Letter from John Irvine to John Oliver, 23 January 1841

MLMSS 11298

fonds

23 January 1841

9662521

0.01 metres of textual material - manuscript

John Irvine (1795-1844) was Assistant Commissary General for the Colony of New South Wales for four years until 1843 when he was reassigned to Hong Kong. Irvine died in Hong Kong on 1 February 1844.

Reference
Library correspondence file

The Australian Chess Club was formed in Sydney in 1840 and boasted some important Sydney identities among its members, including Charles Nicholson and Richard Windeyer before being disbanded in 1844.

Reference
Vendor item description

Letter from John Irvine, Sydney, to John Oliver, Hawick, Scotland, 23 January 1841 describing the Australian Chess Club and life in the colony. Irvine also shares his opinion on the prospects of Oliver's son who was planning to migrate to Sydney, and warns against investing in the colony which was experiencing an economic depression at the time.
The letter is written in ink on a folded sheet and has the remnants of a red wax seal. It is postmarked, ‘Paid Ship Letter Sydney JA 28 1841’ (with crown) cancel in red and annotated by receiver ‘Received 13 June 1841, Ansd 20 June’.

Copyright restrictions may apply:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder

Signed: J. Irvine