The Archer Letters – Letter Nineteen
This month we read the letter that Fr Julian Tenison Woods wrote to William Archer from Hong Kong on 9 February 1885. Wherever Fr Julian went he found people who had connections to Australia. In this letter he mentions that he was staying with Sir George Bowen, a former Governor of Victoria (1872-1879). It seems […]
The Archer Letters – Letter Eighteen
Fr Julian is now some months into his travels in Asia. It seems that his health had been good from August 1883 until the beginning of January 1884, despite the fact that he had endured uncomfortable boat trips while others around him were succumbing to jungle fever. However, he did get fever in due course […]
The Archer Letters – Letter Seventeen
The letter written by Fr Julian to his friend, William Archer, on 20 June 1878, tells the reader much about the place of science in the life of this priest. He loves all things scientific but he is always a priest first, attending to his many ecclesiastical duties before spending time pursuing scientific interests – […]
The Archer Letters – Letter Sixteen
This month we read a letter written from Fr Julian Tenison Woods while he is giving a mission at Forbes in May 1878. There has been a delay in Fr Julian receiving Sir William Archer’s letters due mainly to confusion over the address at which Fr Julian’s mail is held, while he is absent from […]
The Archer Letters – Letter Fifteen
The letter written by Fr Julian to William Archer from Penola on 5 September 1865 merits more than a cursory glance. It is, once again, full of questions and demands of his good friend but, as he says, “Who have I to look but you?” He is grateful that William has recommended a microscope that […]
The Archer Letters – Letter Fourteen
On 1 June 1865, Fr Julian Tenison Woods wrote to his friend, W H Archer Esq, from Penola. This letter perhaps proves what good friends these two really were because anyone else might have taken umbrage at receiving a letter in which most of the sentences are questions!
The Archer Letters – Letter Thirteen
This month’s letter from Fr Julian Tenison Woods to “My dear Sir”, William Archer, is rather a long one with a considerable number of explanatory endnotes. However, it is far from a tedious read! Written from Penola towards the end of 1863, it is a good example of Fr Julian’s command of the English language, […]
The Archer Letters – Letter Twelve
In September 1884, Fr Julian Tenison Woods writes to Sir William Archer from Perak. He has obviously received a very welcome letter from his friend, although it has been a long time coming, and he wants to reply immediately. Fr Julian has been in the Malay Peninsula for twelve months now and anticipates being able […]
The Archer Letters – Letter Eleven
In his letter of 18 October 1883, we find that Fr Julian Tenison Woods is now in Singapore, having left Brisbane three months before. He relates wonderful new experiences, including witnessing volcanic activity and declares “I shall never forget my journey!” He was, of course, a guest of the Governor, Sir Frederick Weld, a friend […]
The Archer Letters – Letter Ten
This month’s letter from Fr Julian Tenison Woods to Sir Willliam Archer was written from Bathurst at the beginning of 1878. It was written in the midst of a busy time for Fr Julian. Obviously the period between Christmas and the middle of January was a popular time for priests and religious to be on […]