While Marion Le Cheminant and I were researching the background for publication of Henry Meyrick's letters we came across the Melbourne Club of the 1840s. To belong, one was assumed to be a gentleman but a number of professions as well as pastoral interests were represented - magistrate, doctor, and so on clearly indicate that one could work for a living provided it was a socially accepted one. Living on "independent means" was not part of the definition in the colonies. Henry and his cousins chose not to belong but were included in the social circle which centred around members. Although they were quite young and little more than struggling farmers, they were eligible for entry on the sole fact that their respective fathers were clergymen. Yours, Jeremy Look me up at www.maffra.net.au/jjbpage.htm