Edward Mills Grace. Handwritten twenty four page letter from Grace to his sister, Fannie, written

Edward Mills Grace. Handwritten twenty four page letter from Grace to his sister, Fannie, written from Maryborough, Victoria and dated 14th April [1864]. Interesting, extensive, eventful(!) and informative letter to his sister, Grace announces the sad news that Mary’s (his fiancee)’ father has died, he talks of the last cricket match in Sydney and all three matches in Melbourne plus the single wicket match where he scores 106, getting lost in the bush, leaving Sydney, just missing one and sinking another vessel, being attacked by mosquitoes and then by flees, keeping wicket in the last two matches and his general thoughts on the cricket played on the tour. ‘I must tell you that Mary’s Father is dead and her mother is at Liverpool’... Saturday, the commencement of the last match (in Sydney) at lunch time’...’Wednesday was really most exciting as far as the cricket was concerned, we almost lost match but luckily not quite’. Grace talks of his last evening in Sydney being spent with Mr & Mrs Leigh and family being quite affecting, so much warmth and affection shown to him ‘There was a tremendous lot of people down at the wharf to see us off... but at tea-time we were about 7 miles from the heads when we had a shock that shook us almost off our seats and on running up on deck we found to our utter dismay, we had run a vessel down and she had gone down to the bottom before we got on deck... all the men had jumped on board with us except one poor man who had fallen into the water, so we flung 3 life buoys to him, he caught hold of one so he was safe fro the present time’....’There was such a tremendous sea on that after picking him up they could not get back to the starboard side’. Grace explains the damage and the steamer has to return to the wharf for repairs, he spends the night in the Post Office Hotel and resumes the voyage after two days. He arrives, finally, in Melbourne and heads for the Geelong for the next cricket match ‘we got the 22 out directly....I made 2 when I was bowled by a shooter, directly we finished under the rain, left for Ballarat. Got up at half past three to leave at 4 o’clock (am) for Maryborough, we started it was rather cold but through a fine agricultural country 46 miles of very rough bush road, we lost ourselves... and consequently we went 3 miles out of our road. We arrived at 12 noon and had to commence play at 1 but we were most frightfully tired’.... ‘We won the toss I made 37 and then run myself out on purpose though everyone else though that George Marshall had run me out’. He then describes killing flees in his bed all Thursday night. ‘Friday night I only killed 4 so slept a good deal sounder’...’Friday, I thought to have some fun bowling but really my arm was so weak and not having bowled for two months I could not bowl a bit, so Caesar bowled very well round hand’. ‘Friday night I had a bat presented [highest score] to me at the theatre.... ‘ Saturday made 11 when Lockyer caught me from a bumpy one off Hayward. I walked out of course but the umpire would have given me in, we got all of them out by 3 o’clock so they could not tell what to do to amuse the people so I proposed to play six of them, a single wicket match with the proviso they put me in first which they agreed to do. So I went in and hit tremendously for 106 off my bat, when time was called the total score 125 and no likely hood of there getting me out. I hit tremendously, lots of clean 3’s, straight forward drives but could not quite hit a fourer’. Grace then takes the coach to Ballarat ‘... ‘we came to Creswick and about 3 miles from there is a hotel and a portico, but same portico is not high enough for the coach to go under comfortably without touching the top. Tinley and Lockyer were seated on the top of the coach, it only just entered the portico most fortunately consequently it did not hurt Lockyer who was at the back of the coach but it injured his shoulder and finger’..... ‘We won the toss and went in, I only made 6 when I was bowled by Morres’. ‘Monday night, I went to the theatre to hear the inimitable Barlow sing, I soon came away and went to bed. Tuesday, Carpenter and Parr really played splendid innings’.... Tuesday after the cricket was over they had a handicap 100 yards [race], 5 of us went in. I was scratch, one fellow 2 yards, Alfred Clarke and Phillips 3 yards and one fellow 5 yards. We had a most exciting race and I just won by a foot’.... ‘After Dinner, Hayward said he would run me if I would give him 3 yards at the finish so I said I would for 50 yards, he was well ahead of me but for all that I went in and licked him easily’. Thursday, was a little wet and the Melbourne Ground just as wet and sodden as any of our cricket grounds are in September. We won the toss and out the 22 in. They made a capital score’.... ‘I made one of my fine Australian scores 4 and got bowled slick out. Saturday, the rest of us got out and Lockyer having hurt his finger, I was put to keep wicket again and very much surprised them by catching two and stumping one. I caught another but the umpire gave him in’. ‘I had yours and Mamma letters the other day and am so grieved about poor Gilbert who I hope and trust is well again’.... ‘I will let you know for certain next mail at what time I shall leave Melbourne, I cannot come home with the eleven... I begin to get homesick a little, but ought not to considering all the kindness I receive here’. Grace continues with talk of Alfred getting married and encloses a carte de visite ‘of my Mary’.... ‘I shall post this before Tuesday in case I should forget as tomorrow in the hurry and bustle of seeing the others off. Caffyn is engaged to stop for 3 years terminable at the end of 2 at either his or the [club] giving 3 months notice at - cricket £300 a year and a Benefit at the end’. ‘We have a fire as it is cold and wet like one of our most miserable days in October in old Gloucestershire. I am so glad all these 22 matches are over, there is really very little enjoyment in them. Bit I am very sorry to think how very much annoyed you all must be a my not getting more runs out here, but it must be my bad play’. ‘My hands are so awfully stiff after keeping wicket yesterday that it is much as I can do to hold the pen. It will be a very long day ere I ever keep wicket again’. Grace concludes ‘Hoping poor Gilbert is well again and with every best love to all, I am your affectionate Brother, Edward’. A very interesting and informative letter from Grace with very good cricket and social content. Minor wear and nicks to page edges, light folds, minor staining otherwise in very good condition. - cricket The last match at Sydney against New South Wales was won by Parr’s XI by one wicket in a tight match, the match at Geelong was drawn, the match at Maryborough was won by Anderson’s XI by 56 runs, the match at Ballarat was also drawn with Carpenter making 121 and Parr 65 and E.M. Grace kept wicket and the final match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground against Victoria was drawn, with Grace again keeping wicket.Edward Mills Grace was presented with a cricket ball following these two appearances and wicket keeping so well which is being sold in this auction as lot 24.William Gilbert Grace suffered a bout of pneumonia in 1864 which had left him bed-ridden for several weeks.