Old books are as good as old friends, and second-hand bookshops are my go-to when the weather is lousy. I am meeting friends in Castlemaine; I’m very early. Yet again I pass that bookshop in Campbell’s Creek, the one I have been passing for years, always promising to pop in, one day. Today’s the day.
The hoarding outside advises there are 100,000 volumes inside, but the towering shelves, floor to ceiling, room upon room suggests that estimate is outdated. As I enter, the musty, delicious old-book smell envelopes me.
The usual stash of romance, thrillers, fantasy and historical novels fill the front rooms. I wander deeper, finding a small room dedicated to Australiana.
My neck is cricked badly after an hour of reading spines, moving through Astley; Bolderwood; Carey; Clarke; Flannery; Franklin, Garner; Grenfell; Stead, Tsiolkas; White; Winton, Wright. So many wonderful authors. I return to a battered, almost illegible leather-bound copy of Bolderwood’s Robbery under Arms!
I draw it out gingerly and open the flyleaf. ‘Second printing 1889’. The inscription reads ‘3rd August 1906 Alfred, Happy 50th Birthday, regards, Toby’. There is a pencilled price of $55 – that’s a steal. I take my prize to the counter.
I find the book a few days later. It has slipped off and under the car seat. I settle into my study, a small snifter of scotch at my elbow, and explore my latest purchase. A couple of old, browned pages float to the floor. My jaw drops as I take in the significance of the document in my hand. The Alfred and Toby on the flyleaf reference are identified!
On Australian High Court letterhead, the writer is identified as the former Prime Minister, Edmund Barton, (Toby), writing in a flourishing copperplate to his long-time friend and ally, the current Prime Minister, Alfred Deakin. Enthralled to be privy to this personal exchange, I read:
“Dear Fred,
50 years under your belt! My heartiest birthday wishes, trusting that the attached tome may entertain and while away possible spare hours, maybe on that regular, but quite tiresome train journey back to Ballarat.
I want to thank you for your tactical leadership as we move towards this referendum. The capacity to have members of both the Senate and the House elected at the same time will provide significant financial gains for the Commonwealth. Linking the plebiscite to the General Election should also auger well for your continued leadership. Well done, and I am sure you are set for a resounding endorsement.
Thinking back over the years, I am constantly reminded of your significant input into this new Federation. I am aware of the many hundreds of hours you were away from family and friends as you crisscrossed the country cajoling the colonies towards our proposed unification. The work you put into our founding documents, securing the necessary legislative capacities; and the tactical work at Westminster to ensure our charter was successfully legislated. While we missed securing the New Zealanders, you brought those pesky Sandgropers into the fold. Again, and in particular, the successful passage of the Immigration Restriction Bill wouldn’t have happened without your judicious and timely oversight.
So many issues delicately handled, I think your legacy will long be sung in the parliamentary corridors.
Again, the very happiest birthday wishes.
Sincerely
‘Toby’
Justice Edmund Barton,
High Court of Australia
3rd August, 1906”