Thomas Fennell, R.N was my greatx4 grandfather and he and his wife emigrated to Australia with their children in 1839.
Thomas was in the Royal Navy, and as it turns out was a playwright as well! He wrote to the papers and the following letter to the editor describes eloquently being invited to celebrate the Chinese New Year with some Chinese immigrants.
THE CHINESE NEAR BRISBANE WATER
To the Editor of the Sydney Morning Herald
Sir,- Since the great influx of immigrants from China to Sydney there have been various opinions among the good people of this colony as to the propriety of allowing this species of immigration to continue. By many the Chinese are regarded as little better than savages. They have been condemned, too, as men who only resorted to this colony in the hope of reaping a plentiful golden harvest with which to return to their own country.
I am well aware that a large portion of the Chinese immigrants are really and truly open to the latter objection, but it is not so with all. There are many who have become permanent settlers, and have shown themselves both zealous and persevering in the various branches of industry to which they have resorted. Some even have so exerted themselves as to open up new branches of trade of the most valuable description, both in this colony and in Victoria. I allude more particularly to the catching, curing, and exportation of fish from various parts of our coast.
Very gratifying feelings of friendship and good-fellowship are beginning to manifest themselves between the European settlers on the borders of the beautiful coast lakes to the northward of Sydney, and the Chinese who have located themselves, for the purpose already mentioned, in the same quarter. A most pleas- ing evidence of this good feeling I am about to relate.
A good many people, both Europeans and Chinese, have latterly settled on the banks of Lake Macquarie and of Tuggerah Beach Lake. The latter is a very extensive and beautiful sheet of water, swarming with all kinds of fish known in Australian waters; with many kinds, indeed, which are unknown in Sydney. The largest and most lucrative trade arising from the capture of these . . . tribes is carried on at a settlement upon the estate of E. H. Hargrave, Esq , J.P., of Bungari's Nora.
For some days, towards the close of January, the Chinese at this settlement were observed to be intent upon important business of their own, or what they evidently regarded as such. They erected a large tent and surrounded it with green bowers, but as to the nature of the preparations going on within this enclosure the white settlers were not informed. On Friday, the 2nd instant, however, a deputation from the Celestials waited upon the good people at Mr. Hargrave's station, and informed them that the following day would be, according to Chinese chronology, the commencement of the new year. They earnestly invited their Anglo-Saxon fellow-settlers, of both sexes, to join them in a friendly celebration of this festival, and for this purpose to honour them with their company at dinner, within the mysterious bower already mentioned.
The invitation was accepted ; and, on entering within the enclosure, all were struck with surprise at the magnitude and ex- cellence of the preparations which had been made. The large bush table was covered with a cloth as white as mountain snow, with clean shining plates and bright knives and forks for each guest. The collection of edibles was such as would have satisfied the veriest epicure. Geese, ducks, sucking-pig, pork, ham, tongue, corned beef, and, although last named, not least in importance, a splendid sirloin of the "roast beef of old England," with a plum pudding to match. Plenty of good ale and porter was also pro- vided to wash these good things down. For the dessert there were not only all the fruits then in season, but a number of excellent con- fections prepared by the Chinese themselves. The Celestials waited most attentively throughout upon their white guests, and all was harmony. After the removal of the cloth, wines and other liquors were placed upon the table, and the health of her Majesty the Queen was drunk with three times three, a royal salute being at the same time fired by the Chinese - not with cannon, but with their largest sized crackers. These, however, produced a most stunning report. A variety of other toasts were also drunk, and there was a good deal of excellent singing. Among those present was a professional, who had sung with great applause at some of the Royal Theatres, and such melody as was heard on this occasion has perhaps never before floated through an Australian forest. The party was also highly amused by the execution of the " kangaroo dance," by an old black woman and her son.
The best order, as well as the best feeling, prevailed throughout, and the guests when they separated and returned to their own homes, were highly delighted with their afternoon's treat.
THOMAS FENNELL, late R.N.,
Bungari's Nore, Brisbane Water
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