M10/5/535

Letter from Thomas Maclear, from Cape of Good Hope. Shackerly died penniless (information of Watermeyer & Solomon). Sorry there is nothing for Miss Shackerly.

7 Dec 1839

From: 1839 To: 1839

Has been exploring site of explosion of meteor last year & is sending home account for 'Philosophical Transactions' [publication of the Royal Society]; and is sending specimen for Bedford Museum; origin a mystery. Gratifying respect for father's memory. We go on like other folks, plagued by domestics but very happy; 5 girls & 2 boys; pet sheep-dogs, poultry and cats; they jump and skip about free from intrusion in out-of-the-way habitation; in about a month I take to the mountains to measure an arc of the meridian, pretty mountains they are, rugged beyond conception to an European eye, well stored with wolves, panthers, jackals & baboons. (easily kept at distance by a fire or the rifle).

item

Maclear, Thomas,
Shackerly,
Watermeyer & Solomon

general correspondence, Cape of Good Hope, Bedford Museum, sheep, dogs, cats