ALS from Major Henry C. Dane to his friend dated August 18, 1887 [with] unrecorded Sydney handbill advertising his three lectures

1887. Very good overall. A manuscript letter along with an unrecorded handbill of Henry C. Dane.

Major Henry Dane was a Civil War veteran who made his way to Australia and New Zealand in 1887 as a lecturer. He began as a wheelwright, then enlisted at age 29 in Cambridge, 4 Oct., 1862, and mustered in as 1st Lieutenant. He received a commission as Captain of Co. "F", Third Massachusetts Calvary Regiment. He was promoted to Brevet Major 13 March, 1865. He resigned his post 15 May, 1865, and became an attorney at law practicing in the District of Columbia. In 1873 he is listed as a partner of Dane & Baker in Boston, MA. In 1880-81 he traveled to Chicago lecturing. He became a resident of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia in 1875 and reviews of his lectures appear in Sydney Morning Herald and National Library Newspaper in 1887,1888, 1891.

His letter speaks fondly of his friend Henry Allison of Fitchburg, MA and describes the beautiful trees, ferns, flowers, bays of both NZ and Australia, and is wonderful reception there while lecturing, including the kind people he has met. 'You remember that Sydney was formerly a Convict Colony. Traces of those hard times are plenty all about me. No one ever speaks of it here, for no one knows who may be the son or daughter of a convict. I of course am silent. But still I am gathering facts...'

Letter is slightly toned, with original folds. Includes the Sydney franked original envelope. Also included is a copy of the Sydney printed handbill advertising his lectures which he sent to his friend. The handbill lists three lectures at the New Masonic Hall on Castereagh St., August 18, 1887 "Up the Rhine & Over the Alps with a Knapsack," August 19, 1887 "The Great Naval Battles of the American Rebellion" under the patronage of the Honourable Gilderoy W. Griffin, U.S. Consul, August 23, 1887 "The Heroic in Womanhood" under the patronage of His Worship the Mayor A.J. Riley, Esq., MLA. Printed in numerous type fonts on thicker gauge paper, with splitting along all folds (needs conservation). The handbill not found in Trove.