Letter #7 to son Alex in
Australia
Busby, 26th Dec'r
1853
My Dear Son,
I have seen James Alexander and received your
letter. We are glad to know you are getting on well in good and good spirits a
strong heavy man. David & J. Docherty got their letters a month ago. Our
second letter was to sail on the 5th. August and we expect one in return in
January. I have seen complaints in the papers about Newspapers not being
delivered in Australia. Perhaps you will get them when sent to Mr. Allan.
Alpine sent the Dumbarton paper containing Lochlomond regatta. J. Twaddel sent
you an Illustrated London News. I have
sent several. One a week ago. The last two were copies of Loyal Peter's
Gazette. I receive Newspapers now & then a penny each. Letter by sailing
vessel 8d, by steamer 1 /-, by overland mail from 1 /7d to 2/3. Jas' came by
'Victoria'. I hope John Leckie is prospering. Say what he is doing. Peter
Robertson inclines to go in April.
Jack & William are still at Barrhead and
I doubt will make little progress with the saw & plane till they reach
Australia. Are there no such thing as apprentice wrights &c.in Melbourne? I
doubt not that we could come altogether if advisable, but Bill & Jack could
scarcely stand your march to the roads. Tilda Moore's direction is Mrs. Jas. Murdoch,
post office, Melbourne. Mr. Hunter's daughter's direction her husbands name is
John Bain to the care John Johnstoun, Tailor & Clothier, Stephen Street,
Melbourne.
My
Dear Brother, I dont know what my father thinks, but if a 'chap' of 5 feet 7 1
/2 inches in height and 10 stones in weight could not do a good bit of work it
is strange. So I think the sooner I see you in
Australia the better. I am still working away at Barrhead. I will try and get a
bit of the wright trade. Wishing you a Happy New Year, Your Affectionate
Brother, John Dick.
My
Dear Brother, You were telling us in your last letter about THE GREAT WAGES joiners
and all such were making. I should like to know why you did not commence as
apprentice to one of those trades. I am 5 feet 8 inches in height and I should
like very well to come out and do a bit at the joiner trade if I could only get
my hand broken in before then. We are all quite well and wishing you a Happy
New Year. Your Affectionate Brother, William Dick.
Dec'r 29. A letter from Tilda Moore came by overland
mail cost 2/6. She has sent rather a queer direction, Mr.Ferguson at Macarthney
and Galbraith's, Great Collins Street West. I have little by way of news to put
down. Stockwell Street new Bridge will be opened on the 2nd.January. Turkey and
Russia at war, no great advantage to either side. Russia considered a wicked
agressor. Britain and France are negotiating in favour of Turkey and
demonstrating, likewise a British and French are at Constantinople to protect
it and it is probale part of them has entered the Black Sea to prevent the
Russian fleet from doing mischief.
William has been jobbing at home this week.
Block printers at Busby have been slack these 3 months. Indeed printers
generally are rather slack and attempts are making to do the Paisly Plaids and
shawls by a machine. The shawls are sewed on a cylinder 27 feet in
circumference and 14 long surface rollers are used of the same breadth as the
block and shifted after the manner of the engravin machines. The cuts are
served on the shawl and for bordering the shawl is sewed on the cylinder, first
one way of cloth, then the other way that the border may be run along and then
across. Rob't Campbell gets married on Friday and Jack goes to the wedding.
Your friend Alpine also gets married on Friday to a girl from Leven. I have got
3 papers within 3 days, David one paper.
Asiatic Cholera is in the country.There were 78 deaths in Glasgow. 8 days no cases in Busby
yet, but several country villiages have been visited. There has been no changes
worth putting down amongst your friends. That you have done well yourself is
the opinion of everyone. Were I out I think I would try the diggings, it would
perhaps suit my time of life as anything I could do. I expect you will get into
a job more suitable and more remunerative than any you have had yet.
Teetotallers should have the best chance & I have no doubt but you are
always on the lookout. How Jack & William would take with the hod is very
questionable, yet if you see your way to dispose of us no doubt we will all try
to reach Australia. I am sure I should like to see us all together again. It might
be we might prosper in your adopted land where so many fortunes are made.
If you engage in any business, be punctual, honest
and honourable in all your dealings. That is the way to get on. I hope you
devote more than ever to the reading of the scriptures. The truly righteous are
the happiest in this world and happy in the world to come.
I am
your Affectionate
Father,
Alex'r
Dick
The first steam vessel from Glasgow to Australia
sails on the second of January and this goes with her.
Notes
& Names on Letter #7
James Alexander
David (Alexander?)
J. Docherty
Mr. Allan
Alpine
J. Twaddel
'Victoria'
John Leckie
Peter Robertson
Tilda Moore (Mrs.Jas.Murdoch)
Mr. Hunter
John Bain, John Johnstoun
Mr. Ferguson, Macarthney and Galbraith
Rob't Campbell
- transcription
and Names/Notes by Ian A Scales, c.1989
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