Freedom to Libel? : Samuel Marsden v. Philo Free by Peter G. Bolt Malcolm Falloon

Author:Peter G. Bolt, Malcolm Falloon [Peter G. Bolt, Malcolm Falloon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780994634924
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Bolt Publishing Services Pty. Ltd.
Published: 2017-12-20T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 8

A FRIENDSHIP REVEALED

The Marsden & Stokes Family Correspondence

Jane M. Tooher

Introduction to the Letters: Personal but Cautious

Samuel Marsden often polarizes historians. One result of this is that two readers, reading two accounts of Marsden by two different authors, may be left with quite different images of the man. This is where primary documents can help, and particularly personal letters between family members and friends. Such personal correspondence often reveals a deeper picture of someone’s true character as they may feel free to be more themselves. They may feel freer to be honest about the good things that are happening in their life, as well as be frank about the disappointments, struggles, and sufferings they’re facing.

Although this is true to a certain extent with Marsden’s letters, he was guarded to a degree as these letters were mostly not private as we would understand that term today. Although written from one individual and addressed to another, the letters may well have been read by others, e.g. family members and missionary societies. Added to this was Marsden’s cautiousness about his letters falling into the wrong hands:1

At this remote distance it is not always prudent for me to state by letter what I wish you to know; from the peculiar circumstances I am placed under. Letters have sometimes miscarried, and I have known mine to fall into the hand of our enemy. On this account it requires much caution to avoid danger from this quarter.2

This paper will look at the 33 extant letters from the Marsden family to the Stokes family, a correspondence that lasted thirty years (see Figure 13).3

The […] series of letters covers the […] span of almost thirty years, and includes the whole of the administrations of Governors Hunter, King, Bligh, Macquarie and Brisbane. Historically, their value is twofold. First, they throw light on certain important phases of Australian history then in the making; second, they reveal, as perhaps no other extant material does, the texture of Marsden’s intellectual and moral make-up, with sidelights on the character and doings of other contemporary notables.4

Most of the letters were written by Samuel Marsden to Mary Stokes,5 however, there are also letters to Mary from Samuel’s wife Elizabeth (Eliza), and from the Marsden’s daughter Ann (who married Thomas Hassall). There are also letters from Samuel Marsden to John Stokes, Mary’s husband.6 Other family members from both families are mentioned at different times in the letters. What is unclear is the exact nature of their connection. As one commentator has written: ‘Neither Samuel Marsden’s biographer nor the compiler of the family’s letters explains the nature of the relationship which existed between the two families’.7 But what we do know is that the Stokes associated with known evangelicals in England since the Marsden’s mention some of them in their letters, e.g. Miss Amey.8

The letters were not sent by regular post, but were entrusted to people they knew, who were travelling on ships, e.g. Charles Grimes9 and Mr. Grant.10 There seems to be no evidence that these letters revealed more personal details than any other letters, in fact No.

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