WCP3105

[1]¹

Kensington

4 & 5 Sept / 78

My dear Cousin,

Am still perusing with pleasure your "Essays on Tropical Nature".² Seeing a letter from you in "Nature"³ on an error in the published Geography of N. Australia I sent ^{a copy of} it to the Editors of my paper (the Register) with a preface — The paper I send herewith — I could have cut out the paragraph, but papers go to England Post free so forward as it is.

In matter of nephew Charlie Wilson⁴ (— Brother Percys [sic] eldest)⁵ — I think I told you that Central African Mission had collapsed, all the party (or 2 parties) having [2] been massacred or died from fever — & as far as we know Charlie still in Central Africa the only survivor. — By last mail but one I received a long letter from himself 20 close note pages detailing his journey from Zanzibar to his present Station of the Chief M'Tse ^{of Uganda} — quoted by Stanley⁶ – Col. Long⁷ & others[.] This was dated Dec. last & therefore before the late disastrous failure. — 2 columns of the most interesting of this acct. will be in the Register newspaper — & I will send.

An American Butterfly Danaus Archippus [sic] now acclimatized here with a vengeance. I have sent a full acct of it to our publication here "The garden & field"[.] [3] Being too long for one no. they with my leave have cut into 2 — I will send you (re acclimatization) copy of that when published — Darwin’s⁸ Theory is also touched by it in the "Australasian" of Melbourne.

One of great topics of the day is the destruction of rabbits! — but when I tell you that they threaten the success of all the pastoral and agricultural Districts of the Colony it is time they were looked after — Three years ago in New Zealand they had to legislate about them, — many thousand square miles of grass being devoured by them, & sheep dying in consequence by hundreds — They are indeed acclimatized as I said of the Amer. Butt. with a vengeance & prolific [4] to such an extent that no bounds seem set to their numbers:— cleared off farmers & enclosed grounds they revel & breed in swarms in the waste lands & grounds of the squatters & sheep farmers — Fancy 2 little children killing 2000 in a very short time by enticing them & then knocking on the head, receiving so much for each scalp & skin[.] The meat of some is salted but their very numbers give people a distaste for them. — add to above the English sparrow increasing greatly everywhere & you have some additl facts for the article "Acclimatization" —

Season fine to present time, promising a good harvest — "advance Australia" — !

Governor Jervois⁹ returned after 6 months "leave" — bringing wife¹⁰ — (Lady J) & 3 daughters[.] Of course Levee & drawing room followed[.] I’m former as Reg. of Probates – wife¹¹ in lather [5] (See summary herewith) — Telephone — Microphone & Phonograph exciting much attention here:— experiments & results useful. — Also in Phil. Soc^y. & Private Parties I do experiments showing to young people including these[.]

Paris Exhibition we being well represented by at — Mess. Boothby¹² & Twopeny¹³ sent over by us. —

Re we to England: can’t yet say when, so many little official matters to settle. — What kind of work is yours on Geog. of Australia — & are you assisted — I send herewith if poss Dr. Schomburgks¹⁴ catalogue of plants &c &c in our [6] Botanical Gardens for the year — /78. — This I only found on acct of the views of different parts of our gardens, as the catalogue alone is too dry except to an out & out Botanist some of plates tolerable & all like[.]

Our Town & Suburbs Tramways are now in full work carrying thousands daily & running every 1/4 hour from Kensington to centre Adelaide.

We also have gas now in Kensington in drawing & dining rooms a great convenience. —

With kind regards to self & wife¹⁵ & little ones¹⁶ (how many now)

I am ever yours affectionately | C A Wilson¹⁷ [signature]

My children 5 in no. Youngest & last 3 years.¹⁸