Book, 'Consolations in Travel, or, The last Days of a Philosopher'; Sir Humphrey...
Book, 'Consolations in Travel, or, The last Days of a Philosopher'
EditionFifth edition
Maker Maker RoleAuthor
About this object
This book was given to Mary Eliza Lush by her uncle Frederick. ‘Consolations in Travel’ was published after the author’s death and is a mixture of poetry, autobiographical sketches, descriptions of dreams, and philosophical musings on the afterlife.
Mary Eliza was the daughter of the Anglican minister Vicesimus Lush and his wife Blanche. She was born in England in 1847 and moved with her family to Auckland in 1850 when her father was appointed the minister of the All Saints Church in Howick, Auckland. Mary Eliza received a higher education than most of the other girls of her era as her mother and father place significant importance on educating all of their children, including their four daughters. As the minister of the Howick parish, Vicesimus established a school at the All Saints Church in 1851. According to his journals the school roll included 12 boys and 15 girls, and his wife assisted in teaching the girls during the afternoon.
Tragically, Mary Eliza died from scarlet fever in 1854 aged 7 years. Her older sister, Charlotte Sarah, and her younger brother, Alfred, also died from scarlet fever within a ten-day period. While the death of a child was not unusual during the Victorian era, this does not mean that the loss was not felt greatly by parents and family members. In the Lush family archives held at Ewelme Cottage, there are a number of mementoes which serve as poignant reminders of the family's tragic loss. This book was later given to Mary Eliza’s niece, Ellen Lush, in March 1923.
For more information about the Lush family and Ewelme Cottage, which is cared for by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, visit our website.
Leather and paper
Measurements17 x 10 x 2cm
Date Made1851
Place Made PublisherJohn Murray (estab. 1768)
Publication Date1851
Publication PlaceLondon, England
Subject and Association Keywords Credit LineCollection of Ewelme Cottage, Heritage New Zealand Historic Pouhere Taonga
Object Type Object numberXEC.3189
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