Edward Clarke, author of the Thames Miner's Guide (1868)

Turnbull Library Record, Volume XIV, Issue 1, 1 May 1981, Page 5

Edward Clarke, author of the Thames Miner's Guide (1868)

GARRY J. TEE

In 1975, Capper Press published a facsimile edition of the Thames Miner’s Guide, an anonymous book published in 1868 by W. C. Wilson, in Wyndham Street, Auckland. The book consists of 101 pages (218 X 138 mm) with two folding maps: a map of the Thames Gold Field, and a Prospector’s Map of the Province of Auckland by Captain F. W. Hutton. The Guide provides much technical information about gold—its chemistry and its mineralogy, techniques for finding it, mining it, extracting it and refining it. The geological nature of the goldfields on the Coromandel Peninsula is described in detail, there is a hasty sketch of the history of gold discoveries in New Zealand, and the book contains much incidental information about life on the goldfields. The Thames Miner’s Guide appears to have been popular, since several copies of it are kept in the Auckland Public Library and the University of Auckland Library—one of those copies has retained its paper binding stating the price to be ‘half a crown’ (2 shillings and 6 pence). Hocken’s Bibliography of the Literature Relating to New Zealand (Wellington, 1909) lists the book anonymously, and the identity of its author remained unknown until the recent publication of a letter which Edward Clarke wrote from Auckland to his aunt Mary Ann Evans in London, on 31 July 1868. Clarke was then sub-editor of the Auckland newspaper the Daily Southern Cross, and in that letter he told his Aunt Mary that he was then compiling that book:

Parnell, Auckland |July 31st 1868. My dear Aunt I was very much pleased to receive your letter dated May 7th and trust to be able to keep up a correspondence, for nothing gives me greater pleasure than to hear from Old England, and I long to visit it again, I arrived in the Australian Colonies in 1861, put up with many hardships and with very little success until I arrived in Auckland in November 1864. An engagement was obtained for me upon the staff of the New Zealander, as shorthand reporter, which I held till the newspaper became defunct. I had one other engagement previous to my present occupation. I married in 1865, the daughter of a respectable settler who holds a good position in society, and a man of considerable property. 1 My wife’s maiden name was Ellen Nicholls, (a Cornish family)—she makes me a good wife, the only fait she has, is a quick temper, very high spirited and a great screw, but a first-class housekeeper, her health has greatly improved, and we are both very comfortable. My engagements at the present time are very numerous —being connected with

the Daily Southern Cross as shorthand reporter and subeditor (pro tern). I am employed preparing a new work for the Press entitled the Miners Guide and Pocket Companion with Plans of the Gold Fields, price 10/6. this is my first attempt to write a book, and from the great number of orders for copies that have been received I feel sure that with regard to the pecuniary return, it will be a success. Captain Hutton, 2 the Government Geologist, has undertaken the revising of my work previous to its going to press. I will send you a copy when published. I intend to produce another and larger edition towards the close of the year, which will include the newly opened Gold Fields, which are not yet developed. I find it very difficult to obtain first class litterature in Auckland, the chief expense of the work, has been the high price I have had to pay for Scientific Books—in my letter to Dr. Kittermaster 3 I requested him to procure the following works for me, which cannot be procured in New Zealand (viz.) Dr. Ure’s. Dictionary of Science, Arts, Mining, etc (1868), Kaustel on Mining and Machinery used in quartz crushing mills (1867 or 8), J. A. Phillips on Mining and Metallurgylß6B the above works are published by E. and A. Spon, London, not knowing your address I could not write to you, but said in my letter that perhaps you would undertake to procure the books, being in London and connected with publishers could obtain them at a reduction upon the retail price. I shall remit the cost upon receipt of the books.

I have repeatedly made inquiries about my relatives both at Griffe and elsewhere but have never heard from any of them; Emily promised to answer as many letters as I could write, I have sent her one each month it is now some months since I heard from her; she has never replied to my invitation to come out here. I offered to pay £SO towards her outfit. Mr. Buchanan of Nuneaton informed me that for the present Emily did not wish to accept my offer, she was very comfortable at Miss Crockett’s, Lichfield. I do not like her being a dependent upon any one while I have the means to make her comfortable. I understand she is very clever, and does not wish to be away from her books, she thinks that we have no intellectual society out here—if this is her excuse, she is very much mistaken —for my friend Mrs. Edward Rumsey, the Great Architect’s wife, is a match for any one, and will, if you are in conversation, soon see what extent of knowledge you possess, Mrs. R has visited most of the Continental cities and is a thorough linguist. She would just suit you, it is a pleasure to be in her society. I have had 15 months training so can speak from experience. I do not attend regularly, but have given satisfaction during the time I have had her three sons under my tuition. I have had to study to gain my present position, but I do not regret the many sleepless nights that I have passed over books and papers upon scientific subjects—Captain Hutton and Dr. Maunsell 4 have greatly assisted me. I have a series of articles to write upon the Great Question of Education in New Zealand which has been much neglected, in fact the poor are left without any means of educating their children. I do remember the time when you visited my poor Mother at Attleborough. I did not know your address otherwise I should have sent a photograph, will shortly send one of myself and wife. My hair is turning grey in many places, and I am only 30, it must be anxiety and hard study that has caused it to do so. I detest low society, and am never so happy as when shut up in my study, or in one of the Libraries. I very seldom read a novel (but I have read most of yours); in fact my time is fully occupied. I shall order your Long Poem. Mr. Wayte, the only publisher in Auckland is bringing out my work —it will be bound in cloth.

Dr. Kittermaster often writes to me, —his letters are a great comfort to me. Mr. Buchanan is a regular correspondent. Miss Smith, Mrs. B’s. sister is very ill—so is Mr. Greenway of Attleborough Hall—l have met a Mr. Kirk 5 formerly of Coventry who knew Grandpapa —he is Curator at the Museum and an active member of the Provincial Council. I have made inquiries about my brother Charley, the last I heard of him was that he held an engagement in Sydney. I believe

he arrived in New South Wales immediately after I left for Auckland—he has never

written to me, but I have addressed a letter to Sydney for him. From what Dr. Kittermaster said in his last letter, I think Charley must be in England—the words of the Doctor are ‘Charlie was with us last week, he was at Meriden. He promised to write but have not heard from him—my best wishes are for his welfare. My sincere regards to him’. I cannot understand this extract, and what puzzles me more is that Mr. Buchanan who is a constant correspondent of the Doctor writes for information about my brother. A very rich gold field has been discovered in the Waicatto about 120 miles from Auckland 6 —even promises to excel the Thames Quartz reefs, which are said to be the richest yet discovered in the world. One Claim (Hunts) has produced 20,000

ounces of gold, another 3,000, several 1,000 and upwards all within twelve months. I am interested in several Claims. I purchased a share in one of the old Claims for £40 —now it is worth £6O0 —in another I have cleared £9O from my purchase. I am now interested in several good Claims yielding on an average of 8 ounces to the ton of quartz. There are more than 20,000 miners at the Thames alone. Shortland the principal township a year ago was a large peach grove —now a large flourishing town, with banks and public buildings, the town extends upwards of 4 miles along the sea shore, the principal reefs are near the beach, the hills are very steep and lofty, one in particular is 10,000 feet above the level of the sea, 7 and Claims all the way up to the top. Good Machinery for crushing the quartz is much wanted. The Gold bearing range of hills, from the sea remind you of an enormous rabbit warren, the drivers and miners moving in and out, often remind me of old times when I used to watch the rabbits in Packington Park.

Sir George Bowen 8 is very much liked—he is very popular—he has a very difficult task to perform with the natives, now that we are to have another war—fighting has commenced about 100 miles from Auckland, —they threaten the Thames, and only wait for the Thames tribes to join them. I feel sure that they will protect the diggers, who pay them for their Miners Rights, and the native is too fond of the Rum bottle and money to quarrel with the Miner, they have received upwards of £IO,OOO this year as rent for the Gold Field at the Thames and Tapu Creek. The New Zealand native is far superior in every respect to the lower class of Europeans, and his honour is unimpeachable. I have always found them a kind, straightforward people if fairly dealt with—but the Government has treated them shamefully.

It is a source of grief to the members of the Church of England to hear that it is being mutilated at home 9 —what is now being done in the Imperial Parliament at ho me may be compared to a wedge driven into a log after the first stroke of the axe, it will eventually split up and finally fall to pieces by repeated blows. Without a State Church the English Constitution cannot stand—it is also a disgrace to Christians of all denominations to see men tampering with religion, for without the Established Church is supported by Governmental aid, we shall be in danger of persecution and bloodshed as in Queen Mary’s reign. The Jew, who is at the head of the English Government, is aware of the calamity, and wishes to prevent it—after the great Novelist’s 10 conduct in the House can we do otherwise than respect his sect —and dispise our own. Gladstone, is held in abhorrence in New Zealand, since he introduced his bill for the disendowment of the established church in Ireland. Fennianism has died out in New Zealand. Several persons who have been arrested are to be liberated.

We have had a very gay season. Lady Bowen mixes with all classss of society—she seems to be void of pride—and is already beloved by all. Sir George Bowen said that the Queen could not have been received in a more brilliant style. He mixed with the natives without a guard—has gained their confidence even more than Sir George Grey 11 who had upwards of 12 wives and concubines all natives of high caste. Sir George Grey was shamefully treated by the people of Auckland—poor man—he had many trials to contend with during his administration. The Colonial Government is composed of illiberal and for the most part illiterate men. Please write again when you can find time —for your letters will be always welcome. —Nelly unites in love. Believe me to be Dear Aunt Your affectionate Nephew Edward Clarke.

P.S. Please excuse errors—for I am very tired, and have been writing all day, and have now to prepare the leading article for the Cross.

In fact, the editorial article in the Daily Southern Cross for Saturday 1 August 1868 proclaimed loudly the benefits which Auckland province could expect to gain from the new discoveries of gold at Thames. The text by J. A. Phillips which Clarke had ordered through Dr Kittermaster must have reached him very soon after he wrote that letter at Parnell on 31 July 1868, since the book was published (anonymously) with a preface dated August 1868, explaining that much of it had been ‘condensed from The Mining and Metallurgy of Gold and Silver byj. A. Phillips, London, 1867’. The 1975 facsimile includes 29 pages of advertisements (in ornate typography) for various businesses in Thames and Auckland, between the text pages and the maps.

Clarke’s casual remark to his aunt about Sir George Grey throws an interesting light upon the long-debated topic of Grey’s private life. That debate was revived by the public controversy over the accuracy of the depiction of Grey in the 1977 television serial The Governor. The official policy of the Daily Southern Cross had been hostile to Grey, but in this private letter the sub-editor wrote admiringly of Grey, and mentioned incidentally his Maori harem. As a reporter and sub-editor of one of the leading newspapers of Auckland, which had been the capital city from 1841 to 1865, he would have been intimately familiar with political gossip, and his remark in that private letter was clearly not made in malice to Grey. Writing in 1868, during the height (or depth?) of Victorian morality, he clearly saw nothing improper in mentioning Grey’s harem to his Aunt Mary, whom he knew to be an extremely moral person.

In fact, Clarke’s Aunt Mary was better known under her nom-de-plume, as the novelist George Eliot (1819-1880). The George Eliot Letters have been edited by Gordon S. Haight and published by Yale University Press (9 volumes, 1954-1978). Clarke’s letter is now held in the collection of George Eliot Papers at Yale University, and it was published in 1978 in Volume 8, pages 421-424. Letters from that collection are reprinted here by permission of Dr Haight.

It is interesting to note that Clarke did not consider it necessary to identify Grey for his aunt: presumably he was aware that she was a friend (cf. v. 5, p. 449) ofGrey’s intimate friend Charles Darwin. 12 Some further information about Clarke is contained in the George Eliot Letters. George Eliot’s sister Christiana Evans (1814-1859) married the surgeon Edward Clarke (1809-1852) in 1837, and their first child Edward was born on 23 April 1839. 13 On 19 February 1853, George Eliot wrote to Mr & Mrs Charles Bray that ‘We are thinking of sending Chrissey’s eldest boy to Australia —Mrs

Whichcote, of Meriden, a patient of his father’s, has offered to place him under suitable protection at Adelaide and I strongly recommend Chrissey to accept her offer —that is, if she will let it be available a year hence. So I have bought Sidney’s book on Australia and am going to send it to Chrissey to enlighten her about matters there and accustom her mind to the subject.’ 14 On 18 April 1854, she wrote of Chrissey that ‘Her two boys seem to be in prospect of satisfactory situations —one at Birmingham and the other at Leicester’ 15 and on 12 November 1854 she wrote that ‘Poor Chrissey has been in trouble about her boys—one of them has been ill and the other very naughty—so naughty that he has had to leave his situation and they are determined to send him to sea’. 16 It was Edward who had been ill, and his brother Robert who had misbehaved.

Edward’s mother wrote on 6 January 1859 to her brother Isaac Evans (1816-1890) that ‘Edward is well, but I am in a constant state of anxiety about him.’ 17 She died soon afterwards, and on 21 March 1859 George Eliot wrote that ‘the eldest boy is almost of age —finishes his apprenticeship this April.’ 18 Edward Clarke’s letter of3l July 1868 supplies information about his life since 1861. Extensive searches in Auckland directories, electoral rolls and archives have failed to produce any record of Edward Clarke in Auckland, except for his wedding (and his wife’s death certificate). The next known reference to him occurs in George Eliot’s letter of 12 June 1875 to Edward’s sister Emily Susannah Clarke: ‘I am surprized to hear that our old friend Dr. Kittermaster is still living. The kind old man would be sadly grieved to know of the trouble about Edward in whom he took so friendly an interest. You can hardly expect to hear from that unfortunate Brother, and perhaps silence is the least painful condition in relation to him’. 19 No details of Edward’s ‘trouble’ are given. Edward’s wife Ellen died of consumption at the age of 32, on 19 September 1875 at her father’s home in Mangere. Edward Clarke does not seem to have been involved in the arrangements for her burial, but the notices of her death in the New Zealand Herald and the Daily Southern Cross describe her as the wife of Edward Clarke. Her death notice in the Auckland Register of Births, Deaths and Marriages describes her as ‘wife of a Rate Collector’. The Auckland City Council does not have any record of its employees in 1875, and hence it has not been possible to trace Edward Clarke further in Auckland.

However, he must have gone from Auckland to America not long after his wife died, since the next reference to him shows that he had travelled from America to visit his sister Emily Susannah

Clarke at Brighton in 1877. He had written to his uncle Isaac Evans at Griff, Nuneaton, apparently asking to be invited to Griff for Christmas. Whatever disgrace had befallen him in 1875 still weighed heavily with his uncle, who sent him an extremely cold refusal: 20 Griff Nuneaton | December 20th 1877.

Dear Edward I have received your letter announcing your arrival at Brighton. I heard from Emily that she had received a telegram saying you were at Liverpool. In consequence of which I wrote to her to say it will be out of our power to receive you here. We wish you well but cannot renew your acquaintance. It would be painful for all to do so. I am glad you are doing well in America. Your sister has been very good and exemplary in her conduct, having worked hard to maintain a good position and has succeeded in doing so. All who know her respect her and admire her perseverance. I am sorry her health is very delicate and requires great care. If you have anything to communicate to me, I shall be glad to hear from you by letter only. I remain, Yours faithfully Isaac P. Evans Mr. E. Clarke 7, Gladstone Terrace Brighton

No further trace of Edward Clarke has been found by Dr Haight—in particular he has informed me that the Yale collection of George Eliot papers does not contain any photograph of Edward and Ellen Clarke, which Edward had promised to send to his Aunt Mary. Does anyone know anything further about Edward Clarke, author of The Thames Miner’s Guide?

REFERENCES 1 An announcement of that wedding, at the Otahuhu Church of England, was published in the Auckland Weekly News on 4 March 1865. Ellen Nicholls’ parents were William and Ann Nicholls. 2 Frederick Wollaston Hutton (1836-1905) became Professor of Natural Science at the University of Otago in 1877, Professor of Biology at Canterbury College in 1880, and Curator of the Canterbury Museum in 1893. 3 James Kittermaster m.d. (1790 P-1877) was a family friend, living at Meriden in England. 4 Robert Maunsell (1810-1894), missionary, translator of the Old Testament from Hebrew to Maori, and Archdeacon of Auckland (from 1870 to 1883). 5 The botanist Thomas Kirk (1828-1898) had been appointed as Curator and Secretary of the Auckland Institute and Museum on 1 June 1868. 6 Clarke would seem to be referring to the fruitless gold rush of 1868 on the eastern shore of Lake Waikare (see D.P.T. More, Between the river and the hills,

Auckland, 1976, p.IBB-9). The Hunt claim reference is apparently to the well-known Thames claim (see the Thames miner’s guide p. 77-81) and not to any finds in Waikato County. 7 The highest peak in the Thames district is actually 2740 feet high (835 m). 8 Sir George Ferguson Bowen (1821-1889) was Governor from 1868 to 1873. 9 An allusion to William Gladstone’s attempt to disestablish the Irish Church. 10 Benjamin Disraeli became Prime Minister in February 1868. 11 Sir George Grey (1812-1898) had been Governor for his second term, from 1861 until he was dismissed on 4 February 1868. 12 Cf. William Lee Rees & Lily Rees, The Life and Times of Sir George Grey k.c.b, Auckland, 1892, Appendix B; and‘Letters to Sir George Grey, No. VI, Charles Darwin’ New Zealand Herald, Auckland, 6 September 1902. 13 Cf. Letters v.I, p.lxv. 14 Ibid, v.2, p.BB. 15 Ibid, p. 150. 16 Ibid. p. 184. 17 Ibid. v. 8, p. 221. 18 Ibid. v. 3, p. 38. 19 Ibid, v. 6, p. 150-51. 20 Ibid, v. 9, p. 207.