Llewellyn, Robert William, 1848-1910: Travel to America and New Zealand

Holograph manuscript volume recording the travels of Llewellyn in the United States of America and New Zealand in the form of draft letters to his family. Journal begins with Llewellyn's departure on 'The Java' from Liverpool on 19 August 1871. Journey continues to Cork and Queenstown [Cobh] in Ireland, before crossing the Atlantic to New York. In the United States visits are made up the Hudson River to West Point, and to Albany by railway, and on to Niagara Falls, Toronto, Chicago, and Salt Lake City, before finally departing for New Zealand from San Francisco on 13 September 1871. Voyage on the SS 'Moses Taylor' to Honolulu and then on the SS 'Nevada' to Auckland. Most of the journal recalls Llewellyn's travels, friendships, and experiences in New Zealand, particularly in Wellington where he was largely based. Some notable experiences are the many balls and dances attended in the Houses of Parliament in Wellington, releasing the first brown trout in North Island rivers with Sir James Hector, learning to take photographs with William Thomas Travers, meetings with railway contractor John Brogden and the military secretary and soldier Sir George Whitmore. The journal ends abruptly on 15 January 1872 even though Llewellyn indicates he is to remain in New Zealand for a longer period before travelling on to Australia.

Title supplied by Library.

Quantity: 1 volume(s).

Physical Description: Bound volume, ribbed red leather boards with gilt ruled borders, 66 pages of holograph in ink on ruled laid paper (120 pages blank), 17.8 x 11.6 cm.