Bidspirit auction | (AUSTRALIA). Manuscript written in English:

(AUSTRALIA). Manuscript written in English: ”Diary of a Jewish Law Clerk.” Tipped in are notes from a hand several decades later with comments and insights. Rear of journal with notes relating to legal studies. pp. 94. Light wear. Contemporary exercise-book/journal, rubbed. Sm. 4to. Sandhurst, Australia, 1857-61.  Unpublished manuscript written by a youthful Mondle Emanuel Phillips (1841–65), whose musings are a fascinating source of local information on early Australian Jewish life. At the start of the manuscript Phillips is only a teenager, and although working in a professional environment, his musings have a childish quality to them. He often uses slang, he regularly shows concern for his mother, and yet he entertains colorful, but petty, descriptions of how his sister eats her breakfast.  There is a noticeable amount of Jewish content in the diary such as the following consecutive entries:  * Sunday. 27th Septr. “Anniversary of Mamma’s Birthday. ‘Col Nidra’ Night. Mr. Simmons read and very well too but, thought I say it who shouldn’t, not so well as Papa.”  * Monday 28th Septr. “Youm Kippur, passed over very well Joseph (the Secretary of the Shool) read “Shachras” but poorly and his Brother “Mincha” ditto, Simmons read “Mussef, ” very nicely indeed and Michael Emanual “Neelah” very badly as a set off I suppose., but though three readers out of the four were muffs still we passed a very pleasant Youm Kippur and felt much better after it, Raining, thundering and lightg nearly all day.”  A particularly colorful entry reads:  * Saturday. 10th Octr. “At Court all day too. In the Evening went to Shool at Eight, that hour having been appointed for the convenience of persons in business, and heard the Service read worse than anything I’ve experienced yet, the “Chozin” did no more know what to say than a Child but was assisted by sundry suggestions of various members of the Congregation, it makes me quite melancholy to think of it.”  Mondle Emanuel Phillips was born 6th October, 1841 in Parramatta, Sydney, New South Wales and died of lung disease 28th October, 1865 (aged 24) in Melbourne, Victoria, see: https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/lifesummary/phillips-mondle-emanuel-17115