A short letter with news of local people and the declaration of war against Russia, in support of Turkey:
Letter #11 to son Alex in Australia
Busby 24 April 1854
My Dear Son,
Your delightful epistle of the 12th.January has come to hand. I am happy
to congratulate you on getting a job you like very well. I hope you have got
your rough work finished. You have persevered well for a clerk of 19. You will
now get gradually up the brae, secure a competence and find your way home.
William goes to the wright trade on Thursday. He goes to Jackton, pays £5-10 apprentice
fee and gets his board. He has
agreed for one year. Cutting is very slack and printing too. We are not so very bad yet at Busby. Provisions are high over all Europe. This and the war get the
blame of hurting trade.
I have written so often of late that I have so little news to give. Mr.
Anderson of the Mill store had a daughter married on Friday to a baker and
Bella Wilson will be married on Thursday to first mate of the Glasgow Steam
ship. She sails between Glasgow and New York. John Donohue has come on pretty
well a the diggings and has got a bit of ground and bought 3 horses &
Mclntyre's friends have not got a letter from him these 7 months. David McGregor
intends getting married. He has been applying for a house and Alpine's sister
married Arch'd McNab, Printer. Peter Robertson waits another year. He expects
Jack and William to go with him.
This letter goes with a friend of Alpine's that leaves Greenock on Wednesday in a Steamer for Australia. As
this may arrive before my last I mention over again that our housekeeper left
Liverpool in the 'Hilton' for Melbourne a few days ago. She has some newspapers
and a black silk neckcloth for you which she will likely leave with Mr. Allan
in Collingwood. John Leckie's house is a little Busby and you will no doubt be
more comfortable and more at home than with a stranger. Mrs. Leckie has plent
of work laid out for her. You seem all to work hard, no doubt to secure a
comfortable independence at a rapid rate.
No very remarkable result has yet followed the declaration of war
against Russia by France and England. France will send 100,000 men to defend
Turkey, England 25,000. We have a strong fleet in the Baltic and another in the
Black Sea. A few merchantmen have been taken from the Russians, but fighting
has not commenced at sea. The Turks and Russions are fighting now and then and
the Turks are fighting well, but the Russians are too numerous for the Turks.
John Shaw is expected every day. He was to leave Melbourne in January.
Wednesday is to be fast day on account of the war.
I had a note from Camlachie yesterday. Friends are in their usual. What
you think of Jack & William venturing to your queer clime and queerer folks
will be a matter for consideration. One thing, there is no hurry and none of may know what a day may bring
forth. The best laid plans gang aft agee and leave us nought but grief and pain
for promised joy. Jack & William are themselves anxious to join you and
with the little we know of the future it may be the best course for them. That
you have kept in good health and got into somewhat comfortable circumstances i3 a matter for great
thankfulness and trusting the future will be prosperous.
I remain,
Your Affectionate
Father,
Alex'r Dick
Names & Notes on Letter #11
Mr. Anderson
Bella Wilson
John Donahue
Mcintyre
David McGregor
Alpine
Arch'd McNab
Peter Robertson
'Hilton’
Mr. Allan, Collingwood.
John Leckie
John Shaw
- transcription
and Names/Notes by Ian A Scales, c.1989
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