Thornton Arnott Lewes to GHL, Durban, 9 December 1866
Title
Thornton Arnott Lewes to GHL, Durban, 9 December 1866
Title
Thornton Arnott Lewes to GHL, Durban, 9 December 1866
Sender
Thornton Arnott Lewes
Recipient
M
Date(s)
- 1866-12-09
Place
Durban
Letter Content
Thornton Arnott Lewes to GHL, Durban, 9 December 1866
MS: Yale.
Durban | December 9. 1866.
Dear Pater,
At last, as the day for the departure of the mail steamer arrives, I resume the long-still-standing pen, to describe to you what has been done by your two young Africanders, since the arrival of the youngest of this latter.
Oh! Pater, wherefore didst thou not pay more attention to the day of the departure of mail steamers. All three of your letters, one of the 13th August, one of a later date and one of the 7th September, arrived by the same mail steamer that brought Bertie. Hence, not expecting that well grown youth, I was deep in the mysteries of coffee planting at Verulam, 23 miles hence, with my friends the Remnants. On the Friday after the arrival of the mail, which was on a Tuesday, Remnant looking over the list of passengers noticed among others: Mr. H. Lewes. He immediately asked me what my brother's initial was, and when I said H.; he said: Then he has arrived. Next day, I footed it down to Durban and found Bertie installed at the Sanderson's, so it was all right. On the following Wednesday we went in the Omnibus to P. Maritzburg, where we bought horses, and on Sunday the 4th November, we started for the Transvaal Republic.
I must tell you that the Free State Govt. has broken its promises, and done all the Volunteers out of the farms, to which according to Law, they were entitled. This alone would have been enough to make me discontented with the Free State, and as several people recommended the Wakkerstroom district of the Transvaal, as being very like Basutoland in climate, distance from Natal etc. we resolved to go up and see for ourselves.
Just a week after we left Maritzburg, we arrived at the town of Wakkerstroom, or to use its longer name Marthinus Wesselstroom, the capital of the district, intending to start from there, and ride all over the country, till we came to a farm, which would suit us in every respect. It so happened that the magistrate from Mooi River Dorp, the capital of the Transvaal, a Dr. Otto, was down at Wakkerstroom on business, and hearing that we wanted a farm, he said he thought he could suit us, as he had several he wanted to sell. Next day accordingly we rode out to see one of the farms, the one which we thought would most likely be the best, and we had no sooner ridden over it than we closed the bargain! The price was £100 cash, and herewith follows a description of the farm.
It is between 3-4,000 acres in size, on the eastern slope of the Drakensberg, about 30 miles from Natal, 50 from the Free State, 25 from Zululand and 60 from the country of the powerful tribe of Amaswazi Kaffirs. Horsesickness, the scourge of Natal is unknown, it is splendid sheep veldt, good for cattle and for agriculture: of Water, there is abundance, both springs and sprints or streams; there is firewood and timber, coal, game, in the shape of small bucks, paamos, or wild turkeys, partridges, quail etc, and last but not least a magnificent waterfall, about 200 feet high, falling into a magnificent ravine with a forest on one side, and several magnificent caves, which shall be more fully described when we are better acquainted with them. We are within two hours rides of the Vaal River flats, which are covered with game. Elands and Buffalos are to be had not very far off, and the scenery around is very fine. Now what do you think of that?
The reason we got the farm so cheap was because we had the cash, which is uncommonly scarse. The other half of the farm, Dr. Otto sold two years ago for £200 in goods, and he has not yet been paid, so that he willingly took half the price for our half, cash. The whole farm you must understand, was about 8,000 acres, and we have one half of it.
After making this investment we at once returned to Maritzburg, where we arrived after an absence of 3 weeks, in which time we had ridden 450 miles. We have just completed our purchases down here, in the shape of waggon, oxen, provisions, plough, tools etc etc, and start for the farm about Thursday the 13th. Sheep we get in the Free State, as they are there about half the price they are here, and we cannot get them or the cows till the other £140 comes out. You said: "Bertie will give you £50, which is a present from your Grandmamma," but Bertie knew nothing about it; he said, that Grandmamma would send out £50 to me at Christmas; so I suppose you forgot to give it him.
However, although not having the sheep and cows at once is in some respect a drawback, as we shall be without milk, butter and cheese for a couple of months, in some respects it is an advantage, as we can go heart and soul into ploughing and building with[out] any stock to bother us in the meanwhile. We take pitsaws up with us so we shall saw all our own timber and drive a good trade in it besides. The Free State is a good market for our wheat, as we get always from £2-3 per 196 lbs for it there, and it is close by. In Maritzburg wheat is much cheaper, and having to take it all that distance (200 miles) would not pay.
The next you hear from us, will be dated "The Farm," what name we shall give it we do not yet know. If the Zulu name for our waterfall is pretty, we shall call the farm after it -- if not we must think out a name. 732 Progress will be duly reported, as to how I am knee deep in mud, making bricks by the thousand, while Bertie is ploughing acres, and I hope a couple of years will see us prosperous men, the farm daily increasing in value and beauty. Henceforth address our letters
T. Lewes, Newcastle Natal
Newcastle is only about 30 miles from us and postal communications across the border are unsatisfactory. We shall send a Kafir to Newcastle on the arrival of every mail. So till next mail, goodbye. Love to every body; the family letter will now come regularly since the former smouse, warrior of the Free State, and general vagabond has settled down into that important member of the Transvaal population, who is vulgarly known as
Your affectionate Son
Thornton A. Lewes.
Bertie having gone out for a walk, endorses my sentiments and sends lots of love. He seems tolerably pleased with South Africa, and very much so with the farm. He is rather raw yet, but thanks to his country life, not much so, so he already begins to pass for an old Colonist.
Your Thornton.
When we are settled, a photographic friend from Newcastle will pay us a visit, and then we will send views of the farm, the fall, and our noble selves.
MS: Yale.
Durban | December 9. 1866.
Dear Pater,
At last, as the day for the departure of the mail steamer arrives, I resume the long-still-standing pen, to describe to you what has been done by your two young Africanders, since the arrival of the youngest of this latter.
Oh! Pater, wherefore didst thou not pay more attention to the day of the departure of mail steamers. All three of your letters, one of the 13th August, one of a later date and one of the 7th September, arrived by the same mail steamer that brought Bertie. Hence, not expecting that well grown youth, I was deep in the mysteries of coffee planting at Verulam, 23 miles hence, with my friends the Remnants. On the Friday after the arrival of the mail, which was on a Tuesday, Remnant looking over the list of passengers noticed among others: Mr. H. Lewes. He immediately asked me what my brother's initial was, and when I said H.; he said: Then he has arrived. Next day, I footed it down to Durban and found Bertie installed at the Sanderson's, so it was all right. On the following Wednesday we went in the Omnibus to P. Maritzburg, where we bought horses, and on Sunday the 4th November, we started for the Transvaal Republic.
I must tell you that the Free State Govt. has broken its promises, and done all the Volunteers out of the farms, to which according to Law, they were entitled. This alone would have been enough to make me discontented with the Free State, and as several people recommended the Wakkerstroom district of the Transvaal, as being very like Basutoland in climate, distance from Natal etc. we resolved to go up and see for ourselves.
Just a week after we left Maritzburg, we arrived at the town of Wakkerstroom, or to use its longer name Marthinus Wesselstroom, the capital of the district, intending to start from there, and ride all over the country, till we came to a farm, which would suit us in every respect. It so happened that the magistrate from Mooi River Dorp, the capital of the Transvaal, a Dr. Otto, was down at Wakkerstroom on business, and hearing that we wanted a farm, he said he thought he could suit us, as he had several he wanted to sell. Next day accordingly we rode out to see one of the farms, the one which we thought would most likely be the best, and we had no sooner ridden over it than we closed the bargain! The price was £100 cash, and herewith follows a description of the farm.
It is between 3-4,000 acres in size, on the eastern slope of the Drakensberg, about 30 miles from Natal, 50 from the Free State, 25 from Zululand and 60 from the country of the powerful tribe of Amaswazi Kaffirs. Horsesickness, the scourge of Natal is unknown, it is splendid sheep veldt, good for cattle and for agriculture: of Water, there is abundance, both springs and sprints or streams; there is firewood and timber, coal, game, in the shape of small bucks, paamos, or wild turkeys, partridges, quail etc, and last but not least a magnificent waterfall, about 200 feet high, falling into a magnificent ravine with a forest on one side, and several magnificent caves, which shall be more fully described when we are better acquainted with them. We are within two hours rides of the Vaal River flats, which are covered with game. Elands and Buffalos are to be had not very far off, and the scenery around is very fine. Now what do you think of that?
The reason we got the farm so cheap was because we had the cash, which is uncommonly scarse. The other half of the farm, Dr. Otto sold two years ago for £200 in goods, and he has not yet been paid, so that he willingly took half the price for our half, cash. The whole farm you must understand, was about 8,000 acres, and we have one half of it.
After making this investment we at once returned to Maritzburg, where we arrived after an absence of 3 weeks, in which time we had ridden 450 miles. We have just completed our purchases down here, in the shape of waggon, oxen, provisions, plough, tools etc etc, and start for the farm about Thursday the 13th. Sheep we get in the Free State, as they are there about half the price they are here, and we cannot get them or the cows till the other £140 comes out. You said: "Bertie will give you £50, which is a present from your Grandmamma," but Bertie knew nothing about it; he said, that Grandmamma would send out £50 to me at Christmas; so I suppose you forgot to give it him.
However, although not having the sheep and cows at once is in some respect a drawback, as we shall be without milk, butter and cheese for a couple of months, in some respects it is an advantage, as we can go heart and soul into ploughing and building with[out] any stock to bother us in the meanwhile. We take pitsaws up with us so we shall saw all our own timber and drive a good trade in it besides. The Free State is a good market for our wheat, as we get always from £2-3 per 196 lbs for it there, and it is close by. In Maritzburg wheat is much cheaper, and having to take it all that distance (200 miles) would not pay.
The next you hear from us, will be dated "The Farm," what name we shall give it we do not yet know. If the Zulu name for our waterfall is pretty, we shall call the farm after it -- if not we must think out a name. 732 Progress will be duly reported, as to how I am knee deep in mud, making bricks by the thousand, while Bertie is ploughing acres, and I hope a couple of years will see us prosperous men, the farm daily increasing in value and beauty. Henceforth address our letters
T. Lewes, Newcastle Natal
Newcastle is only about 30 miles from us and postal communications across the border are unsatisfactory. We shall send a Kafir to Newcastle on the arrival of every mail. So till next mail, goodbye. Love to every body; the family letter will now come regularly since the former smouse, warrior of the Free State, and general vagabond has settled down into that important member of the Transvaal population, who is vulgarly known as
Your affectionate Son
Thornton A. Lewes.
Bertie having gone out for a walk, endorses my sentiments and sends lots of love. He seems tolerably pleased with South Africa, and very much so with the farm. He is rather raw yet, but thanks to his country life, not much so, so he already begins to pass for an old Colonist.
Your Thornton.
When we are settled, a photographic friend from Newcastle will pay us a visit, and then we will send views of the farm, the fall, and our noble selves.
Signature
Thornton A. Lewes.
Citation
Thornton Arnott Lewes, Thornton Arnott Lewes to GHL, Durban, 9 December 1866, Complete George Eliot Letters(2026), George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/95614