From: Biological Stn. Pearl Beach
Via Woy Woy
NSW

To: Miss M. C. Sadler
"White Lodge"
101 Northcourt Rd.
Abingdon, Berkshire
England

January 12, 1954

My dear Margaret,

I seem to be losing count of all the letters I wish to write but with so much to do; so many visitors; the heat and the distress of the fire. All this results in weariness of the body. Therefore I am finding it very difficult indeed to keep up with all the things I wish to do. I have been almost overcome by the knowledge of the suffering and death of the wildlife in the Sanctuary as the result of the fires. Little wallabies and wallaroos came into the garden to shelter. I felt sure their feed were burnt and tried to take them water and food but it was difficult to get them to it. Then one day some visitors found a young dead wallaby in the garden quite close to the house. I went to examine it and found it was one I had been leaving water and food for. Its legs and feet had been so terribly burned that the bone was exposed. I will spare you further details. I cannot get over it. The certain knowledge that many animals and birds must have suffered in the same way! They are all so beautiful, so gentle, so interesting to watch, and this is what is happening to them in many places all over Australia. Accidents will always happen. One cannot hope to always escape from bush fires but so often they are caused by carelessness and spread by ignorant and often deliberate methods of fire-fighting - generally by 'burning back' which does not allow any living thing to escape.

But I must not sadden you by recounting these sorrows. It will give you some idea of the need for different methods on better provision for our wildlife, and for our lovely flowers and plants - their food and shelter. I posted you a magazine 'Woman's Weekly' which depicts a few of the flowers. We have growing here all the flowers depicted, and many others. Thank you for sending me the 'Men of the Trees' calendar. I am a life member of that association and have several of St. Barb-Baker's books here. They are very beautiful. The calendar is now in the library and will be very useful. Thank you for sending it, but I do feel that your beautiful little card was all that you should have bestowed upon your far-away cousin at a time when you must be called upon to give so many gifts - and that to a cousin to whom you have given so much which is valued so highly already. It is so wonderful to feel that you have kindred interests and it brings you very close to me, dear Margaret.

I have not had much success re the Bedford Legacy so far. Could you find out more about the amount? I had often heard about the Duke's interest in ornithology particularly, but of course, did not know of his remote connection with the Crommelin name. I am very grateful to have the Crommelin-Brown notes and, of course, their explanation of Marc Antonie's marriage to a Russell. It was the one missing link which I had been searching for for so long. Why do you think there was any mystery there? Remember, this was the time of dispersals and amazing difficulties must have been overcome to obtain and keep any records at all. One of the greatest and most remarkable things about this family is that they did keep the records.

I suppose you too have heard the story of the brass casket which disappeared? I do not know to whom this belonged, but as it appears several times and was told to me by my father as relating to my grandfather, I assume that different members of the family possessed these brass caskets of secret mechanism in which family papers 'of great value' were kept. In the case of Charles - Governor of Bombay - I was told that when he died (suddenly) he only had Indian servants about him, and the brass casket was stolen by them in the belief that it was gold. They broke it up and, of course, all the papers were destroyed. Evelyn Crommelin had a note that Charles (Gov.) died in the home of his son, Charles Russell C., at Cossinbazar but the Historical Inscriptions Bengal, Index IV says he is buried in the Old English Cemetery, Kalkapur (25 Dec. 1788 aged 81 years). That may be close to to Kosim-bazar.

My father told me that when he had last seen his father (at the Union Club, Sydney), he had been shown a brass casket (six or eight-sided) with a secret opening, and was told it contained papers of great value "but not to me (said our grandfather Thos. Lake) but to you boys when I am gone." Father was shown how to open it. When father arrived in Sydney after grandfather's death, it was too late for the funeral (he had to ride from a great distance). The casket could not be found and was never heard of again. I have wondered if it is mouldering somewhere in the vault of some old bank!

Do you think you could write to the rector of Woburn-Bedfordshire, or consult any of the local records there to unravel the Bedford-Crommelin connection? Or could you ask your friend who 'takes duty' in Winchilsea to interview the eccentric old dowager and find out something from her? Do give me any of the details - e.g. does she appear in church in shorts or riding britches? Or perhaps in a purple dress with gold braid, or a scarlet hat with feathers? 'Quite extraordinary' leaves my appetite for details without a clue to munch on, and I like all the tid bits!

Thank you for your admonitions. I try not to neglect my food, etc. but in the great heat I lost my appetite. I cook a two-course meal for each day and try to see that it is well cooked too - but on a diet in the country there is not much variety and the very fact of having to cook it takes away from some of the pleasure. I am not lazy about this but the fact remains. Upon the rare visits to the city I pay a lot for very badly cooked food, but even that gives the zest of some variety. The places where really good cooking is to be had are so fearfully expensive - simple food but well-cooked seems to be the exceptions, not the rule now.

Now about my feelings for R.C.'s. I have many relatives on my mother's side who belonged to that faith and many of them I held - and still hold - in great affection. My mother's mother was a Harnett - a very well-known family of R.C.'s and her brother was Sergeant-at-arms in the House for very many years. His son followed him. Another connection was R.E. O'Connor, Judge and Privy Councillor. I loved him dearly, and his daughter is one of my oldest and dearest friends. I do not like their church or its ways. Mixed marriages in the family were always most unfortunate. The struggle for power in political life has resulted in all sorts of corruption. There was so much disloyalty - I do not say among men like the Harnetts and O'Connors, but I have seen it so blatantly in other types, apparently encouraged, that I believe it was the chief cause of communism in many parts of the Empire in the beginning. But, of course, now the sharp blade of that sword has turned to wound the hand which held it. There is a big change, but it comes too late. I find it better to keep these thoughts to myself and not to discuss such matters. They like their religion and I like mine - the Protestant faith which built up all that is truly noble in our Empire today.

It is remarkable to me that my least-loved R.C. relatives - although proclaiming such complete satisfaction with their religion - have an almost fanatic belief in all sorts of childish and absurd superstitions, and so much of their life is guided and influenced by more than their belief and reliance upon the Word of God and our Saviour. The Bible is a sealed book to them, and their petitions made in a language few of them can read or understand. It is pitiful to see them making offerings and falling down before images. On the continent the results are pitiful, but here we could well profit by their example of church loyalty. (You might tear out that page and not bother with it again!)

Do you think Mona Crommelin-Brown could supply the Christian name and dates of Marc Antoine's wife? By the way, I suppose you know he was born at Lyons in France. Reading the book "India in the Days of Queen Anne" there is no mention of a Crommelin but I do not doubt the Russell-Crommelin connection because they were all in the same work. East India Company and the army, and the very fact that there was a Charles Russell as well as a Charles Russell Crommelin, and then the 'Russell' was carried on with the son of George. Of course, there is nothing to show that this Russell Group was the Bedford Group also, but that seems the most likely explanation. It should be quite simple to trace all the connections of a Duke's lineage. The "Dictionary of National Biography" contains at least one mistake about the Crommelins. It shows a portrait (or so I believe) of Samuel Louis Crommelin and states he took the fine weaving of linen to Ireland. But it was Louis Crommelin who did that and Samuel Louis was his wife's brother - Louis C. married his cousin, Anne C. - and she died and was buried at Lisburn, Ireland at the age of 95 years (1755). He, Louis, died in 1727. Samuel Louis' wife died in Holland.

I do not know what the Dictionary says about Nicholas Mars but it should be easy to trace Oliver Cromwell's grandaughters and whom they married. It certainly is a fact taht Chequers belonged to the Russell family through Joanna (heiress of John Thurban) and widow of Edmund Revett. She was the second wife of John Russell, Governor of Fort William in Bengal. His first wife was Frances Cromwell, daughter of the 'Lord Protector'. Charles Russell (colonel in the army), the son of John Russell, married a sister of John Revett.

I am greatly touched by your interest and sympathy in all my undertakings, and thank you from the bottom of my heart. I cannot think of anything which I need to ask you to send to me out here. My personal wants are few and very simple. I am resisting the desire to buy books because I find that those in the Library have not yet been properly indexed and are not sufficiently safeguarded. I have little time for reading until this matter of the National Botanic Garden is assured. Of course, the books on family matters are of no interest to the Library but I belong to the Society of Australian Genealogists. Their library is very deficient in matters relating to India. If you have access to the Oxford Libraries you may be able to refer to the "Honourable Company" by Mr. Bellasis and to any of the Hakluyt publications dealing with the early periods. Of course, the Library of the India Office would contain all the records we would read but it may not be possible for you to consult that or to make notes of the important items. The "Bombay in the Days of Queen Anne" was arranged by the late editor of The Times of India, S.T. Sheppard and he refers to Prof. Thomas and Miss L.M. Anstay as very helpful. But that was about 20 years ago and they may no longer be there.

How is your brother Arden? Tell me about your brothers and sisters and what they do. I don't think you have told me anything about them. I had a letter from Evelyn - she is very wrapped up in her family and I am so glad they seem to be doing well. She is a wonder for her age. I really must write to her now I have her address. I hope this year will be a very happy and comfortable time for you, Margaret, and thank you for everything. My best love, Minard