The cover shows the private Postmasters handstamp of New Norfolk and is addressed to Charles Leake, member of a well-known colonial pastoral family near Campbelltown. The Hobart "Free" stamp shows the cover went via Hobart from New Norfolk then would have been carried by mail coach to Campbelltown.
The signature is that of Dr George F Huston, superintendent of the Insane Asylum at New Norfolk.
The background is that a member of the Leake Family, William, suffered a nervous breakdown and spent some years in the Asylum before boarding with Dr Huston. Sarah Leake's journal 1862 - 67 records the following ( paraphrased)
"William celebrated his birthday on 7 May 1863 and Sarah "ordered dinner for 1 o'clock he preferring to dine in the middle of the day", but not long afterwards William showed signs of a nervous breakdown and Dr Valentine sent for Dr Huston the Superintending Surgeon of the Asylum at New Norfolk and on 22 July 1863 William was "induced to accompany Dr Huston in the coach in a peaceable manner" for New Norfolk. William spent almost three years in the Asylum, then boarded with Dr. Huston, took a trip to Sydney with Dr Huston and George Huston, his son, in June 1866 and returned to Rosedale in February 1867"
The cover dated 5 June 1865 presumably contained correspondence from Dr Huston to the Leake family.
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