Dear Mother,

Mortlock Library of South Australia. D 8003 / 2 (L) Letter written in German, March 20, 1852 by Carl Linger to his mother in Germany.

Translated by Dr. L. A. Triebel. With a P.P.S. written by Linger's wife Minna. Translated by Dr. F. J. H. Blaess.

In this letter (diary written over many years) by Carl Linger revealed his movements and those of his family, including his brother in-law Hermann Komoll.

Adelaide, March 20th. 1852 Dear Mother,

At last, after 3 years, I am taking up my pen in order to give definite news of myself and family. It was not, however the few lines that Heinrich, who lived with Mad. Richter, recently brought me, that decided me to write; it is rather the circumstances and conditions which have completely changed and thereby altered my position. Of course I can tell from the little letter that unauthorized strangers ID report on my situation and, however sad the news may have been, I can only confirm it.

On leaving Berlin, I told everybody that as soon as things were going well with me here and I found them as reputed, I would at once write. If things went badly, I would not write, and this had indeed been the case.

However, I prefer to give you an orderly account. We left Hamburg on 23rd.

March 1849 and were at sea next day. The first few days on board are the worst: you haven't settled down; you can’t get used to the available space and there is much disorder. The food and other things are strange but all this changes after you have been at sea a while. On 27 th. March, at 4 o' clock in the afternoon, my wife happily gave birth to a healthy girl. It was in the North Sea near the Island of Texel, latitude 53 - 50 North and longitude 5 - 4 East of Greenwich, whilst the seas were running high. The small creature was received with three hearty cheers by the passengers and crew, whilst the ship the

"Princess Louise " had to be festively flagged.

Without anything-noteworthy happening, we reached the South American coast on the day before Whit- Sunday, and towards evening, we entered the Harbour of Rio de Janeiro. I shall not embark on a description of the noble beauty and attraction of this spot, otherwise my letter might become many pages in length.

Here we, passengers for the most part, left the ship. For ourselves, I rented a rural dwelling on the hills, from where I could overlook the city and the splendid Harbour with its bay. Here we lived for 10 days in the enjoyment of nature and went on short excursions into the hills. Up to now our journey had been rather slow but from this point on, things moved all the faster and a strong wind carried us quite close to the tip of Africa. The Cape of Good Hope was doubled during a moderate storm. Without untoward occurrences, we sailed past Kangaroo Island and entered Port Adelaide on 7th. August. Ours was an exceptionally long voyage, for which the blame lay partly with the captain's carelessness and partly with the quarrel between him and the helmsman. Other ships after us often made the journey in 90 days and even in 78 - 82 days from England. At the end of our journey, I must honestly say that there is no real danger in a long sea journey, only the ship must be a good one, the captain at his post and you

yourself must be of good cheer. Boredom is really the worst thing. Seasickness is unimportant and many don't get it at all ( Minna, for example, had no trace of it. I felt unwell for just one day and Hermann for a day and a half.) Everybody, even those who were seasick throughout, were afterwards all the stronger and healthier.

Having arrived in Adelaide, I first tried hard to find work as a music teacher but no one held out any hopes for me, partly because the country generally is not as yet very advanced culturally, and partly because I had not as yet mastered the English language. On the contrary, I was told that only land and its ownership were the soundest financial investment. All this determined me to purchase a parcel of land, 80 acres in extent, from a gardener, who claimed to know his business perfectly and promised me the world. The spot was quite well chosen, 18 miles (a 4-hour walk) from Adelaide and half that distance from Gawlertown. The allotment lay in the Munno Para at the end of a wood, in the plain, at 1 1/2 hours distance from the hills. A small portion of it had trees, the rest was cleared. The soil was very good but we had been mislead as regards water, as in the two wells, 65 and 38 feet deep respectively, we found the water to be very bad indeed. Here we started building, erected a house costing over 60 pounds, (400 Taler) felled trees, dug the land, ploughed, planted potatoes, manured the soil, etc.

However, it turned out that my partner had not invented gunpowder, and had up to now been a lazy worker, who if possible deterred others. Our money soon ran out and we got into debt. No further progress resulted and as I soon realized that we had too much land and were not equally keen, indeed were not at all suited to each other, I separated from my partner and left him half the land, kept the house and inventory but also most of the debts.

Now I set myself to work hard, during the most intense heat of the January and February sun I fenced in all my land alone, axed the trees and split the wood myself. Such a fence is most important, it must be strong and durable in order to keep off animals even bulls. I acquired cows, calves, pigs, hens, etc. Now butter and cheese were produced, eggs sold things were beginning to show progress.

However, I had bad German neighbours, friends of my former partner, who did me every possible harm. Finally, when they interfered violently with my animals and my best cow was killed through them, I decided, whatever might happen, to go to the city and try my fortune there.

I had lived for 1 1/2 years on the land and toiled, had borne troubles and care, had seen my wife wasting away as she was unaccustomed to the hard work and physically unfitted for it. Our child was ill, unable to live or die, a doctor and medicines were difficult to obtain, there was no money, scarcely any proper food, and now quarrels began with neighbours. This had led to lawsuits, they were of course punished but I got nothing. We had endured all this within a short time. I left my wife in the country with her brother, Hermann Komoll, and with 16 Groschen (two shillings) in my pocket I made for the city to chance my luck.

Three days later I appeared at a public concert, but of course, with my rough woodcutter's hands, I could do no more than sing and accompany the violin.

However, from the way in which I performed, people sensed the musician differing from earlier exponents. I tuned pianos and soon adapted myself to this business, which together with the notation of music scores, brought in money.

Moreover, I was asked to play dance music in English private society circles. I accepted and earnt money. Three weeks later I had my wife and child come to town. During this time I had not only supported myself and had a pair of boots soled but had already been able to pay off 21 Taler (Dollars ?) in debts.

An English lady, Mrs. Murray, herself as well trained as a professional musician, took a special interest in me. She obtained lessons for me and through her effort I had access to the best English families, where I instructed; soon I had no time to tune pianos and play dance music, which, incidentally, is nothing less than a disgrace. Here it is especially the case that work, of whatever kind, is honourable; hence the German nobility plays a very sad role here and is held in contempt. I leased out my land but was cheated over it. The lessee was a disreputable fellow and ran away. I was held responsible for the very high interest and got nothing from the land, which I therefore surrendered to meet the debt on it. I had sufficient other debts to pay. In this way I had staked my whole wealth and had a debt of almost 700 Taler (Dollars?) hanging over me.

All the toil and hardship on the land had been in vain, all our cares and sorrows were fruitless.

A new life began for me in the city. Here I have ample work, I am now well off, earn more money than I ever did during my eminent, I, am generally at ease, with the prospect that things will be even better when conditions improve somewhat, as hey may well do within a few months. During the 14 months that I have been living in the city, I have made headway: I have no more debts, have bought new furniture and a magnificent instrument for 300 Talers, (Dollars?) have sent my wife for 2 months to the Bay at the seaside and I, am now again living in a beautiful house, very respectably, on North Terrace near the Governor, with the park and the river Torrens in front of me, the hills to the right and the sea on the left. If God in His goodness will grant me further health and strength, for I have to work very hard, I can within a few years see a lovely goal reached:

Full independence, ensuring me a peaceful retreat for my old age at the foot of the hills, where I shall grow vegetables and fruit for our domestic use and lead a life of pleasurable ease. So much for myself and my circumstances.

My wife, although no longer ill, is still rather weak. As yet, she will not have a servant, maids are very expensive here,- it is her opinion that we should not think of comfort until we have saved rather more.

Our daughter, who when we landed from the ship at Adelaide, was baptised and named Luise Marie Feodore has, with God's help, and our careful nursing and attention, grown into a pretty, healthy little girl. All day long she eats drinks and plays in the yard. She chatters equally well in German and in English and now tells everybody that her dear Granny is coming tomorrow.

My brother-in-law, Hermann, is also very well. He stood by me faithfully on the land and endured much, if not everything, together with us. Just six days ago he left for the goldfields in order to try his luck. Many thousands just now are acquiring a fine capital sum there within a short time. He, too, might do so. In September, (Spring), I may give my pupils 3 months holiday and go there

myself, where gold nuggets are to be found. Even if he had no luck, anyone can earn about 10 Taler (Dollars?) a day and the work is not so hard for the man who can and will work. Your few lines, Dear Mother, pained very, very deeply and caused me many a sad hour. How greatly has so much changed for the worse in so short a time ! Still cannot bring myself to understand that fate, dear Mother, has dealt so harshly with you. But be undismayed, perhaps a way out can here also be found, with God's help.

It will be clear to you, dear Mother, that I can't return from here to disturbed Europe, for what prospects of advancement could I find there? In any case I would first have to look for work and wages there, which I have in full measure here. With all my efforts and straining, I was unable to earn as much as I do now. Therefore please accept my heartful thanks for the help you offered me.

The offer means as much to me as if I had received it. Now I come to the most important thing of all. It would be my warmest wish to see you here and if you were to be able to make the decision to come, you would be received by us with open arms. I think it would not be so impossible. As I have already remarked, the sea voyage is not so bad and even less dangerous. One survives the hundred days. Only your eyes would be a difficulty, which might, however, also be overcome. You would have to bring a person, best of all a respectable girl, with you, one whose fidelity and reliability you have tested for yourself and who would dutifully look after you on the journey. If such a person could be found, you could in any case assure her of free passage. On her arrival here, a respectable girl would find not one but ten positions in which she would certainly be four times better off than in Germany under the same conditions. If you should not know where such a person is to be found, I would propose Marie, my wife's youngest sister, now 18 years old and a girl with a quiet, modest disposition and of fine feeling. She might perhaps be inclined to come to us. I shall willingly repay her passage money and other expenses, whilst I do not in the least fear for her future here. Not only is there a great need of decent servants but also of young German housewives. You could certainly discover the whereabouts of this Marie if you applied to my brother-in-law Ehrenberg and he would, I feel sure, undertake the necessary correspondence.

The best time for leaving Hamburg is October or November, again. If the matter takes longer, March or April. But, as regards your coming, you should not delay overlong, this letter, according to my calculations, will have reached you before the end of June. You would of course have to sell everything at any price and keep only the necessary clothes, two dark suits and a warm cloak, a good bed with a horsehair mattress, and as much laundry as is needed for the journey. In all, as little luggage and as few small cases as possible.

You should act as follow with your money: give notice regarding it at Brunzlow's and then, through a reliable man, for example, my friend W. Ebel, who will receive a letter from me by the next ship, or H. Dallach, Uncle Linger, etc., write and make the whole business known to the firm of Blass and Schomburgk, Neueburg in Hamburg, considered to be one of the best. Tell them to change all your money, with bills of credit on the South Australian Banking Company in London. Even so such bills of exchange and papers present great difficulties here as everything is so different and they often run the risk of considerable loss. That's why you have to pay 2% extra which unimportant. Such bills is

made out in triplicate: you receive the first and bring it; the second goes by another ship and I receive it; Blass and Schomburgk in Hamburg keep the third in case the first two are lost. Further, Blass and Schomburgk must book your passage hither. Also my advice is to take no other ship than one of the best of Peter Godefroi and Son’s in Hamburg. These ships are all commanded by reliable captains and are good in every respect. They are well and plentifully provisioned. Nearly all the captains are polite and obliging men. I know several of them here. These ships of Godefroi’s are praised by all passengers here and no one has heard any complaint. Even the steerage is good and cabins are excellent. I would, dear Mother, recommend the second, or, if need be, the first cabin for you. Your money would also be advantageously invested here and earn more interest than in Germany, as here the usual, not usurious rate of interest is 20%. That will not always remain so, now that we have so much gold and money here but we can still reckon on 10 to 15 % over some years. Just think this over for yourself and consider your position in Berlin: think, too, of the great joy that would be ours, if we had you here with us.

The country is a good one, offering many amenities; the climate, like central Italy's, is also good and especially suited to elderly people. The heat is not insufferable and the winter consists of only 4 to 5 weeks of rainy weather. The soil is very fertile. We have all the European fruits in excellent quality. Bread and meat are excellent and cheap. If my wish should be fulfilled and I should soon have a property in the hills, how grand it would be for us to share everything with you. Then you could, after your years of trouble and hardship, spend the evening of your life in peace, with your children and grandchildren near you. Just try and set about it in earnest; you will see that it can be carried out. Now I must think of ending. Greetings to all my friends, relatives and acquaintances, especially to my brother and Otto; if you have the opportunity, give our greetings also to Agthes [sic] and Otto in Artillery Street, to Dr. Wilde, Wm. Ebel at 37 Sebastian Street, my Brother-in-law Ehrenberg and his Wife, Dr. Loewinsohn, the Linsens and all friends. Best wishes to Aunt Rosa and her daughter. I did not think that Uncle Rosa would leave us so soon. I was shocked at Dorta [sic] Koch's death. It was to be foreseen that her son August would become a fine fellow. Perhaps he’ll turn up in Australia some day.

Now farewell and do meanwhile soon give us cause to rejoice at the news that you will come. You’re loving son and daughter,

Carl and Minna Linger.

P.S. Letters from here go quickest by Overland mail and for Berlin they go cheapest via Trieste. Letters for here come quickest, not by Overland, but via London, from where ships leave every week.

We can't frank any letters here but pay only the sea postage. Please pardon the poor quality paper.

The letter was to be thin one, My permanent address is: Mr. C. Linger, Adelaide, South Australia,

North Terrace [sic] near Scotch [sic] Church.

[ P.P.S. ] Also I, my dear Mother, send from abroad hearty, fond greetings and kisses, and combine my request with that of my husband, namely that I very soon may be able to take you into my arms. Until then, look after yourself, and favour us with the joy of seeing each other again.

Minna Linger.

Note;

Discovery of Carl Linger's letter;

History information was uncovered; that the letter written by Carl Linger in Australia, to his mother in Germany, was possibly sent, or taken there

History information was uncovered; that the letter written by Carl Linger in Australia, to his mother in Germany, was possibly sent, or taken there