Untitled reminiscences

Two copies (here designated A and B) on sheets of blue paper, each loosely bound by a piece of ribbon. The texts are virtually identical.

Copy A: 38 p. (Pages 9 and 37 were missed in the pagination, so the final page is actually numbered 40). Date 7 June, 1862 and signed by Fawkner on the final page.

Text begins “Twas sixty ago…”. This is the version published by Anderson in the La Trobe Library Journal, (see bibliography). It begins in Fawkner’s hand, until the words ‘in London’ on the first page. The hand of another scribe then takes up, continuing throughout the manuscript until the last sentence, to the words ‘well disposed’, whereupon Fawkner’s hand reappears to complete the sentence and date and sign the piece. For copies of this item, see ‘Copies and transcriptions’

Copy B: 30 p. Not signed or dated.

Text begins “In the year of grace 1802”. The fact that this copy is some eight pages shorter than its counterpart appears to be due to the more compact hand of its principal scribe. Like Copy A, it begins in Fawkner’s hand, continuing up to the words “in London” when another hand, different also to that of the Copy A scribe, takes over. The hands then alternate as follows:

Fawkner: p.15 first line to p.16 last line. Scribe: p.17 first line to p.18 last line. Fawkner: p.19 first line to p.23 last line. Scribe: p.24 first line to last line. Fawkner: p.25 first line to p.30 last line.