Letter #4 to son Alex in Australia
Busby, Oct. 1,
1853
My Dear Son,
No.1 made a quick passage in the Marco Polo.
It is not all fun in Australia. But I have no doubt but you will pull through
and soon make yourself more comfortable than a Lime Larry. We understood
nothing about Australia when you went away and I doubt we not understand it
thoroughly yet so I believe it is the best way to wait until further notice.
I am well satisfied with your proceedings.
Your letters are admired. The spirit they evince will yet place you in a
comfortable sphere. The last from Mclntyre he was going to the Bendigo
diggings. His letters are directed to the post office in Melbourne. Mr. Wallace
has had an untoward passage. He has written from Rio Janerio. The Calcutta came
by Cape Horn. Several of the passengers had died of cold & hunger. Mr. Wallace
is very poorly owing to privations and he is living in an Inn in Rio Janerio.
He expects to be home by November. There was a letter from John Donohue this
week, He is at the Ovens diggings doing well £2 per day is his average. I am well pleased to hear that John Leckie is likely to prosper. G. Mains has
done marvellously.
I pay
1/- for each letter now I send away and receive. Your last was 1/4 being
double. Write away, write away. There was a round number of newspapers sent you
by Sundries. We pay 1 penny sending and receiving Newspapers.
I see by our papers your markets are glutted
with provisions. You will likely be glutted with building materials too. Jeanne
Wilson has written. She is joyful, joyful. Wants all her sisters out.
Her direction is Mrs John Fleming care of Mr. Sloane, Brickmaker, 158 King
Street, Melbourne. The works are at Richmond 2 miles out of
Melbourne. My present housekeeper was with Mr. Loudon when you were with us and
Margaret Wylie lodges with me. They are Australia daft and are intending to go
out by the government emmigration next year as domestic servants.
I do not see how you can have any disastrous
crisis so long as the gold fields continue productive. House rents are likely
to come down by & by and retailers profits. A few merchants may have made
bad specks and get into the Gazette but I see no reason for general panic.
Alex’r and Auntie are in their old way. Annie and Sandy are quite merry. James
Dick is still buying and selling. Trade has been
good this season. The threatened war with Turkey and Russia is still hanging over us and damping our trade. Our provision markets are up. The
building of the new cylinder shop at Busby is going on. Mr. Gay's friends or
acquaintances are intending to put up a monument to his memory in Carmunnock
Kirkyard at a cost of £29/10/-. John and William are still at Barrhead. They
will be in directly and write you a bit. I wrote by the mail of 4 Augt and 4
Septr and this goes by 4 October and a paper with each letter. This is No.1.
My
Dear Brother, I am glad to think that you are quite well and making lots of
money. I am working away at Barrhead. I am making a good wage here although it
would nothing in your country, about 15/- to 16/- per week. William is here
also. He works in Millear's I am in Roy's. We are
very busy just now. The Barrhead people have got up a newspaper entitled the
Barrhead and Neilston Advertiser a monthly wor price 1 1/2d. I hope that you
will see rne soon in Australia. Your Affectionate Brother, John Dick.
Dear
Brother, I am happy to hear that you are in good health and working away at
your elligant trade. I am at present
working in Barrhead and can make preety good wages when working but we are a
good deal idle from want of drawers and I expect to come out as you give us the
word of command. Your affectionate brother, William Dick.
It is rather annoying to me sometimes that I
allowed a young chap to face the hardships of Australia. You have been
mercifully preserved in health and spirits and success is likely to justify the
venture. Notwithstanding the above talk of going to Australia there is nothing
pressing. Indeed William is very indifferent about it. Jack is somewhat
desirous but so long as they are moderately employed they have not the
slightest occasion for troubling yourself about them. William is only 15 and could not face the roads and marches. Unless they could get good wages
as apprentices to a trade they are better for some time where they are. I hope
you will be able to work your way to comfort and congenial employment that you
will be enabled to shun the ways of wicked men and the blessing of Him that
rnaketh rich will be upon you.
The cholera is visiting
our land and cleansing operations are going on through the villiage. William was at Bonhill lately. The
folks are well and enquiring for you. I hope you are paying attention to mental
culture and you are educating yourself as you find opportunity. Such employment
is pleasing and
profitable and adds immensely to one's
character. If you think of anything you would wish sent out let us
know. At present you are in a sort of migratory state and one does not know where you may be or what direction you
may have next advices. William Moody wrote you but I suppose you have not got
his letter. He is in Bonhill. The Moodys have not got well on with their spec
yet.
I am
Your Affectionate
Father Alex'r Dick
Names and Notes on Letter #4
Mclntyre
Mr. Wallace
John Donohue
G.Mains
Jeanne Wilson - Her direction is Mrs John Fleming care of Mr.Sloane,
Brickmaker
Mr. Loudon
Margaret Wylie
- transcription
and Names/Notes by Ian A Scales, c.1989
No comments:
Post a Comment