Lot Essay
WANTRUP 54, PP. 118-119. Lieutenant Charles Jeffreys was commander of H.M.S. Kangaroo. He was involved in smuggling liquor and assisted convicts and felons to escape. He was expelled from the colony by Macquarie. While G.W. Evans, Surveyor General of Van Diemen's Land, was a passenger on the Kangaroo, his papers were stolen by Jeffreys, including his manuscript of a book on Van Diemen's Land. When Jeffreys reached England he published the present work, which was a slightly altered version of the manuscript. 'Jeffreys' book is rare and only a few copies have changed hands in recent years. It is a notable book and quite attractive inspite of its sordid history. It is essential to any collection of Tasmaniana and would make a valuable acquisition for any collection ... its importance as the first separate description of Van Diemen's Land and as the first Australian emigrants' guide ... Jeffreys' avowed aim in his book was to attract emigrants to Van Diemen's Land in preference to the United States of America ... frequent comparisions between the two countries are made in the text.'