Friday, 4 November 2016

Alexr Dick _Letter No. 21 from Busby, Scotland, 1855

Alexr mentions deaths from Scarlet Fever and other local news (the Quercitron bark referred to gives a yellow dye use in the cloth trade at the time).


Letter #21 to son Alex in Australia                

                                     Busby 2lst.0ctr.1855
My Dear Son,

As Robina Veitch sails tomorrow I take the opportunity to send a few lines, it is now 4 weeks since we received yours, but we have no letter from Father Leckie. If the money was come, we will set out as quickly as possible. I think you may safely put that in your note book.
Several children have had Scarletina, two have died. John Nimmo's second child, viz. William, died last Saturday after two days' illness. Frances Lushing has left the work. He has taken a patent, for the improvement of Quercitron bark. He makes it go three times as far as it did and commences operations at Castle Glen. Engraving and machine printing continue busy here, block printing so & so. Jack & William are quite anxious to be off. Their expectations are brilliant. For my part, I expect if I am of no use in Australia to be sent home again.
Our markets continue high and are considered likely to keep up for another year. Sugar has got up owing to a bad crop. We have got a new suspension bridge over the Clyde at the Humane Society house on the Green. My sister is in a poor situation in Camlachie, no business done yet since Alexr's death. John Buchanans friends expect him home, it seems John had some shares in an iron company that failed and he was afraid of being mulcted farther and sailed to New Zealand to be out of the way. He was never looked after in this country. Nothing farther of importance from our fleets and armies, I will send a paper with Robina and trusting all will end well,
I remain,
Your Affectionate Father,
Alex'r Dick

Name & Notes on Letter #21

Robina Veitch
Father Leckie
John Nimmo
William Nimmo
Frances Lushing
Mary Russell
Alexr. Russell
John Buchanan


- transcription and Names/Notes by Ian A Scales, c.1989


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