III

THE LADIES FOLLOW

6

THOUGH the parallel is far from complete, the story of the pilgrimage of Lenox Bussell and his sisters, Frances and Bessie, to join their brothers in Australia, suggests that of Mr. Greatheart and his companions on their way to join Christian in the Celestial City. They set out in the sailing ship' Cygnet' late in 1832, and anchored in Gage Roads in sight of the promised land on 26th January 1833. Their journals tell of nothing more exciting than a vistit to a French whaler, and another to the island of St. Paul's. Of the former, Frances bids her dearest mother, fancy your girls climbing over the gangway, and descending, somehow or other, into a little cockleshell of a boat, upon the bosom of the broad Atlantic Ocean.' . . . Aboard' La Commerce de Paris' they were joined by the captain of an American whaler, and Miss Fanny notes the contrast in national characteristics,' the American all solidity and judgement, the Frenchman courtesy, animation and ease, and the Englishman jovial and frank, as Captain Rolles is, under the influence of variety and good cheer. " How pleasant it is," said Mrs. Clarkson," thus we assemble in peace. How far preferable to meeting in war." The sentiment was universal and we drank to each other's future success and prosperity.'

On the island of St. Paul's, a desolate rock rather more than half-way from the Cape to the Swan, a party including Lenox, Mr. Shenton and Mr. C. Clarkson went ashore, and remained, fishing, overnight.

'Bessie and I paced the deck from six in the morning, until at length a boat was discernible. Judge of our delight when we discerned Len's cap. As he came nearer he waved a cray-fish in the air, in token of their success in fishing, but he looked so pale, having been seized in the night with a violent attack of sickness after eating cray-fish. I will leave him to the quiet enjoyment of his hammock, and a basin of farinaceous powder which we prepared for him immediately.' Despite Lenox's experience, the ship's company all found the fruits of the landing-party's exertions a very agreeable variety in their diet. Penguins, too, were brought off from St. Paul's. They are,' thinks Miss Fanny quite solemnly, ' a link between a kangaroo and a flyingfish. The wings are in reality fins and the legs placed so far back that the birds walk upright.' Such a distinctly pre-Darwinian theory was excusable on ship-board, but the' Cygnet's' people might at least have read Coleridge on the albatross.

As we were sitting in the Cuddy this morning, the alarm was given. "Black swans in sight." I cannot say how it overcame me. They proved, however, to be albatrosses, and were shot accordingly." That is to say, ' treated as sich,' as if no ancient mariner had ever passed like night from land to land.' Captain Rolles has given me the foot.' They were now running on delightfully', like the journal itself, 'seven knots an hour, with a bright sky and a delicious air. This they tell me is the Swan River climate. In four days we shall see the land which is to be henceforth the abode of all our interests, hopes and affections. Dear, happy England already seems like the land of shadows, beautiful and beloved, but abandoned for ever.'

The first person on board, on the morning of their arrival, was Captain Toby, of the colonial schooner

'Ellen', with news that all the brothers were well. ' He says they are grown such rough creatures. Vernon and Alfred are quite young men. Miss Turner is married to a Mr. McDermot, so there was no truth in the report of Ally's engagement.'

Mr. McDermot carried them off to his home in Fremantle that very evening, and they reported Mrs. McDermott a very nice little woman', with a nice drawingroom with every English comfort, except a looking-glass, a tea table with all appliances and means to boot, but the Hindoo servants in attendance partake more of the Oriental style.'

The Swan, as they voyaged up to Perth next day, was ' like Chepstow, Clifton, Henley, every beautiful place I have ever seen, only broader, clearer, fuller than any river in England, and then such a lovely clear sky, and a gentle breeze. We both felt that fullness of enjoyment which silence can alone express. Captain Toby was goodnatured and attentive in all our vagaries, whether of silence or sauciness. Everyone is so, such is the estimation in which the dear, dear boys are held.'

While Captain Toby' voyaged south in the Ellen' to announce at Augusta the arrival of their sisters and Lenox at the Swan, Mrs. Bussell in England was learning, from another source, of the high esteem in which John and his brothers stood. George Miller, a surgeon, reported from London having fallen in with a naval officer from H.M.S.' Sulphur' on its return from Swan River. 'He knew your sons perfectly well, and they all dined on board his ship in July last (1832). At that time they all were in excellent health and spirits, and anxiously expecting the arrival of their sisters, which I hope will soon be. He describes them as very fine young men, most in

defatigable and persevering, respected and beloved by every individual, high and low, rich and poor. The deference paid to John by his younger brothers and their friends in general was no less remarkable than deserved. He says their spot is truly a paradise, and that they had made considerable progress in cultivating their land. . . He has no doubt of ultimate success, and is sanguine in his hopes and enthusiastic in his admiration of all that is Swan.'

At The Adelphi ' excitement reigned when Captain Toby brought his news, though mixed with disappointment that he had not succeeded in bringing the sisters themselves. Back with him went John. Charles, during his absence, whiled away an evening telling Mary, still in England, of the accommodation we have at present prepared for the reception of the newcomers. You will thus be able to form an opinion whether it is likely to exceed their expectations. This description, too, will have the effect of putting it out of your power to view your future home through the optics of Romance, which even you, dearest Mary, are not without. First and foremost, there is one main room about fourteen feet square with a comfortable fireplace, no ceiling, nor windows, nor doors. Start not, for the two latter are in progress and will be completed on John's return, if not before. Secondly, there is a small room detached from the main house, decidedly of the petit class, built by John in his private hours, ranged throughout by bookshelves well filled, perfectly complete in fact. This he has set apart as the ladies' boudoir. Thirdly, there are two most complete little rooms built by Vernon and Alfred in their private hours. (I have built none, on account of my time being too much divided between Augusta and The Adelphi.) These are

to be disposed of as the females (to whom we shall deliver over all domestic arrangements) shall think proper. Fourthly, there is a small other room set apart for the servants, and lastly, there is a large room detached, intended as a store house in which all the males will sling their hammocks until better accommodation be provided.'

At Swan River, while they waited, Fanny and Bessie were thrilled by the hospitality of all, and especially of the Colonial Secretary, Peter Brown of Bassendean, and Surveyor-General J. S. Roe.* I quite love Mr. Brown', wrote Fanny Bussell. ' He speaks of John just as people used to speak of Papa, dearest Mother. I can only pray that we may be equally worthy of him and you, and that when you arrive you may hear your girls spoken of as we do the boys... Their perseverance, unanimity and

industry are quite proverbial.'

In March, after they had enjoyed, despite great heat, six weeks of comfort and luxury at the Swan, John arrived from the south coast, in the Ellen', to escort his sisters 'home.'' On Monday, 8th March,' records Fanny Bussell, 'I decided on a trip to Fremantle and a visit to the " Cygnet", accompanied by Lenox. Little did I dream of the happiness in store for me." A ship in sight! A schooner!" is announced by the cabin boy. Can it be the "Ellen "? I ran on deck to watch her approach, not as I had often done before from the listless desire for something new, but with all the delirious excitement of hope. "It is the

* Cf. Charles to Capel Carter, from Swan River, 3rd Nov. 1833. 'Hospitality is indeed the order of the day. Dinner parties, routs and even balls given at which, although I have often talked of the absurdity of dancing, I assure you I mingled in the crowd and much enjoyed myself. There is a sad, sad dearth of females, however, for such amusements. We mustered four ladies, but of these there was only one single.'