447238
- TitleLetters from Alexander Riley in Sydney to Edward Riley in Calcutta, Oct. 1811 - Dec. 1814
- Creator
- Call numberSafe 1/50
- Level of descriptionfonds
- Date
1811-1814 - Type of material
- Reference code447238
- Issue CopyMicrofilm : CY 756, frames 144-258 (Safe 1/50)
- Physical Description0.03 metres of textual material (1 volume) - manuscript
- ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
Alexander Riley (1788?-1833) and Edward Riley (1784-1825) were merchants and pastoralists. Born in London, Alexander Riley arrived in Sydney in June 1804. He formed a partnership with Richard Jones (Jones & Riley) which continued into the 1820s. Their overseas agents were Edward Riley, Alexander's younger brother, in Calcutta and Walter Stevenson Davidson in Canton. In November 1810, Alexander Riley went into partnership with Garnham Blaxcell and D'Arcy Wentworth as contractors to build Sydney Hospital. It was known as the Rum Hospital because the payment for the work was a three year monopoly on importing spirits. - Scope and ContentA collection of letters concerning the business affairs of Alexander and Edward Riley. Most of the letters were written by Alexander Riley. Letters by other writers, orders for goods and memoranda were sent as enclosures.
Oct. 1811-Dec. 1814; Letters from Alexander Riley to Edward Riley giving instructions concerning importation of spirits and other articles from India (pages 5-44, 49-179).
28 Mar. 1812; Letter from Alexander Riley to Edward Riley. Riley refers to his arrangements for the importation of spirits, extensions of the hospital contract held by D'Arcy Wentworth, Garnham Blaxcell and Riley, their purchase of 13,000 gallons from Simeon Lord, and his annoyance over an importation of wine from the Cape of Good Hope (pages 19-22).
30 July 1812; Letter from Alexander Riley and D'Arcy Wentworth to Edward Riley, Calcutta, sending an order for Bengal rum, in connection with their arrangement under the hospital contract (pages 57-58; another copy pages 155-156).
30 July 1812; Letter from Alexander Riley to Edward Moran asking him to arrange for the execution of the contracts for spirits, should any accident befall Edward Riley. Duplicate (pages 45-48).
17 Dec. 1814; Letter from Alexander Riley, in the third person, to John Palmer asking him to accept two pictures, of a gigantic lily and a waratah, which Riley has had painted for him by John Lewin. Copy. (page 164).
30 July 1814; Letter from J.T. Campbell, NSW Colonial Secretary, to C.M. Rickets, Secretary, Public Dept, Bengal, seeking permission for Edward Riley to export 10,000 gallons of Bengal rum in connection with the contract given by the NSW government to Alexander Riley, D'Arcy Wentworth and Garnham Blaxcell. Copy. (page 165).
29 July 1812; Letter from Lord, Williams and Hutchinson to Alexander Riley sending a list of articles required from the East Indies and offering terms. Copy. Enclosed with letter from Alexander Riley, 31 July 1812 (page 158).
29 July 1812; List of articles wanted by the house of Lord, Williams and Hutchinson from the East Indies. An enclosure to their letter of 29 July 1812, and forwarded by Alexander Riley with his letter of 31 July 1812 (page 157).
10 Aug. 1812; Letter from Alexander Riley to Lord, Williams and Hutchinson concerning their order for dyeing materials from India. Copy. Enclosed by Alexander Riley with his letter of 31 July 1812 (page 69).
15 Sept. 1814; Letter from Simeon Lord to Alexander Riley returning goods received from Edward Riley, as not in accordance with the order or with invoice furnished. Copy (page 166). - Finding AidsRead transcription here: archival-classic.sl.nsw.gov.au/_transcript/2017/D00007/a1657.html
- General note
Described in the Manuscripts Index Card Catalogue as Alexander Riley, Letters from Sydney, 1811-1814. All entries from the card catalogue are included in this record.
Further information about Alexander and Edward Riley and other traders can be found in 'The Sydney Traders: Simeon Lord and his contemporaries, 1788-1821' by D.R. Hainsworth, 2nd ed., Melbourne University Press, 1981 (Mitchell Library location Ref1/382.0924/L867.1/1).
Bound by Corbett Bookbinder, Sydney. Spine title 'Letters from Sydney, 1811-14'.
Preservation microfilm copy made March 1983.
Digital order no:Album ID : 823744 - Creator/Author/Artist
- Name
- Subject
- Place
- Open Rosetta viewer
View Media Files
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
7. 
8. 
9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
13. 
14. 
15. 
16. 
17. 
18. 
19. 
20. 
21. 
22. 
23. 
24. 
25. 
26. 
27. 
28. 
29. 
30. 
31. 
32. 
33. 
34. 
35. 
36. 
37. 
38. 
39. 
40. 
41. 
42. 
43. 
44. 
45. 
46. 
47. 
48. 
49. 
50. 
51. 
52. 
53. 
54. 
55. 
56. 
57. 
58. 
59. 
60. 
61. 
62. 
63. 
64. 
65. 
66. 
67. 
68. 
69. 
70. 
71. 
72. 
73. 
74. 
75. 
76. 
77. 
78. 
79. 
80. 
81. 
82. 
83. 
84. 
85. 
86. 
87. 
88. 
89. 
90. 
91. 
92. 
93. 
94. 
95. 
96. 
97. 
98. 
99. 
100. 
101. 
102. 
103. 
104. 
105. 
106. 
107. 
108. 
109. 
110. 
111. 
112. 
113. 
114. 
115. 
116. 
117. 
118. 
119. 
120. 
121. 
122. 
123. 
124. 
125. 
126. 
127. 
128. 
129. 
130. 
131. 
132. 
133. 
134. 
135. 
136. 
137. 
138. 
139. 
140. 
141. 
142. 
143. 
144. 
145. 
146. 
147. 
148. 
149. 
150. 
151. 
152. 
153. 
154. 
155. 
156. 
157. 
158. 
159. 
160. 
161. 
162. 
163. 
164. 
165. 
166. 
167. 
168. 
169. 
170. 
171. 
172. 
173. 
174. 
175. 
176. 
177. 
178. 
179. 
180. 
181. 
182. 
183. 
184. 
185. 
186. 
187. 
188. 
189. 
190. 
191. 
192. 
193. 
194. 
195. 
196. 
- Browse collection hierarchy
- Manuscript Index
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
- H
- I
- J
- K
- L
- M
- N
- O
- P
- Q
- R
- S
- T
- U
- V
- W
- X
- Y
- Z