Volume 01: Correspondence of John Macarthur, 1806-1831, and miscellaneous papers concerning him, 1808-1931

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Parramatta 16th Jany 1807.

Dear Sir,

I received the Cow Pasture Grants all safe yesterday, with Harper's Emancipation, for which I beg to return you my sincere thanks.

Expecting to see you at Parramatta I delayed sending the Return of Convicts in my employment but I now enclose it for wants are become so urgent that unless you have the goodness to give me some immediate assistance it will be impossible even to take care of my present Flocks of Sheep and consequently all idea of increasing them must be abandoned as impracticable. I hope you will not consider me troublesome, upon this subject, for I assure you were it possible to hire free men, or in any way to get forward with my business I would

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forbear to picture you with applications of such a nature –

We have heard with much concern that Mrs Kings complaint has returned, but we sincerely hope either that the report is not correct, or that she will soon be restored to perfect health. Mrs McArthur writes lately therefore I say nothing of her. – I beg to be very kindly remembered to Mrs King, and remain Dear Sir

Your Obliged & faithful Obt Servant John McArthur

I request the Revd Mr Marsden will [indecipherable] to be [indecipherable] to Capt McArthur on Friday next taking care not to include any [indecipherable]

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Sir,

I received yours on my return with the enclosed statement of the prisoners you have off the Store – which I know is very inadequate to the care of your stock. Leaving to you the [indecipherable] – I have directed Mr Sheridan to increase your present quotas to Thirty by adding select ten more men labourers, which with the two Carpenters will make your number 34 including the two who are sick – I should be much gratified if I could spare a greater number but the very few which are at Gvt labour & the necessity of giving up a portion of them to thrash the Settlers wheat for our daily feed & clear their ground of the birds with which it is over run joined to the absolute Necessity of farming the crop of maize now growing at Castle Hill, prevents me from affording that a further extension of your numbers before an which I so much wish until an arrival with Prisoners happens. If I understand you right you have one of the Corps at Cabramatta who you wished to send to the Cowpastures, I have settled with Major Johnston that he and another who he will order are to take foot at your farm there on Saturday next which I hope will prevent any eventual inconvenience from the Natives &c

I am glad to inform you Mrs [indecipherable] is much better & will I hope soon regain her strength desire so to add her kind regards to Mrs McA & yourself with those of [indecipherable]

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Mr McArthur for more assistance [indecipherable] Jany 16 1806 –

Clapham Common. 13th Septr 1810

Dear Sir

I have the pleasure to inform you that an Insurance has been made on your account for £600 agreeably to your instructions – The premium will be 48 Guineas if you sail from Cork without Convoy, but only 36 if you sail with Convoy –

No doubt you have heard of the arrival of a ship from Port Jackson with information that Governor Macquarie and your Regiment arrived there on the 28th of December. – I sincerely hope you will experience similar good fortune. – I shall be happy to hear that Mrs. Giels [Geils] and family have got well over their sea sickness: and that you all find yourselves comfortable on board. – Have the goodness to offer my best Compts and believe me to be Dear Sir

Yours very faithfully John Mc.Arthur

Major Geils