Letters between Alfred Deakin and Colonel Robert Williams

Alfred Deakin was prime minister of Australia three times and is known as a founding father of Federation.

Born in Melbourne in 1856, Deakin qualified as a lawyer but worked as a journalist at The Age. He first entered Victorian parliament in 1879 and served as solicitor-general and chief secretary over the next 11 years. He was a Victorian representative to the constitutional conventions, helping to shape what would become the Australian Constitution. 

When the first federal Cabinet was formed, Prime Minister Edmund Barton named Deakin as attorney-general. Deakin kept this portfolio until Barton left politics and Deakin took over as prime minister in September 1903. Deakin retained the prime ministership at the next federal election in December that year, staying in the role until 1904. He served two more terms as prime minister after that from 1905-1908 and 1909-1910.

However, since 1908 he had suffered memory issues and high blood pressure. Deakin's biographer, Judith Brett, wrote that Deakin 'had lost all zest for public life and was trudging on until he could retire.' After a health scare in late 1912 and mounting health issues, he decided to retire from public life.

In January 1913, when he was Leader of the Opposition, he wrote to his friend, Colonel Robert Williams, to plan his exit from public office. Deakin and Williams had similar careers, both working as journalists before turning to public service. In 1913, Williams was the Town Clerk for Ballarat which was in Deakin's electorate and acted as an organiser for Deakin. In the first letter, dated 15 January 1913, Deakin lays out his intention not to run for the election in May 1913 and how he will manage public appearances until then. Since the new year, there had been rumours Deakin would be retiring, but Deakin wanted to wait several weeks before announcing his retirement to the people of Ballarat himself.  

'Confidential

January 15. 13

Dear Colonel,

I have got wind of a plot or plots in Ballr. to victimise me by some form of public demonstration,^ there may be nothing in it yet, I simply won't accept + there's an end of it – I remain the member for some months yet + will not attend anything in the meantime – nor will I accept anything that costs time or money then –

But that is a long way off + and we need not trouble now – I only write because having seen you lately you could infer from what I have said to you or in your presence that anything of any kind reception, addressing social or public meetings is impossible – We can discuss – you + I – any future proceedings which are not personal after the election is won – but in the meantime I am trusting to you to put your foot down ^ in my name firmly + immediately upon anything + everything pointing in that direction –

Blood pressure lower yesterday shows 25% nearly above normal + ^ am being dosed accordingly. Present idea is to have a meeting by ticket for members only (of ^any one of the leagues) end of this month or beginning of next – When we know the candidate, at which one can deal generally with the situation as if in one's own household though of course the meeting would be open to the press – That would not be a farewell which might take place perhaps at the closing rally the night before the general election – Of course this is for you only + in the rough just to prevent mistakes –

Kindest regards + a best new year

A.D.'

The second letter is written three days later once news of Deakin's ill health and his intention to retire had become public. Hoping to get ahead of the rumours, Deakin announced his retirement publicly on 17 January 1913. A day later, he wrote to Williams about the number of letters he had received and their impact on his mood as well as his hopes for the future.

'Personal

January 18. 13

Dear Colonel,

Yes, it has come + become public earlier than I expected or desired – The letters I have dealt with today nearly 40 in number leave me sad as well as tired – If I were not so tired I could almost regret the step – But it had to be taken + there's an end of the [illegible] upon oneself – If + when I recover my best hope is that I may still be able to help in some subordinate way in repaying to my country some of my great debt to her + to tried friends like yourself – however few –

Kindest regards

Yours ever

A. Deakin

Colonel Williams

Ballarat'

Deakin resigned his leadership of the Liberal Party on 20 January 1913, the parliament did not meet again before the election in May. Deakin had hoped that by limiting stress and obligations his health would improve, this was not the case. Although Deakin would chair a royal commission into food supply during the First World War, he would never again return to parliament. He died on 7 October 1919, aged 63 and was granted a state funeral at Melbourne Parliament House.