Extracts From The Letters And Journal Of Daniel Wheeler While Engaged In A Religious Visit To The Inhabitants Of Some Of The Islands Of The Pacific Ocean.
VAN DIEMEN'S LAND - NEW SOUTH WALES & NEW ZEALAND
Accompanied By His Son Charles Wheeler
Printed by Joseph Rakestraw: Philadelphia 1840 1st
Edition
"This book offers a deeply personal and spiritual account of
Quaker missionary Daniel Wheeler
's journey through the southern Pacific. His travels took him to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania), New South Wales, and New Zealand during the 1830s, where he sought to minister to both European settlers and Indigenous communities. Through a series of journal entries and letters, Wheeler documents his impressions, challenges, and reflections on faith, culture, and the natural world, often expressing concern for the moral and spiritual state of colonial society.
Wheeler's writings reveal not only his devout Christian convictions but also a humanitarian outlook that was rare among Europeans of the period. He frequently comments on the treatment of Aboriginal people and Māori communities, voicing discomfort at the injustices and dispossession they faced under British colonization. His peaceful approach, rooted in Quaker ideals of equality and compassion, contrasted sharply with the often harsh and exploitative realities of colonial rule. His observations provide a counter-narrative to dominant colonial attitudes, offering a rare ethical critique from within the settler framework.
This book holds significance in Australian history as it captures an early religious and moral perspective on colonial society, particularly in Van Diemen's Land and New South Wales. Wheeler's reflections provide a valuable eyewitness account of life in early 19th-century Australia, including its landscapes, penal colonies, and Indigenous relations. As such, his journal serves both as a spiritual document and a historical record, contributing to a broader understanding of how some individuals within colonial society perceived and responded to the profound cultural and ethical challenges of empire."
Light wear and fading to covers and spine as shown. Binding is in excellent shape with no loose pages. Pages with light foxing but otherwise clean and well presented. A nice copy in good to very good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
Size 23cm x 14.5cm x 2.5cm - 324 Pages
