Incomplete letter from George Pulteney Malcolm to Colonel William Elphinstone, 6 October 1835

MLMSS 11932

fonds

1835

9675406

0.01 metres of textual material (1 folder)

George Pulteney Malcolm (1814-1837) was born in Plymouth. England. He was the elder son of Admiral Sir Pulteney Malcolm and Clementina Elphinstone, with family members holding prominent military, diplomatic and commercial positions, particularly in India. This extensive family network helped Malcolm to travel widely and to move easily in the highest social circles.

In July 1833 Malcolm became lieutenant and in March 1834 exchanged into the 50th (The Queen's Own) Regiment of Foot, joining a detachment assigned convict duty to New South Wales. He left Chatham on 17 August 1834 to board the convict transport ship ‘Henry Porcher’ to Australia. Malcolm was serving in New South Wales when he wrote the letter to his uncle, Colonel William Elphinstone (1782-1842), a veteran of the Battle of Waterloo who had previously served as aide-de-camp to George IV.

In January 1836, Malcolm joined the Mounted Police and accepted the position of visiting magistrate to the counties of King and Georgiana. He toured the countryside from Bathurst and was involved in the capture of bushranger Truman. After his resignation he rejoined his Regiment at Windsor. He was granted eighteen months leave and traveled through India, Persia, and Turkey, where he passed away in 1837.

References:

MLMSS 5312
Compiled from the Library’s acquisition file

The letter was formerly part of a private collection.

Incomplete letter from Lieutenant George Pulteney Malcolm to his uncle Colonel William Elphinstone, dated 6 October 1835. Autograph letter (incomplete), laid paper with Britannia watermark, one page, 32.3 x 20.2 cm. Includes various postal stamps and a black wax seal. The address panel on the verso shows alterations: the original address at Cavendish Square in London has been crossed out, and in different hands ‘York Terrace’ (also crossed out) and ‘East Lodge, Enfield’ have been added.

In his letter, Malcolm describes the Annual Sydney Hurdle race which he attended: ‘The first was far the best race 8 horses started, distance 3 miles, nine jumps consisting of hurdles from 3 to 4 ft high weight 11 st. 7 lbs, the first horse performed the distance in 7m. 30s. beating mine by a few lengths’. After having seen the Governor that morning, Malcolm also shares that he is more hopeful about joining the Mounted Police with the former’s influence: ‘[H]e promised to remember me when the vacancies occurred in the M Police so I think my chance looks rather better’.

Malcolm ends the letter by saying he is taking the steamboat to Port Stephens, adding that he is not particularly excited about the trip ‘but any [thing] is better than our dull quarters at Windsor’.

Out of copyright: Author(s) died more than 70 years ago
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