The Falklands story ... continued

10:31am Friday 4th January 2008

AS a completion to the Christmas article a brief follow-up seems appropriate. The British Government, wishing to establish a permanent settlement in the Falklands, used the early months of 1840 to advertise the proposed new colony through the efforts of the Colonial Office.

At this time England was going through one of its depressed periods, particularly in the farming communities, and as a consequence there were many volunteers for the South Atlantic adventure.

The first group arrived in time to spend Christmas there, followed by the New Year of 1841. They had sailed with a Mr J B Whitaker on the Susan, described as a beautiful big ship of 200 tons! Also on board were a fine number of long-woolled sheep', pigs and poultry, superior dogs and stores.

The settlers built a large house while they waited for a second vessel to arrive from London carrying more immigrants and stores. In command was Lieutenant Tyssen who made great improvements and spoke well of their efforts, including a group of Scotchmen' who were to help Mr Whitington with whaling and sealing. They captured and tamed about 50 horses but needed some good English stallions to improve the breed. Many hundreds of the horned cattle had actually also been caught, which were supplied to passing ships for one-and-a-half pence per pound - apparently with greater expertise than that used in the previous year's fiasco!

Unfortunately the lieutenant had no power to prevent the lawless conduct of the Americans'. These were American privateers who had remained on the islands after the American War of Independence, during which the British navy had been fully occupied elsewhere.

On December 15, 1840 a Captain Roxby had arrived in the Essex at Port Louis, a splendid harbour, and took on board water, fresh beef, vegetables, fuel, wild rabbits, geese, ducks, fish, etc., which were plentiful. He carried back the information about the settlement.

By coincidence the Noble Colonial Secretary' at this time was none other than Lord Edward Stanley, son of the 13th Earl of Derby, whose family connections with Macclesfield are centuries old. His London home was a mansion in St James's Square, but in the New Year of 1842 something unusual happened at his office.

A New Year gift, which was actually a Christmas present delivered late, was left at the Colonial Office in Downing Street by a man who said it was a costly' chandelier. He asked for Lord Stanley, but was told that both he and Lady Stanley were visiting Queen Victoria at Windsor.

The man then produced a Custom House certificate, declared the gift to be from a foreign court, with 35 cases of wine to follow, and reclaimed the duty of £3 5s 4d, a not inconsiderable sum. By the time Lord and Lady Stanley returned to the square, the present was waiting. On carefully opening it they discovered cheap bits of bric-a-brac which had been packed well to stop them rattling around inside the case. Shortly afterwards the culprit was traced and apprehended by the police.

Meanwhile residents in Macclesfield were also reading about his distant cousin, Sir John Stanley, who had recently been created Baron Stanley of Alderley. Whilst visiting his brother William at Hooton on the Wirrall early in December, they had been out shooting, when the percussion cap on Sir John's gun flew off, lacerated his lip and knocked out two of his front teeth. He hurried to London for advice, and would not have enjoyed either his Christmas or New Year celebrations.

Another newspaper item of the New Year explained the custom of Christmas boxes. It was first begun centuries before, by sailors on ships. A box was nailed to the mast on going to sea, and at the time of storms or great danger a coin was put in it and prayers were offered. When the ship returned safely, the money was donated to the church or chapel at Christmas time, and was usually received at the entrance to the church or chapel.

A Happy New Year to everyone.

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