Letter #16 to son Alex in
Australia
Busby, Jany 31st. 1855
My Dear Son,
We have received yours of 24th.Oct. It is a great mercy you have
continued in good health and found an opportunity to save a little for these
poverty making times. That employment will yet be as lucrative as formerly I
have no doubt. But cheap provisions would make a marvellous change. Whover will
undertake to cultivate a bit of ground ought to have a suitable portion cheap.
This ought to be petitioned for and petitioned for until obtained. So we are to
halt. We were ready for that order from what we learned otherwise viz from
letters & newspapers. We are in
good health and tolerable spirits. Jack & William expect to get 10/- each
per week in Glasgow when their 12 months expire. No improvement in block
printing in Busby and nothing like the usual quantity doing in any of the de
Laine and shawl shops at this season of the year.
About the middle of Dec'r Mr. Miller sent out a letter saying that if
their prospects did not improve by new years day, he would not require the
services of Alex'r Dick & James Wilson. As there was not a block printer working for 2 or 3 weeks in
Jan'y we were going idle. A small order came and we got a little to do by the
piece. But there are now a number of printers working and a few new blocks and
we are both by the day in the meantime. But I doubt we are to have an unusually
poor spring trade.
John Cunninham, the mason has lost his wife. And Mr. Bisset is no more.
He was on the field a short time on the morning of the 15th. He went home and
never left his room again. His disease seemed to be slight bilious fever, but inflammation of the liver
and right lung commenced and caused congestion of the brain and terminated his
existence on the morning of the 22nd. about 4 o'clock. Mr. Bisset was to
advence whatever money we required to carry us to Australia. So, an Emphatic Halt has met us here also. It is not
likely anyone else will give us the same offer. So that when you invite Jack
& William to Australia you will also require to remit them a loan of the
needful. I could barely pay for myself and I doubt we wont get any richer this
summer.
I was at Camlachie and Leven. Our friends are all hearty. Mr. Maxwell
folks are proud of your letter. They sent me notice of its arrival and
contents. I called also on my Cousin, James Dick, but I did not find him. He
has got an office at 6 Oswald Street. There was a young lad and a full grown
gentleman busy. Whether the latter was a partner or servant I am ignorant. But I could not help saying to
myself Well done, the poor and neglected weaver boy and feeling somewhat ashamed of myself. I had a
newspaper yesterday "doing nothing". There is a letter from James
Mclntyre and for want of better shift you are thinking of the diggings. Dull
trade makes many changes. After weathering the roads & the hod &c. I am
not afraid of your stamina. An unlucky digger can scarcely be happy or
anything like happy. I can only wish you good fortune. Mr. Bisset left upwards
of £250. It will be divided in equal shares between his widow and his sister.
Cutting is not throng generally nor drawing either. There has been nothing
worthy of remark about the village. Father Leckie's friends are well and Jack
& William say to him, We can make a barrow and a table fluently.
The winter weather stopt the war at Sebastopol, the army had too much to do to defend itself from
the weather. Great suffering in the British camp. Hence dissensions amongst our
Cabinet ministers and a vote of censure by the Commons. 3 papers will explain
all that, thanks to Alpine & John Twaddel. Engravers are not busy in
Glasgow. Cylinders are well employed.
You mentioned in one of your letters that I had better come out than
take my chance at a table. But circumstances are so much changed in Australia
that it would be unprudent to move on that authority. We will endeavour to find
somewhat to do at home. Better rue set than rue flit. We have had several weeks
of hard frost. John is freezing the pipes at the work and a great part of the
workers come at 9 morning and work to eight at night. It takes 3 hours in the
morning to thaw the pipes and get steam up. Owing to the high price of
provisions, heavy income tax &c, trade is getting generally dull and much
suffering will fall to the lot of our brethren. So having still food and
raiment we ought to keep our hearts cheerful and live as those that are
sojourning to another world ought to live, having a concience avoid of offence
toward God and toward man.
I think you are better to write per mail as the mail ships come pretty
near to one time, whereas when letters are sent otherwise the first written
often comes second. I wrote in Jan'y, my next in
April. The papers believe Palmerston will be our future premier, full of
confidence and full of hope. Let us endeavour to hold on our way rejoicing.
I am Your Affectionate
Father
Alex'r Dick
Names & Notes on Letter
#16
Mr. Miller
James Wilson
John Cunninham
Mr. Bisset
Mr. Maxwell
James Dick
James Mclntyre
Father Leckie
Alpine
John Twaddel
Palmerston
- transcription
and Names/Notes by Ian A Scales, c.1989
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