Caroline Emily Clark

In 1837 she was sent to stay with her grandmother Hill in Tottenham, half a mile from Bruce Castle, to study at "Miss Woods School" in a nearby town, perhaps Upper Clapton.

The next phase of her life, for which she is best remembered, arose from her friendship with fellow-Unitarian Annie Montgomerie Martin, who had visited Adelaide's Destitute Asylum, a State-run institution for children abandoned by their parents on account of poverty, and been shocked at the hopelessness of its occupants.

Emily had seen in Scotland the virtues of having these unfortunates rather raised amongst working families (and perhaps influenced by her cousin Rosamond Davenport Hill[1]), broached the subject in the Register,[2] which prompted favourable editorial comment[3] and extended the debate to the Orphan Girls' Home.

Miss Spence wrote:-"In other English speaking countries boarding-out in families is sometime permitted, but here, under the Southern Cross, it is the law of the land that children shall not be brought up in institutions but in homes.

This movement originated in South Australia, and with all its far-reaching developments and expansion it is due to the initiative of one woman, of whom the State and the Commonwealth are justly proud – Miss C. E.

Time bears thee onwards with unflagging wings – Nearer and nearer coming day by day To break the tangled web that round me clings The web of life with many glittering strings; So bright and beautiful, I fain would stay In this fair world, but darkness and decay Creep at the heels of age, and earthly things Their savour lose: so may I glad obey Thy stern command, that ease and solace brings With gentle sleep, the strife of hopes and fears Ended in peace; then let none weep for me In mercy dost thou come, and I would be