Caroline Chisholm’s most extended piece of writing was her 1842 book called Female Immigration Considered, in a Brief Account of the Sydney Immigrants’ Home. Her book was the first non-fiction book by a female author in Australia . . . one of her numerous firsts. Some short extracts from her book are included here as pdf files.

Each of the extracts illuminate how, in difficult practical situations, Caroline Chisholm was able to combine so wonderfully God’s grace with her natural gifts and developed virtues. Her compassion, determination, prudence, patience, abiding interest in people, good will towards all and other qualities can be recognized in these extracts and in the book as a whole. She could also be very direct and sharply honest with those who were self-absorbed, selfish or acting against the interests of the poor and dispossessed. Jesus, of course, spoke similarly in related situations.

The titles of the extracts are descriptive of their contents. They are listed here in chronological order. The first refers to Caroline Chisholm’s initial attempts to look after vulnerable girls and young women upon and soon after their arrival in Sydney in 1840 and 1841, leading to a vow to God to commence a Home for them. The others follow from mid 1841 until 1842 and show features of her pioneering work for poor emigrants and former convicts. The Easter Vow and Fear Left Me extracts show the unmistakably Christian foundation for her work.

The Easter Vow
Fear Left Me
Heart Speaks to Heart
Seeking the Girl’s Good
A Sure Judge of Character

All of Caroline Chisholm's book, Female Immigration Considered is reproduced in Unfeigned Love: Historical Accounts of Caroline Chisholm and Her Work [ISBN 978-0-9756018-4-6], which can be ordered from this website Place Order.