Letter from R Campbell in Sydney to Madame la Comtesse des Moustiers in Paris

MLMSS 12100

fonds

25 February 1844

9677547

0.01 metres of textual material (1 folder) - manuscript

The author R Campbell is likely related to the well-known merchant, pastoralist and politician Robert Campbell senior. Campbell senior’s nephew Robert was President of the Bank of NSW (today Westpac) at the time of this letter (between 1843 and 1851) and would have been 55 years old. Campbell senior’s second born son, also Robert referred to himself as ‘tertius’ and would have been 44 years old when this letter was written. They were both acquainted with Robert Brooks.

Adolphe Baudon de Mony (1819-1888) was a French jurist and third president of the St Vincent de Paul Society from 1848-1886.

Robert Brooks (1790-1882) was a conservative British politician, businessman and trader. In 1855, he entered into partnership with Robert Spence, with the firm becoming known as Robert Brooks & Co. Between 1837 and 1876 Brooks was a founding director of the Union Bank of Australia and worked to maintain trade relationships between Australia and colleagues in the City of London.

Reference:
Compiled from the Library’s acquisition file

The letter was in the possession of the donor’s mother-in-law Adele Lehrer who received the letter from one of her closest friends Daniele Dutertre who was (and still is) a stamp dealer in the Palais Royal, Paris. The letter was included as part of a stamp collection. Provenance beyond that is unknown.

1 single folded letter with 3 pages of manuscript and cover containing postal information, including an intact seal. The letter is written by R Campbell to a Madame La Comtesse de Moustiers c/o Monsieur Adolphe Baudon in Paris and Robert Brooks in London. The letter discusses economic conditions in colonial Sydney, the influence of English and European views in early Sydney society, the progress of religion in the colony, and friends and contacts in European circles.

Out of copyright:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales