Early Settler in Western Australia'''''.<ref name="moo84" /><ref>{{cite wikisource |wslink=Diary of ten years eventful life of an early settler in Western Australia and also A descriptive vocabulary of the language of the aborigines |title=Diary of Ten Years Eventful Life of an Early Settler in Western Australia |author-link=George Fletcher Moore |author=George Fletcher Moore |lccn=43042806 |oclc=1042946137 |ol=7030461M |publication-date=1884 |publication-place=London |publisher=M. Walbrook }}</ref><ref name="moo78" /> Commonly referred to by the shorter title '''''Diary of Ten Years''''', this is the best known edition of Moore's diary. |
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Moore, George Fletcher (1884). Diary of Ten Years Eventful Life of an Early Settler in Western Australia, and also A Descriptive Vocabulary of the Language of the Aborigines. First published by M. Walbrook, London. Facsimile edition published in [[1978]] by University of Western Australia Press, Nedlands, Western Australia |
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In 2006, [[Hesperian Press]] issued a version of Moore's diary and letters carefully edited and annotated by James Cameron under the title '''''The Millendon Memoirs: George Fletcher Moore's Western Australian Diaries and Letters, 1830-1841'''''. |
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Stannage, C. T. (1978). ''Introduction'' to Facsimile edition of Moore (1884). |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Books about Western Australia]] |
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[[Category:Diaries]] |
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[[Category:History of Western Australia]] |
[[Category:History of Western Australia]] |
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Latest revision as of 07:26, 16 June 2024
The diary of George Fletcher Moore is an important record of early colonial life in Western Australia, because it is one of a few records that were written from the point of view of an ordinary colonist, as opposed to the official correspondence of a salaried public official. Tom Stannage describes the diary as "an immensely valuable social document" and "the best published guide we have to life in Swan River colony between 1830 and 1840."[1]
Background
[edit]Moore was an Irish lawyer who settled in the Swan River Colony in 1830, the colony's second year. He describes his decision to keep a journal as follows:[2]
My friends were doubtful as to the prudence of such a hazardous step, but I reconciled them to it by a solemn promise that I would keep them fully informed, by each available opportunity in my power, of every incident and circumstance of my position and life there, whether good or bad, and leave them to judge of my success or failure. This was the cause of the 'Diary or Journal'.... It was written solely for the information and satisfaction of my father, brothers, sisters, and immediate friends in this country.
Moore's handwritten diary for the period from 1834 to 1841 is extant, and is held by the State Library of Western Australia.
Editions
[edit]Portions of Moore's letters and diary have been published a number of times. The letters from 1830 to mid-1833 were published in 1834 as Extracts from the Letters and Journals of George Fletcher Moore, now filling a judicial office at the Swan River Settlement.[3][4] Publication was at the request of Moore's father Joseph, and may have been without George Fletcher Moore's knowledge.
In the early 1880s, Moore's letters fell into the hands of Sir Thomas Cockburn Campbell, editor of The West Australian newspaper. Cockburn Campbell sought and received Moore's permission to publish them in The West. The letters appeared in serial during 1881 and 1882, and a copy of each issue was sent to Moore, who kept a scrapbook of them. In 1884, Moore decided to publish them afresh, together with a reprint of his 1842 A Descriptive Vocabulary of the Language of the Aboriginals.[5] These were published under the title Diary of Ten Years Eventful Life of an Early Settler in Western Australia.[2][6][1] Commonly referred to by the shorter title Diary of Ten Years, this is the best known edition of Moore's diary.
In 2006, Hesperian Press issued a version of Moore's diary and letters carefully edited and annotated by James Cameron under the title The Millendon Memoirs: George Fletcher Moore's Western Australian Diaries and Letters, 1830-1841.
References
[edit]- ^ a b George Fletcher Moore (1978). "Introduction". Diary of Ten Years Eventful Life of an Early Settler in Western Australia. Introduction by C. T. Stannage (Facsimile ed.). Nedlands: UWA Publishing. ISBN 0855641371. OCLC 6015258.
- ^ a b George Fletcher Moore (1884). Diary of Ten Years Eventful Life of an Early Settler in Western Australia. London: M. Walbrook. LCCN 43042806. OCLC 5343980. OL 7030461M. Wikidata Q19081637.
- ^ George Fletcher Moore (1834). Martin Doyle (ed.). Extracts from the Letters and Journals of George Fletcher Moore: now filling a Judicial Office at the Swan River Settlement. London: R and Smith. OCLC 24843230. OL 20603578M. Wikidata Q19108871.
- ^ George Fletcher Moore (1834). Martin Doyle (ed.). . London: R and Smith. OCLC 24843230. OL 20603578M – via Wikisource.
- ^ George Fletcher Moore (1842). A Descriptive Vocabulary of the Language in Common Use Amongst the Aboriginals of Western Australia. London: William Somerville Orr and Company. LCCN 12028353. OCLC 5187310. OL 6549151M. Wikidata Q4656400.
- ^ George Fletcher Moore (1884). . London: M. Walbrook. LCCN 43042806. OCLC 1042946137. OL 7030461M – via Wikisource.