Hence originated the grand mistake concerning Mrs. Reibey who emigrated from Bury in Lancashire, and Margaret Catchpole, who was tried at Bury in Suffolk. It appears from original letters in the possession of the author, and from Mrs. Reibey’s herself, that Suffolk was totally unknown to her. She was very justly hurt at presents being sent to her, under the idea that she was that poor girl, whose correspondence and gratitude to her benefactress, the late Mrs. Cobbold of Holywells, showed her to be honest and exemplary. She was justly hurt, because therein was the supposition that she had been tried and convicted as a felon, and was transported for horse-stealing.
The friends and relatives of Mrs. Reibey, as well as all Christians, will be glad to read the [amiable Bishop’s letter;] and even the author, whom it condemns, gives it to the public, because his own heart is in full accordance with the charity therein breathed; and he is even more anxious to turn the hearts of that lady’s relatives in gratitude to that spirit and testimony which this good man gives of all the branches of their respectable family.
Notwithstanding the remonstrance conveyed in the Bishop’s letter, concerning the publication of the Life of the real Margaret Catchpole, over which the author had then no more control than he now has, he cannot help here expressing his gratitude to all those who, viewing the narrative in the light of truth, and intention on the author’s part to convey a moral and spiritual warning and lesson in an easy and instructive style, have written to him letters of approbation.
The Bishop’s letter, whilst it will animate the hearts of Mrs. Reibey’s real relatives, will also speak equally kindly to the descendants of the real Margaret Catchpole, and will be the author’s best proof of his desire to convey the Bishop’s love to them along with his own. The wildest olive, when grafted into the true stem, must be productive of good fruit.
Mrs. Reibey, a high-spirited, romantic girl, from the neighbourhood of Bury in Lancashire, of good family, with friends and relatives of England’s noblest merchants, conceived the idea that she should be happier in our distant colony than in the Mother Country. She left England very young, and, like many of her sex, succeeded in proving that her enterprising spirit was not unrewarded. She lived respected by her family and friends in England, and although mistaken by the good Bishop himself, yet noble testimony is borne to the excellence of her character. She was a clever woman of business, and of a noble disposition. The author can only hope, that all her relatives and friends who have written to him will thus accept at his hands the apology for all the mistakes that have arisen; whilst, at the same time, he rejoices to keep concealed the name of Margaret’s real descendants until they shall themselves divulge it.
"Sydney, 18th April, 1845.
“Reverend Sir,
“I was very much vexed to learn from your letter of the 15th inst. the course which it is intended to be taken with reference to the publication named in the Prospectus which you forwarded, and which is now returned. My opinion entirely coincides with yours and Mr. Hossall’s as to the inexpediency of such an undertaking. It would be cruel even to the individual, whoever it may be, to have early offences thus placed permanently on record as a memorial of shame and cause of annoyance to her younger and perfectly innocent connexions. Indeed, if the party meant be the one whom allusions in your letter lead me to conjecture, they who would suffer in their feelings are not only innocent, but praiseworthy in a very high degree for exertions in the cause of religion, and of the Church of England, scarcely to be paralleled by any instance I have ever known. The Bishop of Tasmania would regret equally with myself, perhaps even more, that any pain should be occasioned to parties so worthy of respect. If my conjecture be right, I happened once to be in circumstances which placed other members of the same family (young females just attaining to womanhood) under my close and special attention, and I can truly testify the impression by me was, that they were in character and deportment altogether unexceptionable, and in habits of devotion very exemplary. Others I know, are regarded by the clergyman of their parish as among the best instructed and sober-minded of the communicants in his church.
“My acquaintance with Mr. Cobbold is not such as I think would justify my taking any step which would so carry the air of remonstrance as that of my writing to him would.
“It appears to me that as you have, through various circumstances, been brought into correspondence with him, it would be more proper that you should make a statement of the true facts, and of the view which is taken of his proposal. At the same time, if you think it would strengthen your case if he were acquainted with my sentiments, I can have no objection to your communicating them; as all my statements to you upon the subject have been in accordance with them, and expressive of my satisfaction at witnessing the exemplary conduct of the individuals whom I suppose to be alluded to.