Item 03: 'The Aborigines of Australia. A Lecture by Wm. Ridley M.A.', 14 September 1864. - Page 58

few were absent.  There were eleven men, with their

wives;  10 single men;  3 grown up lads;  3

single adult women, one of them a widow, one whose

husband had gone to a distance on business, and the third

had been divorced {on account of perpetual and violent 

quarrels};  3 maids;  eleven girls, and 15 boys

including 2 infants.  These blacks belong to various

tribes.  Many of them are from the Yarra and the Goulburn;  

one from the Murray;  a few from Gipps Land and

Seymour.  A number have come from Franklinford,

including the young woman Ellen who wrote the

letter to the Queen and wrought the crochet work

sent home to the Princess of Wales.

Besides these there is a large number of blacks

who regard these as their friends, and also are likely

sooner or later to come and settle with them;  this

would raise their number to about 140.  This 

settlement was commenced in March 1863;  and

it is as pleasing as it is astonishing to see the

evidence of civilization and advancement in 

personal and social comfort which they exhibit